Abstract: A digital camera is disclosed to reduce shutter lag and improved accuracy in exposure. The digital camera includes an image pickup lens optical system, an iris, an image pickup device, a hold/gain control circuit, a luminance level detector, an exposure control circuit, a device control circuit and so forth. The exposure control circuit discriminates based on a luminance level supplied thereto from the luminance level detector whether or not appropriate exposure is performed. Then, based on a result of the discrimination, the exposure control circuit arithmetically operates three values of the numerical aperture of the iris, the shutter speed of an electronic shutter of the image pickup device and the gain of the hold/gain control circuit which are necessary to perform appropriate exposure.

Abstract: A digital camera with reduced shutter lag and improved exposure accuracy, and including image pickup lens optics, an iris, an image pickup, a hold/gain control circuit, a luminance level detector, an exposure control circuit, and a control circuit. The exposure control circuit discriminates, based on a luminance level supplied from the luminance level detector, whether or not appropriate exposure is performed. Then, based on the discrimination result, the exposure control circuit arithmetically operates three values of numerical aperture of the iris, shutter speed of an electronic shutter of the image pickup, and gain of the hold/gain control circuit, which are necessary for appropriate exposure. The exposure control circuit arithmetically operates iris control data, electronic shutter control data, and gain control data necessary for the arithmetically operated exposure amounts to be individually reflected on the iris, the electronic shutter of the image pickup, and the hold/gain control circuit.

Abstract: A digital camera is disclosed to reduce shutter lag and improved accuracy in exposure. The digital camera includes an image pickup lens optical system, an iris, an image pickup device, a hold/gain control circuit, a luminance level detector, an exposure control circuit, a device control circuit and so forth. The exposure control circuit discriminates based on a luminance level supplied thereto from the luminance level detector whether or not appropriate exposure is performed. Then, based on a result of the discrimination, the exposure control circuit arithmetically operates three values of the numerical aperture of the iris, the shutter speed of an electronic shutter of the image pickup device and the gain of the hold/gain control circuit which are necessary to perform appropriate exposure.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a digital still camera (1). This camera carries out a framing process by using an infrared pick-up image and a visible light photographing by using a flash or a low speed shutter in a still image pick-up process. Upon automatic focusing, the light of an auxiliary visible light source (23) for automatic focusing is emitted to apply the visible lights and carry out an automatic focusing process. In the digital still camera, the framing process can be carried out which allows the image of a subject which is to be picked up to be displayed on a finder even under an environment of low illuminance such as photographing a dark place and a user to recognize the contents of the photographed image. Further, after that, even when the visible light photographing is carried out through the irradiation of flash or the low speed shutter, an accurate focusing can be realized.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a digital still camera (1). This camera carries out a framing process by using an infrared pick-up image and a visible light photographing by using a flash or a low speed shutter in a still image pick-up process. Upon automatic focusing, the light of an auxiliary visible light source (23) for automatic focusing is emitted to apply the visible lights and carry out an automatic focusing process. In the digital still camera, the framing process can be carried out which allows the image of a subject which is to be picked up to be displayed on a finder even under an environment of low illuminance such as photographing a dark place and a user to recognize the contents of the photographed image. Further, after that, even when the visible light photographing is carried out through the irradiation of flash or the low speed shutter, an accurate focusing can be realized.

Abstract: A digital camera with reduced shutter lag and improved exposure accuracy, and including image pickup lens optics, an iris, an image pickup, a hold/gain control circuit, a luminance level detector, an exposure control circuit, and a control circuit. The exposure control circuit discriminates, based on a luminance level supplied from the luminance level detector, whether or not appropriate exposure is performed. Then, based on the discrimination result, the exposure control circuit arithmetically operates three values of numerical aperture of the iris, shutter speed of an electronic shutter of the image pickup, and gain of the hold/gain control circuit, which are necessary for appropriate exposure. The exposure control circuit arithmetically operates iris control data, electronic shutter control data, and gain control data necessary for the arithmetically operated exposure amounts to be individually reflected on the iris, the electronic shutter of the image pickup, and the hold/gain control circuit.