Abstract: An imaging device with an enhanced degree of freedom in device settings based on commands, thereby improving the usability of an imaging device. When the user of an imaging device operates a menu switch, a composite image of a top menu image superimposed on a currently set source image, for example, a camera image, as a background image is displayed on a monitor. In response to the user's selection of an advanced settings command icon on the top menu image through the operations of the menu switch and circumferential switches surrounding the menu switch, the display on the monitor is changed from the composite image including the top menu image to a lower-layer menu image. Some of command icons included in the lower-layer menu image are different from command icons included in the top menu image. A top menu return command icon and a menu image deletion command icon may be included.

Abstract: In response to a power-on of a main switch, a composite image comprising a menu image including multiple command icons for device settings, and a source image from a currently set image input source as a background image, is displayed on an internal monitor of an imaging device. The user can thus select desired command icons for device settings among the multiple command icons in the menu image, while visually checking the background source image. Only the source image without the menu image is displayed on an external display device, which is used for a presentation given to the audience. This arrangement desirably improves the usability of the imaging device, while preventing the display of the menu image on the external display device from damaging the effect of the presentation given to the audience.

Abstract: This attempts to reduce the total number of physical operation switches while simplifying device settings based on commands. In a command setting mode where a composite image of a menu image with a source image as a background is displayed on a monitor 114, a menu switch 112M functions to set a selected command icon. An up switch 112U and other circumferential switches surrounding the menu switch 112M function to select one of multiple command icons included in the menu image. In a mode other than the command setting mode, the circumferential switches function as physical operation switches to change over an on-off condition of a lighting unit and to select an image input source. This arrangement desirably reduces the total number of physical operation switches, while simplifying the device settings based on commands.

Abstract: This attempts to enhance the degree of freedom in device settings based on commands and thereby improving the usability of an imaging device. When the user of an imaging device operates a menu switch 112M, a composite image of a top menu image superimposed on a currently set source image, for example, a camera image, as a background image is displayed on a monitor 114. In response to the user's selection of an advanced settings command icon MC on the top menu image through the operations of the menu switch 112M and circumferential switches surrounding the menu switch 112M, the display on the monitor 114 is changed from the composite image including the top menu image to a lower-layer menu image. Some of command icons included in the lower-layer menu image are different from command icons included in the top menu image. This arrangement desirably enhances the degree of freedom in device settings based on commands and thereby improves the usability of the imaging device.

Abstract: This attempts to improve the user's visibility on the device settings and variety of other conditions of the imaging device and thereby enhancing the usability of the imaging device. In an imaging device, a modulated light source 119 located below a menu switch 112M is under control of a switch display light modulator 230 to change the color of light emission. A displayed image on a monitor 114 or an external display device is selectable among a camera image taken with a camera head 120, a memory image read from a memory SD, and a PC image input from a personal computer 410 as an image of a currently set image input source. The color of light emission from the modulated light source 119 is changed according to the setting of the image input source. This arrangement improves the user's visibility of a variety of device settings and thereby enhances the usability of the imaging device.

Abstract: This attempts to improve the usability, while preventing a damage of the effect of presentation given to the audience. In response to a power-on of a main switch 110S, a composite image of a menu image including multiple command icons for device settings with a source image from a currently set image input source as a background image is displayed on an internal monitor 114 of an imaging device 100. The user can thus select desired command icons for device settings among the multiple command icons in the menu image, while visually checking the background source image. Only the source image without the menu image is displayed on an external display device, which is used for a presentation given to the audience. This arrangement desirably improves the usability of the imaging device, while preventing the display of the menu image on the external display device from damaging the effect of the presentation given to the audience.