Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises an image pickup device, a focus detection sensor including a first pixel group in which pixels configured to receive light beams passing through a partial area of a pupil of an imaging optical system are arranged and a second pixel group in which pixels configured to receive light beams passing through another partial area are arranged, and a correlation calculation unit configured to perform correlation calculation by using signals from pixels of the first pixel group and signals from pixels of the second pixel group, wherein the correlation calculation unit samples pixels, of the first pixel group, which have a positional shift amount of an integer multiple of a value obtained by dividing the predetermined interval, and performs correlation calculation by using signals from the sampled pixels of the second pixel group.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a controller configured to perform an autofocus processing and an image pickup processing, the image pickup processing including a display of a live-view image, an exposure for recording of the image pickup element and a generation of a recording image from an image signal acquired by the exposure. The controller moves the image pickup element to a specific position closer to a center of the predetermined movable range of the image pickup element than the position of the image pickup element detected by the position detector, and subsequently performs a correction movement in which the focus lens moves so as to decrease generation of defocus for the image pickup element due to the movement of the image pickup element to the specific position after the exposure for recording before the display of the live-view image in the image pickup processing.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus that is capable of detecting focusing state with high accuracy even when a subject moves or a defocus condition varies. Focus detection zones are arranged like a lattice in first and second directions with respect to an image pickup device. A contrast focus evaluation value that evaluates image signals of pixels of the image pickup device corresponding to each focus detection zone in the second direction is generated. Focus of an image pickup optical system is adjusted based on the contrast focus evaluation value based on an image signal of a reliable focus detection zone. The focus detection zones are arranged so that one boundary of a first focus detection zone in the second direction is included within an area of a second focus detection zone in the second direction. The first and second focus detection zones are arranged and deviated in the first direction.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image sensor configured to capture an image, a focus detection area setting unit configured to set a focus detection area with respect to a face detection area of the object within an imaging plane of the image sensor, and a focus detection unit configured to obtain a focus evaluation value indicating contrast in a focus evaluation direction of the object in the focus detection area set within the imaging plane of the image sensor based on an image signal obtained by photoelectric conversion by the image sensor, and the focus detection area setting unit sets the focus detection area such that a length of the focus detection area in the focus evaluation direction is shorter than a length of the focus detection area in a second direction perpendicular to the focus evaluation direction regardless of a tilt of a face of the object.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a controller configured to perform an autofocus processing and an image pickup processing, the image pickup processing including a display of a live-view image, an exposure for recording of the image pickup element and a generation of a recording image from an image signal acquired by the exposure. The controller moves the image pickup element to a specific position closer to a center of the predetermined movable range of the image pickup element than the position of the image pickup element detected by the position detector, and subsequently performs a correction movement in which the focus lens moves so as to decrease generation of defocus for the image pickup element due to the movement of the image pickup element to the specific position after the exposure for recording before the display of the live-view image in the image pickup processing.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus obtains the ratio of light quantities of predetermined wavelengths contained in a light beam having passed through a focus detection region where focus detection is to be performed. When the light beam is eclipsed due to the imaging optical system, the image capturing apparatus obtains new correction coefficients obtained by calculating, in accordance with the ratio, eclipse correction coefficients determined in advance for the respective predetermined wavelengths. Then, the image capturing apparatus corrects outputs respectively from the pair of light receiving element arrays using the new correction coefficients, and performs focus detection using the corrected outputs from the pair of light receiving element arrays.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a focus adjustment unit, an image sensor, a focus evaluation value calculation unit, and a control unit configured to drive the focus adjustment unit based on a focus evaluation value to perform an in-focus operation. A change curve representing a change amount of a focus evaluation value indicating a focusing state of an object image includes a first slope before inversion of a sign of an inclination of the change curve at a peak value on the change curve and a second slope after inversion of a sign of an inclination of the change curve at a peak value on the change curve. The control unit determines whether the focus evaluation value corresponding to the peak value on the change curve is used for the in-focus operation based on an inclination of the first slope and an inclination of the second slope.

Abstract: An image capture apparatus comprises an image sensor including at least three focus detecting pixels, an optical axis displacement unit which displaces an optical axis of an imaging optical system by driving at least part of the imaging optical system, and a focus adjustment unit which performs focus adjustment by a phase-difference detection method using a pair of images detected in the at least three focus detecting pixels, wherein if the optical axis displacement unit moves the at least part of the imaging optical system, the focus adjustment unit performs focus adjustment using detection results of a pair of focus detecting pixels, among the at least three focus detecting pixels, other than a focus detecting pixel in which a common part of an exit pupil area and the light-receiving area of the focus detecting pixel is smallest.

Abstract: The image pickup apparatus is configured to move a focus lens and an image pickup element to perform focusing, the image pickup element being moved in a predetermined movable range. The image pickup apparatus includes a position detector configured to detect a position of the image pickup element moved for the focusing; and a controller configured to move, after the focusing, the image pickup element to a specific position closer to a center of the predetermined movable range than the position detected by the position detector and to move the focus lens so as to decrease generation of defocus due to the movement of the image pickup element to the specific position.

Abstract: A focusing apparatus with a photoelectric converter which photoelectrically converts at least a pair of optical images formed by light fluxes that have passed a focus lens to output at least a pair of image signals, a phase difference detector which detects a phase difference between the pair of output image signals, and a driving amount calculator which calculates a driving amount of the focus lens based upon the detected phase difference. The driving amount calculator changes the calculated driving amount, in accordance with a first driving amount corresponding to a detected phase difference when the focus lens is located at a first position, a second driving amount corresponding to the detected phase difference when the focus lens is located at a second position, and a relationship between the first and second positions.

Abstract: An image processing method includes a restore step of performing blur restoration for image data, an acquisition step of acquiring image-related information stored together with the image data, and an extraction step of extracting the range of object distances at which the blur restoration is performed, based on the image-related information. In the restore step, blur restoration is performed for the image data in the range of object distances extracted in the extraction step.

Abstract: In order to effectively accomplish blur restoration in a short time, an image processing apparatus includes a blur restoration unit configured to perform blur restoration processing on image data according to an object distance and a blur restoration distance correction unit configured to correct a blur restoration distance that represents an object distance at which the blur restoration processing is performed by the blur restoration unit. The blur restoration distance correction unit is configured to set an interval of the blur restoration distance according to a difference between a reference object distance and another object distance.

Abstract: A focus detection apparatus comprises a field mask which has a rectangular opening, a first focus detection optical system which divides, in a longitudinal direction of the opening or a shorter side direction of the opening, the light beam, a second focus detection optical system which divides, in an oblique direction, the light beam, a plurality of first focus detection regions which respectively extend in the dividing direction by the first focus detection optical system within a frame on an expected imaging surface of the imaging lens, and a plurality of second focus detection regions which respectively extend in the dividing direction by the second focus detection optical system within the frame that receives the light beam divided by the second focus detection optical system, the plurality of second focus detection regions being aligned in the longitudinal direction or the shorter side direction within the frame.

Abstract: A focus adjustment apparatus includes a diaphragm aperture adjustment unit configured to adjust a diaphragm aperture area of a photographic lens, a focus detection unit configured to detect a defocusing amount by using a pair of light fluxes passed through different areas of the photographic lens, a detection result correction unit configured to calculate, during focus detection after the diaphragm aperture area has changed by a value equal to or larger than a predetermined value, a reduced defocusing amount correction value with respect to the defocusing amount, and a focus adjustment unit configured to execute control to adjust a focus based on the defocusing amount correction value.

Abstract: This invention makes shot image data match dust correction data as much as possible even when the dust adhesion state changes. An image capturing apparatus includes an image capturing unit which photo-electrically converts, by an image sensor, an object image formed by a photographing lens to generate an image signal, a foreign substance information detection unit which detects, based on the image signal, foreign substance information serving as information on at least the position of a foreign substance adhering to an optical element placed in front of the image sensor, and an association unit which associates an image signal with foreign substance information, and associates foreign substance information detected by the foreign substance information detection unit not only with an image signal obtained after detecting the foreign substance information, but also with even an image signal obtained before detecting the foreign substance information.

Abstract: A focus detection apparatus comprises a field mask which has a rectangular opening, a first focus detection optical system which divides, in a longitudinal direction of the opening or a shorter side direction of the opening, the light beam, a second focus detection optical system which divides, in an oblique direction, the light beam, a plurality of first focus detection regions which respectively extend in the dividing direction by the first focus detection optical system within a frame on an expected imaging surface of the imaging lens, and a plurality of second focus detection regions which respectively extend in the dividing direction by the second focus detection optical system within the frame that receives the light beam divided by the second focus detection optical system, the plurality of second focus detection regions being aligned in the longitudinal direction or the shorter side direction within the frame.

Abstract: An image processing method includes a restore step of performing blur restoration for image data, an acquisition step of acquiring image-related information stored together with the image data, and an extraction step of extracting the range of object distances at which the blur restoration is performed, based on the image-related information. In the restore step, blur restoration is performed for the image data in the range of object distances extracted in the extraction step.

Abstract: The image pickup apparatus is configured to move a focus lens and an image pickup element to perform focusing, the image pickup element being moved in a predetermined movable range. The image pickup apparatus includes a position detector configured to detect a position of the image pickup element moved for the focusing; and a controller configured to move, after the focusing, the image pickup element to a specific position closer to a center of the predetermined movable range than the position detected by the position detector and to move the focus lens so as to decrease generation of defocus due to the movement of the image pickup element to the specific position.

Abstract: A focus detection apparatus is disclosed which can achieve excellent focus detection performance. The apparatus detects the focusing state of an image-pickup lens based on a phase difference in a plurality of images. The apparatus includes a field lens and a light-receiving element including plural focus detection areas. The light-receiving element includes at least first and second focus detection areas which detect a phase difference in a first direction, and third and fourth focus detection areas which detect a phase difference in a second direction. The intersection position of the first focus detection area and the third focus detection area with respect to the center of the first focus detection area is different from the intersection position of the second focus detection area and the fourth focus detection area with respect to the center of the second focus detection area.

Abstract: This invention makes shot image data match dust correction data as much as possible even when the dust adhesion state changes. An image capturing apparatus includes an image capturing unit which photo-electrically converts, by an image sensor, an object image formed by a photographing lens to generate an image signal, a foreign substance information detection unit which detects, based on the image signal, foreign substance information serving as information on at least the position of a foreign substance adhering to an optical element placed in front of the image sensor, and an association unit which associates an image signal with foreign substance information, and associates foreign substance information detected by the foreign substance information detection unit not only with an image signal obtained after detecting the foreign substance information, but also with even an image signal obtained before detecting the foreign substance information.