Abstract: An acquisition unit is configured to acquire first defocus information based on a sensor output corresponding to a first region in an area of a captured image, and to acquire second defocus information based on a sensor output corresponding to a second region in the area. A control unit is configured to obtain defocus information corresponding to the area using the first defocus information and the second defocus information, and to perform focus control based on the obtained defocus information. The first region has a length longer in a phase-difference detection direction than the length of the second region.

Abstract: A display control apparatus, comprises: a focus detection unit configured to detect, based on an image signal obtainable from an image sensor, a focus state and reliability of the image signal; and a display control unit configured to display in a display unit, when focus adjustment is performed by a manual operation, an index that indicates the focus state that was detected by the focus detection unit, wherein the display control unit changes a display format of the index according to the reliability.

Abstract: A display control apparatus, comprises: a focus detection unit configured to detect, based on an image signal obtainable from an image sensor, a focus state and reliability of the image signal; and a display control unit configured to display in a display unit, when focus adjustment is performed by a manual operation, an index that indicates the focus state that was detected by the focus detection unit, wherein the display control unit changes a display format of the index according to the reliability.

Abstract: A focus control apparatus, comprises an area setting unit that sets a plurality of divided areas by dividing in a first direction and in a second direction, the first direction corresponding to a direction in which a focus state is detected; a focus detection unit that detects first information related to the focus state; a calculation unit that calculates defocus information on the basis of the first information; and a control unit that performs focus control on the basis of the calculated defocus information, wherein in a first mode in which the defocus information for the focus control is calculated by combining pieces of the first information, the calculation unit causes the part of the plurality of divided areas to vary in accordance with pieces of the first information.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus is disclosed which provides an appropriate inclination guide display in accordance with an aspect ratio of a picked-up image and the like. The image pickup apparatus includes an inclination detector which detects an inclination of the image pickup apparatus, a display device capable of superimposedly showing an inclination guide display corresponding to a detection output from the inclination detector, on a picked-up image, and an aspect ratio setter which sets the aspect ratio of a picked-up image. The apparatus includes a display controller which controls whether or not to show the inclination guide display on the display device on the basis of the aspect ratio set by the aspect ratio setter.

Abstract: When a face is detected from image signals, stability determination time is set for determining if the face is recognized in a stable manner, and a period of time for which the face is consecutively detected starts to be measured. Until the measured period of time exceeds the stability determination time, an AF evaluation value acquired from a normal frame set to include a face frame corresponding to the face is used to exercise TV-AF control. Once the measured time exceeds the stability determination time, TV-AF control is exercised based on AF evaluation values acquired from each of the face frame and the normal frame.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a calculator configured to detect a defocus amount based on a contrast evaluation value of a synthesized signal, wherein the synthesized signal is obtained by relatively shifting phases of passband signals of first and second signals through a predetermined frequency band and by synthesizing the passband signals, and a controller capable of changing the predetermined frequency band.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus which is capable of performing stable and high-speed focusing on an object intended by a photographer. In a video camera as the image pickup apparatus, an image pickup element picks up an object image formed by a photographic optical system including a focus lens and thereby outputs a video signal. A face-detecting section detects a face detection area based on the video signal. An AF signal processing circuit generates an AF evaluation value signal. An external ranging unit generates object distance information. A microcomputer performs a TV-AF process using an AF evaluation value of the AF evaluation value signal and an external ranging AF process using the object distance information. The microcomputer controls execution of the two focus control processes according to a result of the detection by the face-detecting section.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus is disclosed which provides an appropriate inclination guide display in accordance with an aspect ratio of a picked-up image and the like. The image pickup apparatus includes an inclination detector which detects an inclination of the image pickup apparatus, a display device capable of superimposedly showing an inclination guide display corresponding to a detection output from the inclination detector, on a picked-up image, and an aspect ratio setter which sets the aspect ratio of a picked-up image. The apparatus includes a display controller which controls whether or not to show the inclination guide display on the display device on the basis of the aspect ratio set by the aspect ratio setter.

Abstract: A subject detection device includes: a first detection unit that detects a region of a first detection target from an image; a second detection unit that detects from the image a region of a second detection target from which the region of the first detection target can be estimated; and a control unit that controls to display in a predetermined mode indicating the region of the first detection target if a predetermined condition is satisfied, wherein when the first detection unit detects the region of the first detection target and the second detection unit detects the region of the second detection target when the control unit controls to not display in the predetermined mode, the control unit reduces the predetermined condition as compared with when the region of the second detection target is not detected.

Abstract: A focus adjustment apparatus comprises a detection unit that detects a subject/subjects having a predetermined characteristic from an image obtained while shooting a moving picture, a selection unit that, in the case where a subject/subjects having the predetermined characteristic have been detected by the detection unit, selects, from the detected subject/subjects, a subject that also fulfills a predetermined condition, and a focus adjustment unit that controls a focus lens to focus on the subject selected by the selection unit. The focus adjustment unit does not control the focus lens in the case where no subject having the predetermined characteristic has been detected by the detection unit.

Abstract: At least either of a location and a size of a subject area that is detected from an image by a first detection unit is corrected based on information about an area corresponding to the subject area detected by the first detection unit, the area being included in an area that is detected from the image by a second detection unit and in which the subject area can be estimated. A particular subject area can be detected in an image with higher accuracy.

Abstract: A focus adjustment apparatus includes an imaging unit, a first detection unit, a second detection unit, and a control unit. The imaging unit receives and photoelectrically converts a light flux passed through a photographing optical system including a focus lens. The first detection unit detects a phase difference between a pair of image signals output from the imaging unit. The second detection unit detects contrast information from a signal output from the imaging unit. The control unit controls driving of the focus lens based on a detection result of at least one of the first detection unit and the second detection unit. If the detection result of the first detection unit satisfies a first condition, the control unit controls driving of the focus lens by using the detection result of the first detection unit, and changes the first condition according to the contrast information detected by the second detection unit.

Abstract: An acquisition unit is configured to acquire first defocus information based on a sensor output corresponding to a first region in an area of a captured image, and to acquire second defocus information based on a sensor output corresponding to a second region in the area. A control unit is configured to obtain defocus information corresponding to the area using the first defocus information and the second defocus information, and to perform focus control based on the obtained defocus information. The first region has a length longer in a phase-difference detection direction than the length of the second region.

Abstract: In an image included in a moving image, a specific area is registered as a reference area, and a specific hue range of the reference area is set as a first feature amount based on the distribution of hues of pixels in the reference area. When the occupation ratio of pixels having hues included in a second feature amount, obtained by expanding the hue range of the first feature amount in a surrounding area larger than the reference area, is smaller than a predetermined ratio, an area having a high degree of correlation is identified from an image using the second feature amount in the subsequent matching process. When the occupation ratio is equal to or larger than the predetermined ratio, an area having a high degree of correlation is identified from an image using the first feature amount in the subsequent matching process.

Abstract: A subject detection device includes: a first detection unit that detects a region of a first detection target from an image; a second detection unit that detects from the image a region of a second detection target from which the region of the first detection target can be estimated; and a control unit that controls to display in a predetermined mode indicating the region of the first detection target if a predetermined condition is satisfied, wherein when the first detection unit detects the region of the first detection target and the second detection unit detects the region of the second detection target when the control unit controls to not display in the predetermined mode, the control unit reduces the predetermined condition as compared with when the region of the second detection target is not detected.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus is disclosed which provides an appropriate inclination guide display in accordance with an aspect ratio of a picked-up image and the like. The image pickup apparatus includes an inclination detector which detects an inclination of the image pickup apparatus, a display device capable of superimposedly showing an inclination guide display corresponding to a detection output from the inclination detector, on a picked-up image, and an aspect ratio setter which sets the aspect ratio of a picked-up image. The apparatus includes a display controller which controls whether or not to show the inclination guide display on the display device on the basis of the aspect ratio set by the aspect ratio setter.

Abstract: At least either of a location and a size of a subject area that is detected from an image by a first detection unit is corrected based on information about an area corresponding to the subject area detected by the first detection unit, the area being included in an area that is detected from the image by a second detection unit and in which the subject area can be estimated. A particular subject area can be detected in an image with higher accuracy.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus is disclosed which provides an appropriate inclination guide display in accordance with an aspect ratio of a picked-up image and the like. The image pickup apparatus includes an inclination detector which detects an inclination of the image pickup apparatus, a display device capable of superimposedly showing an inclination guide display corresponding to a detection output from the inclination detector, on a picked-up image, and an aspect ratio setter which sets the aspect ratio of a picked-up image. The apparatus includes a display controller which controls whether or not to show the inclination guide display on the display device on the basis of the aspect ratio set by the aspect ratio setter.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus is disclosed which provides an appropriate inclination guide display in accordance with an aspect ratio of a picked-up image and the like. The image pickup apparatus includes an inclination detector which detects an inclination of the image pickup apparatus, a display device capable of superimposedly showing an inclination guide display corresponding to a detection output from the inclination detector, on a picked-up image, and an aspect ratio setter which sets the aspect ratio of a picked-up image. The apparatus includes a display controller which controls whether or not to show the inclination guide display on the display device on the basis of the aspect ratio set by the aspect ratio setter.