Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, once the mode setting device sets the person photographing mode, and the face zooming instruction device instructs zooming to the face of the person, the detection device detects the size of the face of the person captured by the image pickup device. The zooming device is then controlled so as to capture the face of the person in a certain size based on the detection result. Subsequently, the photographer instructs zooming in the telephoto direction or the wide direction using the zooming instruction device as necessary to thereby allow fine adjustment of the composition. This enables to easily and quickly photograph an image in a user's desired composition.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, once the mode setting device sets the person photographing mode, and the face zooming instruction device instructs zooming to the face of the person, the detection device detects the size of the face of the person captured by the image pickup device. The zooming device is then controlled so as to capture the face of the person in a certain size based on the detection result. Subsequently, the photographer instructs zooming in the telephoto direction or the wide direction using the zooming instruction device as necessary to thereby allow fine adjustment of the composition. This enables to easily and quickly photograph an image in a user's desired composition.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention provides an image taking apparatus comprising a flash emission device, a flash control device which adjusts a flash emission amount at the time of image taking using flash, an automatic focusing device which automatically performs focusing of an image taking lens, a determination device which determines, based on data on focusing performed by the automatic focusing device, whether or not a shooting distance is shorter than a normal shooting distance range at the time of image taking using flash, and a sensitivity setting device which sets a camera sensitivity at the time of image taking using flash, the sensitivity setting device which sets a camera sensitivity lower than a standard camera sensitivity set in advance with respect to the normal shooting distance range if the determination device determines that the shooting distance is shorter.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, once the mode setting device sets the person photographing mode, and the face zooming instruction device instructs zooming to the face of the person, the detection device detects the size of the face of the person captured by the image pickup device. The zooming device is then controlled so as to capture the face of the person in a certain size based on the detection result. Subsequently, the photographer instructs zooming in the telephoto direction or the wide direction using the zooming instruction device as necessary to thereby allow fine adjustment of the composition. This enables to easily and quickly photograph an image in a user's desired composition.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, once the mode setting device sets the person photographing mode, and the face zooming instruction device instructs zooming to the face of the person, the detection device detects the size of the face of the person captured by the image pickup device. The zooming device is then controlled so as to capture the face of the person in a certain size based on the detection result. Subsequently, the photographer instructs zooming in the telephoto direction or the wide direction using the zooming instruction device as necessary to thereby allow fine adjustment of the composition. This enables to easily and quickly photograph an image in a user's desired composition.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, once the mode setting device sets the person photographing mode, and the face zooming instruction device instructs zooming to the face of the person, the detection device detects the size of the face of the person captured by the image pickup device. The zooming device is then controlled so as to capture the face of the person in a certain size based on the detection result. Subsequently, the photographer instructs zooming in the telephoto direction or the wide direction using the zooming instruction device as necessary to thereby allow fine adjustment of the composition. This enables to easily and quickly photograph an image in a user's desired composition.

Abstract: Upon depression of a release button, pre-shooting is performed before regular shooting. In the pre-shooting, flash of a predetermined amount is emitted and exposure of an image sensor is performed. A shooting frame is divided into small areas. As to each of the small areas, subject brightness of pre-emission and subject brightness of non-emission are detected to calculate a difference between them. The small area having the maximum difference is selected as a main-subject area. The brightness of the non-emission of the selected small area, which is the brightness of an ambient light applied to the main subject, is set as reference brightness. A correction amount of the flash amount of the regular shooting corresponding to the reference brightness is derived with reference to an LUT. In the regular shooting, regular emission is performed during a regular-emission time corresponding to the collected flash amount.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, once the mode setting device sets the person photographing mode, and the face zooming instruction device instructs zooming to the face of the person, the detection device detects the size of the face of the person captured by the image pickup device. The zooming device is then controlled so as to capture the face of the person in a certain size based on the detection result. Subsequently, the photographer instructs zooming in the telephoto direction or the wide direction using the zooming instruction device as necessary to thereby allow fine adjustment of the composition. This enables to easily and quickly photograph an image in a user's desired composition.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention provides an image taking apparatus comprising a flash emission device, a flash control device which adjusts a flash emission amount at the time of image taking using flash, an automatic focusing device which automatically performs focusing of an image taking lens, a determination device which determines, based on data on focusing performed by the automatic focusing device, whether or not a shooting distance is shorter than a normal shooting distance range at the time of image taking using flash, and a sensitivity setting device which sets a camera sensitivity at the time of image taking using flash, the sensitivity setting device which sets a camera sensitivity lower than a standard camera sensitivity set in advance with respect to the normal shooting distance range if the determination device determines that the shooting distance is shorter.

Abstract: Upon depression of a release button, pre-shooting is performed before regular shooting. In the pre-shooting, flash of a predetermined amount is emitted and exposure of an image sensor is performed. A shooting frame is divided into small areas. As to each of the small areas, subject brightness of pre-emission and subject brightness of non-emission are detected to calculate a difference between them. The small area having the maximum difference is selected as a main-subject area. The brightness of the non-emission of the selected small area, which is the brightness of an ambient light applied to the main subject, is set as reference brightness. A correction amount of the flash amount of the regular shooting corresponding to the reference brightness is derived with reference to an LUT. In the regular shooting, regular emission is performed during a regular-emission time corresponding to the collected flash amount.

Abstract: An image-taking apparatus performs a correct dimming process while eliminating an influence of flickers in the case of image taking by use of flash light under a flicker light source that exhibits intensity variation of illumination light at a commercial power source frequency of 50 Hz or 60 Hz. A time period of 50 milliseconds is defined as a process cycle as zero points coincide with each other between those of the two frequencies. An amount of light received from an object field is obtained in a first 50-millisecond interval after a full-press action, and an amount of preliminary light emission is obtained in a second 50-millisecond interval. An appropriate amount of light for main light emission is obtained in a third 50-millisecond interval. In this way, main light emission is performed at an accurate amount of light emission.

Abstract: A power source part supplies power to an electronic flash charging circuit and camera circuits such as an LCD backlight circuit. When the charge begins, the electricity stops being supplied to the camera circuits, and a high current (first charging current) is sent to the electronic flash charging circuit so that the electronic flash is rapidly charged. When the charging voltage of the electronic flash reaches a light-emission-possible voltage that is lower than a full-charge voltage, the charging current is lowered and the charge is continued, and the camera circuits such as the LCD backlight circuit and an imaging circuit start to be activated at the same time. Thus, a decline of the performance of the electronic flash such as a decline of the guide number and a reduction of the light-emission-possible time can be prevented, and the preparation time from the start of the charge to the time at which the camera gets ready for the shooting can be shortened.