Abstract: An image pickup apparatus that uses an area of an image pickup device, which has better characteristics, as an imaging area. The image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup optical system having a fish-eye lens. An image pickup device is movable relative to the image pickup optical system, and converts an object image formed through the image pickup optical system to electric signals. A characteristic detection section acquires characteristics of the image pickup device, and an imaging position detection section acquires an imaging position of the object image on the image pickup device. A target position to which the image pickup device is to be moved is determined based on the acquired characteristics of the image pickup device, and the acquired imaging position.

Abstract: Image capturing apparatuses having an exposure control unit configured to execute exposure control by changing at least one of parameters of an aperture value, an accumulation period of a charge in an image sensor, and an amplification amount of a signal output by the image sensor; and a generation unit configured to generate aperture control information related to a change in the aperture value in the exposure control are included. In a case where an aperture value is changed in accordance with a luminance change of an object, the generation unit generates the aperture control information with which, with respect to a specific aperture value which is settable, an actual aperture value discretely changes. In the case where an aperture value is changed in accordance with the luminance change of the object, on the basis of the aperture control information, the exposure control unit discretely changes the aperture value.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus that uses an area of an image pickup device, which has better characteristics, as an imaging area. The image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup optical system having a fish-eye lens. An image pickup device is movable relative to the image pickup optical system, and converts an object image formed through the image pickup optical system to electric signals. A characteristic detection section acquires characteristics of the image pickup device, and an imaging position detection section acquires an imaging position of the object image on the image pickup device. A target position to which the image pickup device is to be moved is determined based on the acquired characteristics of the image pickup device, and the acquired imaging position.

Abstract: Image capturing apparatuses having an exposure control unit configured to execute exposure control by changing at least one of parameters of an aperture value, an accumulation period of a charge in an image sensor, and an amplification amount of a signal output by the image sensor; and a generation unit configured to generate aperture control information related to a change in the aperture value in the exposure control are included. In a case where an aperture value is changed in accordance with a luminance change of an object, the generation unit generates the aperture control information with which, with respect to a specific aperture value which is settable, an actual aperture value discretely changes. In the case where an aperture value is changed in accordance with the luminance change of the object, on the basis of the aperture control information, the exposure control unit discretely changes the aperture value.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprising: an acquisition unit configured to acquire an image signal obtained by imaging an object by an image sensing unit; a generation unit configured to obtain a luminance distribution of the object based on the obtained image signal; a division unit configured to divide a region having a luminance lower than a predetermined luminance in the generated luminance distribution into a predetermined number of sub-regions, and obtain a most frequent region having a highest luminance frequency from the divided sub-regions; a selection unit configured to select a correction table corresponding to the obtained most frequent region from a plurality of correction tables stored in a storage unit; and a processing unit configured to perform a tone correction process on the image signal by using the selected correction table.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus capable of communicating with an external apparatus via a network includes, a combining unit configured to combine a plurality of images captured under different exposure conditions, an exposure setting unit configured to acquire an image under a set exposure condition, a reception unit configured to receive a command for specifying an operation of the combining unit and the exposure setting unit from the external apparatus, and a first control unit configured to control a timing of the operation of the exposure setting unit, specified by the command received by the reception unit, based on an operation state of at least one of the combining unit and the exposure setting unit.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus capable of communicating with an external apparatus via a network includes, a combining unit configured to combine a plurality of images captured under different exposure conditions, an exposure setting unit configured to acquire an image under a set exposure condition, a reception unit configured to receive a command for specifying an operation of the combining unit and the exposure setting unit from the external apparatus, and a first control unit configured to control a timing of the operation of the exposure setting unit, specified by the command received by the reception unit, based on an operation state of at least one of the combining unit and the exposure setting unit.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus capable of communicating with an external apparatus via a network includes, a combining unit configured to combine a plurality of images captured under different exposure conditions, an exposure setting unit configured to acquire an image under a set exposure condition, a reception unit configured to receive a command for specifying an operation of the combining unit and the exposure setting unit from the external apparatus, and a first control unit configured to control a timing of the operation of the exposure setting unit, specified by the command received by the reception unit, based on an operation state of at least one of the combining unit and the exposure setting unit.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus capable of communicating with an external apparatus via a network includes, a combining unit configured to combine a plurality of images captured under different exposure conditions, an exposure setting unit configured to acquire an image under a set exposure condition, a reception unit configured to receive a command for specifying an operation of the combining unit and the exposure setting unit from the external apparatus, and a first control unit configured to control a timing of the operation of the exposure setting unit, specified by the command received by the reception unit, based on an operation state of at least one of the combining unit and the exposure setting unit.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus which is capable of suppressing changes in luminance during motion with high shutter speed while minimizing image degradation. An image pickup device accumulates electric charge corresponding to an amount of light incident thereon. An amplification unit amplifies a signal obtained as a result of accumulating electric charge in the image pickup apparatus. A control unit controls an electric charge accumulation time period in the image pickup device. An adjustment unit adjusts an amplification factor for the amplification unit. In a case where the control unit changes the electric charge accumulation time period while the image pickup device is repeatedly accumulating electric charge, the adjustment unit adjusts an amplification factor in accordance with the amount of change in the electric charge accumulation time period, and after adjustment, the adjustment unit brings the adjusted amplification factor close to an amplification factor before adjustment in steps.

Abstract: An image-taking apparatus changes a switching threshold value for switching between a color mode and a monochrome mode according to a maximum gain value set by a maximum gain setting unit so that switching between the color and monochrome modes can be optimally performed regardless of setting of the maximum gain value. The image-taking apparatus includes a threshold value correction unit configured to correct the switching threshold value according to the maximum gain value. The threshold value correction unit sets the switching threshold value with the maximum gain value set larger than an initial value to be smaller than the switching threshold value with the maximum gain value set smaller than the initial value.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprising: an acquisition unit configured to acquire an image signal obtained by imaging an object by an image sensing unit; a generation unit configured to obtain a luminance distribution of the object based on the obtained image signal; a division unit configured to divide a region having a luminance lower than a predetermined luminance in the generated luminance distribution into a predetermined number of sub-regions, and obtain a most frequent region having a highest luminance frequency from the divided sub-regions; a selection unit configured to select a correction table corresponding to the obtained most frequent region from a plurality of correction tables stored in a storage unit; and a processing unit configured to perform a tone correction process on the image signal by using the selected correction table.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus has: a first image processing unit for generating first image data by executing a dodging processing to an image signal obtained by picking up an image of an object; and a second image processing unit for generating second image data by executing a dodging processing having a stronger effect thereof than that of the dodging processing by the first image processing unit to the image signal, wherein the first image processing unit repeats the dodging processing a plurality of times.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus has: a first image processing unit for generating first image data by executing a dodging processing to an image signal obtained by picking up an image of an object; and a second image processing unit for generating second image data by executing a dodging processing having a stronger effect thereof than that of the dodging processing by the first image processing unit to the image signal, wherein the first image processing unit repeats the dodging processing a plurality of times.