Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a photometry section, an exposure calculating section, an imaging section, and an image processing section. The photometry section performs the photometry of a subject. The exposure calculating section sets exposure conditions based on a photometry result of the photometry section. The imaging section images the subject in accordance with the exposure conditions to generate image data. The image processing section is capable of performing the image correction to perform improvement of luminosity for the dark region, on the image data generated in the imaging section. In the above described configuration, the exposure calculating section determines exposure conditions according to correction setting of the image correction in the image processing section.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an image pickup unit generating image data, a selecting unit selecting any one of a first photographic mode that does not correct dark area gradation of the image data and a second photographic mode that corrects the dark area gradation of the image data, a gradation conversion processing unit performing a gradation conversion processing according to a first input-output characteristic when the first photographic mode is selected, and performing a gradation conversion processing according to a second input-output characteristic different from the first input-output characteristic when the second photographic mode is selected, and a correcting unit performing a correction of improving lightness of the dark area gradation of the image data when the second photographic mode is selected. Therefore, when correction of the dark area gradation is performed, the lightness of the whole image can be maintained while the contrast of a highlight area is improved.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an input section, an adjusting section, and a correcting section. The input section acquires image data and information about subject condition at the time of photographing the image data. The adjusting section determines a brightness enhancement amount of dark area gradation of the image data, depending on the subject condition at the time of photographing. The correcting section performs image correction of brightness enhancement on the dark area gradation of the image data according to the brightness enhancement amount determined by the adjusting section.

Abstract: An electronic camera includes an image-capturing element that captures a subject image and outputs image-capturing signals each corresponding to a pixel; and a control device that executes gradation correction on the image-capturing signals output by the image-capturing element.

Abstract: A digital still camera according to the present invention can obtain an image with appropriate brightness easily without an increase in memory capacity. The digital still camera of the present invention includes: an image-capturing unit which captures a field of object to generate an image; a photometry unit which measures a luminance of a predetermined area of the field of object; a calculating unit which calculates a ratio between a luminance value of a portion of the image captured according to the luminance measured by the photometry unit, and a target luminance value of the predetermined area, the portion corresponding to the predetermined area; and a correcting unit which corrects the image generated by the image-capturing unit according to the ratio.

Abstract: Guide numbers tgn1, tgn2 as expected light amounts of a main flashlight and a remote flashlight are added for the calculation of an expected illumination amount of each divided photometric region. If there is an over-illuminated region, among the divided photometric regions, in which the expected illumination amount exceeds a proper illumination amount for a subject, the guide numbers tgn1 and tgn2 are decreased such that of the two flashlights, the one illuminating the over-illuminated region more is given a larger decrease. In this manner, guide numbers gn1, gn2 for main flash of the main flashlight and the remote flashlight are calculated so as to adjust the expected illumination amount of the over-illuminated region to a proper value.

Abstract: A digital still camera according to the present invention can obtain an image with appropriate brightness easily without an increase in memory capacity. The digital still camera of the present invention includes: an image-capturing unit which captures a field of object to generate an image; a photometry unit which measures a luminance of a predetermined area of the field of object; a calculating unit which calculates a ratio between a luminance value of a portion of the image captured according to the luminance measured by the photometry unit, and a target luminance value of the predetermined area, the portion corresponding to the predetermined area; and a correcting unit which corrects the image generated by the image-capturing unit according to the ratio.

Abstract: Guide numbers tgn1, tgn2 as expected light amounts of a main flashlight and a remote flashlight are added for the calculation of an expected illumination amount of each divided photometric region. If there is an over-illuminated region, among the divided photometric regions, in which the expected illumination amount exceeds a proper illumination amount for a subject, the guide numbers tgn1 and tgn2 are decreased such that of the two flashlights, the one illuminating the over-illuminated region more is given a larger decrease. In this manner, guide numbers gn1, gn2 for main flash of the main flashlight and the remote flashlight are calculated so as to adjust the expected illumination amount of the over-illuminated region to a proper value.

Abstract: An electronic camera includes an image-capturing element that captures a subject image and outputs image-capturing signals each corresponding to a pixel; and a control device that executes gradation correction on the image-capturing signals output by the image-capturing element.

Abstract: A camera comprises a storage-type photometering sensor that detects some of light from a subject; a control device that controls an auxiliary illumination device so as to perform a preliminary light emission through a single-shot light emission and controls the storage-type photometering sensor so as to detect the subject light stored over a storage period matching a length of time over which light is emitted during the preliminary light emission; and a setting device that sets a light emission condition under which the auxiliary illumination device is to emit light during a flash photographing operation based upon detection results obtained at the storage-type photometering sensor.

Abstract: A camera comprises a storage-type photometering sensor that detects some of light from a subject; a control device that controls an auxiliary illumination device so as to perform a preliminary light emission through a single-shot light emission and controls the storage-type photometering sensor so as to detect the subject light stored over a storage period matching a length of time over which light is emitted during the preliminary light emission; and a setting device that sets a light emission condition under which the auxiliary illumination device is to emit light during a flash photographing operation based upon detection results obtained at the storage-type photometering sensor.

Abstract: A device includes a photometry element for photometrically measuring object light while dividing the object light into a plurality of color components, and an exposure controller for calculating an exposure control value on the basis of a plurality of photometry outputs corresponding to the color components from the photometry element. In the device, the photometry element divides object light into a plurality of color components, e.g., R, G, and B three primary colors, and performs level detection in units of color components. The exposure controller preferably determines, as an exposure control value, a color component of a maximum level of the photometry outputs corresponding to the color components which are measured by the photometry element. Exposure control is executed by calculating an aperture value, a shutter speed, and the like on the basis of the determined exposure control value.

Abstract: A photometric system is provided in which the value is obtained when the center-weighted photometric value and the like are determined from a plurality of separate photometric outputs is the same value that is obtained when photometry is accomplished on the same area when it is treated as a single cell. The photometric system includes a photometric element which divides the subject field into regions in order to measure the light quantity, a photometric mode selection unit which selects a photometric mode, a plurality of addition units which add together certain outputs from the outputs of the photometric element 11 in accordance with the selection made by a photometric mode selection switch, and a logarithm conversion unit which converts the output of the plurality of addition units into logarithms.

Abstract: An auto-focusing device for a camera according to the present invention comprises many different systems. Included is a focus detection section which intermittently calculates focus detection information corresponding to the distance to the photographic subject. Also included is a photographic subject position prediction section which predicts a future position of the photographic subject based on the focus detection information. Finally, a lens driving section then drives a photographic lens based on a predicted result of the photographic subject position predicting section. The photographic subject position predicting section includes a neural network that predicts the future position of the photographic subject with an input parameter that has values regarding focusing positions of the photographic lens. These values correspond to focus detection data calculated by the focus detection section. The neural network makes it possible to predict the future focusing position of the photographic lens accurately.

Abstract: A photometric device, used in an optical apparatus such as a camera, which includes photometric elements to measure photometric values according to plural regions of a subject field, and corrects the photometric values of photometric elements corresponding to specific regions within the plural regions based on the photometric values of regions outside the specific region and on previously set correction coefficients according to each region. The location of the specific regions on the subject field may be adjusted either manually or automatically based upon a focus adjustment state of a focus detection unit.

Abstract: A photometric device for use in a camera includes, but is not limited to, a segmented brightness measuring unit which segments a photographic scene of a camera into multiple areas and which outputs corresponding multiple photometric values. A spectral analysis unit performs spectral analysis of the spatial frequency of a photographic subject using the corresponding multiple photometric values output by the segmented brightness measuring unit. Also, a photometric computation unit computes photometric values based on the spectral pattern of the photographic subject output by the spectral analysis unit. The spectral analysis unit may be disposed within the photometric device, or may be located elsewhere in a camera's body.

Abstract: An automatic focusing apparatus repetitively detects a defocus amount of a photographing lens, discriminates whether or not an object is moving, and calculates a pursuit correction amount for a moving object on the basis of present and previous defocus amounts. When a non-moving object is discriminated, a drive amount of the lens is calculated on the basis of the present defocus amount, and when a moving object is discriminated the drive amount is calculated on the basis of a pursuit drive amount as a sum of the present defocus amount and the pursuit correction amount. A pursuit enable/disable determining device determines whether the drive amount is calculated on the basis of the discrimination result or on the basis of the present defocus amount.

Abstract: An optical low-pass filter is built with circular phase components consisting of randomly distributed convex and concave surfaces. The area of the phase components is structured to cover 1/2 the entire surface area of the low-pass filter. Moreover, the phase components are set to a height such that the phase difference between the light passing through the phase components and the other areas of the filter is 1/2 its wavelength. The optical low-pass filter is installed in front of the photometric optical system. It is therefore possible to precisely measure light regardless of incidence of light from the photographic subject even when using photometric sensors that have been divided into multiple units.

Abstract: An auto focusing apparatus in a camera comprises a detecting device for detecting the measured distance values of an object corresponding to a plurality of areas in a photographing image field, a first determining device for determining a first measured distance value which is the measured distance value of the shortest distance from the plurality of measured distance values detected by the detecting device, a comparing device for comparing the first measured distance value determined by the first determining device with a threshold value, a second determining device for determining the mean value of the plurality of measured distance values detected by the detecting device as a second measured distance value, and a driving device for driving a photo-taking lens on the basis of the first measured distance value when it is judged by the comparing device that the first measured distance value is smaller than the threshold value, and driving the photo-taking lens on the basis of the second measured distance valu

Abstract: An auto focusing apparatus in a camera comprises a detecting device for detecting the measured distance values of an object corresponding to a plurality of areas in a photographing image field, a first determining device for determining a first measured distance value which is the measured distance value of the shortest distance from the plurality of measured distance values detected by the detecting device, a comparing device for comparing the first measured distance value determined by the first determining device with a threshold value, a second determining device for determining the mean value of the plurality of measured distance values detected by the detecting device as a second measured distance value, and a driving device for driving a photo-taking lens on the basis of the first measured distance value when it is judged by the comparing device that the first measured distance value is smaller than the threshold value, and driving the photo-taking lens on the basis of the second measured distance valu