Abstract: An exposure control apparatus for controlling an exposure adjustment mechanism on the basis of a captured image signal includes the following elements. A face detecting unit detects a face of a person appearing in a captured image on the basis of the captured image signal. A histogram data determining unit determines histogram data by setting a face detection region in the captured image according to detection information and detecting at least a brightness value of the face detection region from the captured image signal. A target brightness setting unit sets a target brightness range for desired brightness of the face. An exposure control amount determining unit determines, when a face is detected, an amount of control for the exposure adjustment mechanism by comparing the target brightness range with a brightness value at a peak of the histogram data or a brightness region in the vicinity of the peak.

Abstract: A face importance level determining apparatus for determining an importance level for a photographer with respect to a face of a person appearing in an image may include the following elements. A face information obtaining unit obtains face size information and position information that are detected from an input image signal. A first calculating unit calculates a first importance level factor on the basis of the size information. A second calculating unit calculates a second importance level factor on the basis of the position information. A third calculating unit calculates the importance level on the basis of the first importance level factor and the second importance level factor.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit configured to take an image of a subject; a histogram producing unit configured to produce a histogram of image data of the image; a tone correction unit configured to make a tone correction on the image data; a feature histogram table including a plurality of feature histograms respectively corresponding to a plurality of reference image patterns; an input-output characteristic table including a plurality of input-output characteristics respectively corresponding to the plurality of feature histograms; an input-output characteristic adjustment unit configured to calculate the similarity of the histogram produced by the histogram producing unit with respect to each feature histogram, to select an input-output characteristic according to the calculated similarity, and to adjust the selected input-output characteristic in accordance with the similarity, wherein the tone correction unit is configured to make the tone correction based on the input-output characteristi

Abstract: A face importance level determining apparatus for determining an importance level for a photographer with respect to a face of a person appearing in an image may include the following elements. A face information obtaining unit obtains face size information and position information that are detected from an input image signal. A first calculating unit calculates a first importance level factor on the basis of the size information. A second calculating unit calculates a second importance level factor on the basis of the position information. A third calculating unit calculates the importance level on the basis of the first importance level factor and the second importance level factor.

Abstract: An exposure control apparatus for controlling an exposure adjustment mechanism on the basis of a captured image signal includes the following elements. A face detecting unit detects a face of a person appearing in a captured image on the basis of the captured image signal. A histogram data determining unit determines histogram data by setting a face detection region in the captured image according to detection information and detecting at least a brightness value of the face detection region from the captured image signal. A target brightness setting unit sets a target brightness range for desired brightness of the face. An exposure control amount determining unit determines, when a face is detected, an amount of control for the exposure adjustment mechanism by comparing the target brightness range with a brightness value at a peak of the histogram data or a brightness region in the vicinity of the peak.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit configured to take an image of a subject; a histogram producing unit configured to produce a histogram of image data of the image; a tone correction unit configured to make a tone correction on the image data; a feature histogram table including a plurality of feature histograms respectively corresponding to a plurality of reference image patterns; an input-output characteristic table including a plurality of input-output characteristics respectively corresponding to the plurality of feature histograms; an input-output characteristic adjustment unit configured to calculate the similarity of the histogram produced by the histogram producing unit with respect to each feature histogram, to select an input-output characteristic according to the calculated similarity, and to adjust the selected input-output characteristic in accordance with the similarity, wherein the tone correction unit is configured to make the tone correction based on the input-output characteristi