Abstract: An image-capturing apparatus includes an image-capturing optical system; a sensor unit having line sensors that receive light fluxes of an object, which have been transmitted through a pair of partial areas in an exit pupil of the image-capturing optical system; image-capturing elements having a pixel arrangement capable of generating an image signal and a focus detection pixel sequence, in which two or more pairs of pixels that receive the light fluxes of an object, are arranged in a predetermined direction; a continuous image-capturing unit configured to perform continuous image capturing of actually exposing the image-capturing elements; a signal generation unit configured to perform another exposure for the sensor unit; a first focus detection unit configured to perform focus detection of a phase-difference detection method; a second focus detection unit configured to perform focus detection; and a focus adjustment unit configured to perform focus adjustment.

Abstract: An image pickup system includes an image pickup apparatus and a mount adaptor that adjusts a flange focal length between the image pickup apparatus and an interchangeable lens. The mount adaptor includes a phase-difference focus detection unit that can output a first phase-difference focus detection signal, and an optical device that separates first incident light into second and third incident light. The first incident light is transmitted from the interchangeable lens. The second incident light enters the image pickup apparatus. The third incident light enters the phase-difference focus detection unit. The image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup device that can output a second phase-difference focus detection signal, and a controller that selects either of the first phase-difference focus detection signal and the second phase-difference focus detection signal on the basis of satisfaction of a predetermined condition and performs focusing.

Abstract: An imaging system includes an imaging apparatus which is provided with an imaging device and a mount adaptor which adjusts a flange focal length between the imaging apparatus and an interchangeable lens, wherein the mount adaptor is provided with a phase difference focus detection section which performs focus detection from a phase difference and an optical device which splits incident light from the interchangeable lens into incident light of the imaging device and incident light of the phase difference focus detection section, and the imaging apparatus is provided with a contrast focus detection section which performs focus detection from contrast using the imaging device, an adjustment section which adjusts the focus position of the phase difference focus detection section, and an adjustment control section which activates adjustment control of the focus position using detection of the mounting of the mount adaptor and the interchangeable lens.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: continuous imaging mode setting means for setting a continuous imaging mode in which a plurality of captured images including first and second captured images are continuously acquired; and diaphragm control means for controlling a diaphragm in an imaging optical system, wherein in the continuous imaging mode, the diaphragm control means does not drive the diaphragm during a first period from the time of exposure for the first captured image to the time of exposure for the second captured image but maintains the state of the diaphragm at the time of exposure for the first captured image until the time of exposure for the second captured image.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an imaging optical system; a display unit; a detecting unit performing focus detection in phase difference detection; a focusing unit performing focus control of a lens in the imaging optical system on the basis of the focus detection result; an imaging unit generating an image signal concerning an optical image of a subject; an electronic zoom unit zooming in or out the image of the subject displayed in the display unit on the basis of the image signal by performing signal processing; and a switching unit switching between an electronic zoom active state and an electronic zoom inactive state. The detecting unit includes a sensor unit including a first licensor and a second licensor; a setting unit that sets detection sections having the same section length in the first and second licensors; a focus detecting unit; and a section length controlling unit.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an imaging optical system; a display unit; a detecting unit performing focus detection in phase difference detection; a focusing unit performing focus control of a lens in the imaging optical system on the basis of the focus detection result; an imaging unit generating an image signal concerning an optical image of a subject; an electronic zoom unit zooming in or out the image of the subject displayed in the display unit on the basis of the image signal by performing signal processing; and a switching unit switching between an electronic zoom active state and an electronic zoom inactive state. The detecting unit includes a sensor unit including a first licensor and a second licensor; a setting unit that sets detection sections having the same section length in the first and second licensors; a focus detecting unit; and a section length controlling unit.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an imaging optical system; a display unit; a detecting unit performing focus detection in phase difference detection; a focusing unit performing focus control of a lens in the imaging optical system on the basis of the focus detection result; an imaging unit generating an image signal concerning an optical image of a subject; an electronic zoom unit zooming in or out the image of the subject displayed in the display unit on the basis of the image signal by performing signal processing; and a switching unit switching between an electronic zoom active state and an electronic zoom inactive state. The detecting unit includes a sensor unit including a first licensor and a second licensor; a setting unit that sets detection sections having the same section length in the first and second licensors; a focus detecting unit; and a section length controlling unit.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: continuous imaging mode setting means for setting a continuous imaging mode in which a plurality of captured images including first and second captured images are continuously acquired; and diaphragm control means for controlling a diaphragm in an imaging optical system, wherein in the continuous imaging mode, the diaphragm control means does not drive the diaphragm during a first period from the time of exposure for the first captured image to the time of exposure for the second captured image but maintains the state of the diaphragm at the time of exposure for the first captured image until the time of exposure for the second captured image.

Abstract: An image-capturing apparatus includes an image-capturing optical system; a sensor unit having line sensors that receive light fluxes of an object, which have been transmitted through a pair of partial areas in an exit pupil of the image-capturing optical system; image-capturing elements having a pixel arrangement capable of generating an image signal and a focus detection pixel sequence, in which two or more pairs of pixels that receive the light fluxes of an object, are arranged in a predetermined direction; a continuous image-capturing unit configured to perform continuous image capturing of actually exposing the image-capturing elements; a signal generation unit configured to perform another exposure for the sensor unit; a first focus detection unit configured to perform focus detection of a phase-difference detection method; a second focus detection unit configured to perform focus detection; and a focus adjustment unit configured to perform focus adjustment.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an imaging optical system; a display unit; a detecting unit performing focus detection in phase difference detection; a focusing unit performing focus control of a lens in the imaging optical system on the basis of the focus detection result; an imaging unit generating an image signal concerning an optical image of a subject; an electronic zoom unit zooming in or out the image of the subject displayed in the display unit on the basis of the image signal by performing signal processing; and a switching unit switching between an electronic zoom active state and an electronic zoom inactive state. The detecting unit includes a sensor unit including a first licensor and a second licensor; a setting unit that sets detection sections having the same section length in the first and second licensors; a focus detecting unit; and a section length controlling unit.

Abstract: An auto focus (AF) circuit includes a high-pass filter and band-pass filter having mutually different frequency characteristics. During contrast AF control prior to an actual shooting, AF evaluation values acquired by using the high-pass filter are used most preferentially in detecting the lens focusing position of a focus lens. In this way, the high-pass filter that emphasizes and extracts high frequency band components, which increase in image data when shooting a typical subject, is set to be used preferentially, thereby making it possible to perform high-precision focusing control with respect to various kinds of subjects.

Abstract: A photographing apparatus with a simple mechanism in which an AF sensor is employed as a light adjusting sensor. The apparatus includes a multi-AF sensor having a plurality of detecting areas for receiving light passing through a photographing lens, an AF controller for determining a focus area based upon signals outputted from the multi-AF sensor, and a light emitter for projecting light towards an object to be photographed. Prior to a main flash emission, the light emitter emits light preliminarily. On the basis of signals which are outputted from the detecting areas of the multi-AF sensor and which correspond to a reflected light from the object at time of emitting the preliminary flash light, a suitable area which outputs a suitable signal for photography is selected. On the basis of the signal of the suitable area thus selected, the amount of light of the main flash emission is determined.

Abstract: In a camera having an automatic flash light control system, a quantity of flash light illuminating an object is restricted by a value as an upper limit or a lower limit which is calculated by a distance to the object and an aperture value of a taking lens. When there is any factor for affecting the calculation of the value such as a high reflectance of the object, a specific lens system of the taking lens and a position of the flashing unit with respect to the camera, the limit value is compensated or the restriction by the value is release. When the flash light control has completed, the flash light control mode is distinguished by indication manner corresponding to the result of the actual flash light control.

Abstract: In a camera having an automatic flash light control system, a quantity of flash light illuminating an object is restricted by a value as an upper limit or a lower limit which is calculated by a distance to the object and an aperture value of a taking lens. When there is any factor for affecting the calculation of the value such as a high reflectance of the object, a specific lens system of the taking lens and a position of the flashing unit with respect to the camera, the limit value is compensated or the restriction by the value is release. When the flash light control has completed, the flash light control mode is distinguished by indication manner corresponding to the result of the actual flash light control.

Abstract: A camera is provided with a varifocal lens including a zoom lens system driven by a motor and by a zoom lens drive control section and a focusing lens system driven by a motor and by a focusing lens drive control section for performing focusing before the zoom lens system is driven or while the zoom lens system is being driven. The camera is also provided with a lens switch sensor for determining whether an operation member for starting an exposure operation has been operated and a body control section and a lens control section for halting the driving of the zoom lens system when it is determined that the operation member has been operated by the sensor to re-start the driving of the focusing lens system.

Abstract: A focus detector amplifies a plurality of sets of output signals from a plurality of photoelectric transfer element arrays by the most preferable amplifying mode and focuses a focus of an optical lens system on a desired object among a plurality of objects corresponding to the photoelectric transfer element arrays by selecting a method for deciding a defocus among a nearest position priority method, a lateral direction priority method and a reliability priority method responding to a condition of the objects.

Abstract: A focus detector amplifies a plurality of sets of output signals from a plurality of photoelectric transfer element arrays by the most preferable amplifying mode and focuses a focus of an optical lens system on a desired object among a plurality of objects corresponding to the photoelectric transfer element arrays by selecting a method for deciding a defocus among a nearest position priority method, a lateral direction priority method and a reliability priority method responding to a condition of the objects.

Abstract: In a flash light amount control device capable of operating according to multiple methods, the flash light control method alternates according to the detected AF mode setting, the camera panning status, or the reliability of the detected object distance. For example, if AF lock is on, control is performed by flash light adjustment, but if AF lock is not on, control is performed by flashmatic. If panning is performed after AF lock, the method of control alternates between flash light adjustment and flashmatic in response to the amount of panning movement.

Abstract: A focus detector amplifies a plurality of sets of output signals from a plurality of photoelectric transfer element arrays by the most preferable amplifying mode and focuses a focus of an optical lens system on a desired object among a plurality of objects corresponding to the photoelectric transfer element arrays by selecting a method for deciding a defocus among a nearest position priority method, a lateral direction priority method and a reliability priority method responding to a condition of the objects.

Abstract: In a flash light amount control device capable of operating according to multiple methods, the flash light control method alternates according to the detected AF mode setting, the camera panning status, or the reliability of the detected object distance. For example, if AF lock is on, control is performed by flash light adjustment, but if AF lock is not on, control is performed by flashmatic. If panning is performed after AF lock, the method of control alternates between flash light adjustment and flashmatic in response to the amount of panning movement.