Abstract: A sub-control section (118), once a power source is turned on, determines whether or not drawing-out of a lens barrel (200) by the movement of a zoom lens (202) is executed based upon respective signal levels of a focusing position sensor (218) and a zoom position sensor (219). When the drawing-out is executed, the zoom lens (202) is moved by a predetermined distance. The other main control section (112) executes the drawing-out singly if the sub-control section (118) does not draw out the lens barrel (200), while it further draws out the lens barrel (200) and interrupts it at a photographing standby position unless the sub-control section (118) draws out the lens barrel (200). The further drawing-out is executed after the level of an output signal of an encoder (200) is left unchanged.

Abstract: In a voice mode, when a shutter button of a camera is fully depressed, first and second switches are turned ON, recording of voice starts. The shutter button is released. When the shutter button is half depressed after the shutter button is released the recording of the voice is stopped. Since the recording of voice is performed between when the shutter button is released and when it is depressed half, no mechanical sound is recorded.

Abstract: A digital camera further includes a compression/multiplex section for providing compressed motion picture data by compressing the respective frames constituting a motion picture in a predetermined operation mode, a communication interface for outputting the compressed motion picture data in an appropriate format, and a picture selection unit which permits a user to select a picture. When the user selects a picture, the compression/multiplex section outputs the selected picture instead of compressed motion picture data.

Abstract: The digital camera includes a CPU which controls the operation of the digital camera. The digital camera has an audio recording mode in which sound data can be continuously recorded. If this audio recording mode is under execution and if the CPU receives an instruction, through the operation section, to capture a still image of an object, the CPU provides control to record the sound and the image data corresponding to the still image simultaneously.

Abstract: In a digital camera, a pre-measuring device obtains color temperature information according to external light in a preliminary exposure. A white balance control value is then determined. The white balance is subsequently adjusted when a strobe light is generated. A regular exposure is thereafter made using the strobe light and the image is recorded for future processing.

Abstract: An image processing method and an image processing apparatus in which a DCT section transforms image data to a frequency conversion coefficient using a discrete cosine transform coefficient, a quantizing section quantizes the transformed frequency conversion coefficient using a quantization coefficient indicating weighing in quantization, a Huffman encoding section encodes the quantized data, and a CPU detects a code rate for encoded data by a prespecified time interval during execution of processing for encoding the data quantized by the encoding means and changes the quantization coefficient during processing for encoding according to the detected code rate.

Abstract: In each optional area of an object to be photographed, image data obtained when a strobe (10) flashes a light and a CCD (3) is exposed to light from the object is compared with image data obtained when the CCD (3) is exposed to light from the object without flashing a light from the strobe by a data processing section 6. A CPU (12) then determines how much the light of the strobe contributes to photography in the each area which has been compared. After that, the CPU (12) suitably selects either a white balance control value given when the strobe does not flash a light or a predetermined white control value given when the strobe flashes a light and performs final white balance control. Both of the values are determined based on sensor data transmitted from a color measuring sensor (9) or based on an image signal transmitted from the CCD (3).

Abstract: A CPU (11) checks a photographic storing mode for a still image or animate object which is determined when photography takes place and a compression rate mode (a compression rate depends on normal, economy, and the like). When the checked mode coincides with a photographic storing mode or compression rate mode stored in an EEPROM (12) when photographs were taken, a scale factor is read which is stored in the EEPROM (12) in correspondence with the respective modes and which has been used for compressing and coding. After that, the scale factor is set in a data compression/extension section (7) and is used as a scale factor for the compression/coding in the present photography. Accordingly, the time required to determine a scale factor is shortened, and an error generated when an image signal is stored is prevented. Accordingly, a good photographic result can be obtained.

Abstract: A camera which imprints alphanumeric messages on the film. The camera allows a user to view, in the order of most frequently used, the messages which can be imprinted. In order to reduce the cost of the camera, there is a dot matrix LCD display which can only display a limited number of characters which is less than the total number of characters of the largest message. After a user takes a picture, the dot matrix display scrolls through the message which has been imprinted on the film so that the user can confirm that the correct message has been imprinted. The speed at which the characters are scrolled or displayed is determined based on the total number of characters of the message. As an alternative to scrolling, the characters can be displayed one or two at a time. As an alternative, instead of displaying the alpha-numerical characters of the message, a graphical indication is given that some type of information has been imprinted on the film.

Abstract: A camera comprising: a switch for starting a photo-taking sequence; a photo-taking lens system which is able to expand and contract to focus a subject to be photographed in accordance with a projecting operation of the lens; a distance measuring unit for measuring distance to the subject to be photographed; a lens drive unit for driving the lens system to move to expand or contract in accordance with the lens projecting operation; and a first calculation unit for calculating a movement amount of the lens system on the basis of the measurement result transmitted from the distance measuring unit. The camera is featured to comprise a comparator unit for comparing two distance measurement results obtained during one projecting operation of the lens system; a memory unit for memorizing data from the distance measuring unit and first calculation unit.

Abstract: A camera that is equipped with a function of preventing a blurring of a picture caused by a hand movement of the camera operator. The camera comprises a first detector which detects a moving speed of the camera caused by a hand movement of the camera operator. An image moving speed on a film surface is then calculated on the basis of the moving speed detected by the first detector. A second detector detects a peak speed of the calculated image moving speed and a time of the peak speed. A presumptive image moving speed and a presumptive image moving quantity after the time of detecting the peak speed are then calculated on the basis of the peak speed and the time of the speak speed. In this way, the camera can function to control an exposure time and prevent a picture from blurring due to a hand movement by the camera operator, while still providing a camera which is small in size and simple in construction.