Abstract: An apparatus sets a weighting of a first subject included in a predetermined first range to be larger than that of other subjects when a detected subject is included in a first range in an image, updates a target subject for the photometry of which the weighting is set to be larger after continuing a state where the weighting of the first subject is set to be larger for a predetermined time when the first subject goes out of a second range which is wider than the first range and when the first subject does not go out of a third range which is wider than the second range, and updates the target subject for the photometry of which the weighting is set to be larger in response that the first subject goes out of the third range.

Abstract: An apparatus sets a weighting of a first subject included in a predetermined first range to be larger than that of other subjects when a detected subject is included in a first range in an image, updates a target subject for the photometry of which the weighting is set to be larger after continuing a state where the weighting of the first subject is set to be larger for a predetermined time when the first subject goes out of a second range which is wider than the first range and when the first subject does not go out of a third range which is wider than the second range, and updates the target subject for the photometry of which the weighting is set to be larger in response that the first subject goes out of the third range.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus that improves flash-exposure accuracy by adjusting a light amount suitably depending on a situation so that variation decision of the object distance based on a distance map will be possible. An image sensor outputs an image signal. A memory device stores a set of instructions. At least one processor executes the set of instructions to calculate a main emission amount using luminance of a pre-emission image corresponding to the image signal, divide a picked-up image frame corresponding to the image signal into a plurality of blocks, obtain distance information for each of the blocks, adjust luminance of the image signal for each of the blocks, and determine whether distance continuously varies in a same direction between adjacent blocks within a region corresponding to a same object based on the distance information obtained using the image signal of which luminance is adjusted.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus that improves flash-exposure accuracy by adjusting a light amount suitably depending on a situation so that variation decision of the object distance based on a distance map will be possible. An image sensor outputs an image signal. A memory device stores a set of instructions. At least one processor executes the set of instructions to calculate a main emission amount using luminance of a pre-emission image corresponding to the image signal, divide a picked-up image frame corresponding to the image signal into a plurality of blocks, obtain distance information for each of the blocks, adjust luminance of the image signal for each of the blocks, and determine whether distance continuously varies in a same direction between adjacent blocks within a region corresponding to a same object based on the distance information obtained using the image signal of which luminance is adjusted.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus that selects images for digest reproduction from a plurality of images. The apparatus includes at least one processor or circuit configured to perform the operations of an information acquisition unit configured to acquire, for every image, shooting information including information on a lens used in shooting the images, an image evaluation unit configured to derive evaluation values for images based on the shooting information and an evaluation criterion, and an image selection unit configured to select images for digest reproduction by ranking images based on the evaluation values. The image evaluation unit derives the evaluation values of the images using different evaluation criteria based on characteristics of the lens used in shooting the images.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus capable of performing intermittent image capturing at a predetermined time interval, the image capturing apparatus comprises: an acquisition unit configured to acquire a feature amount of image data obtainable from an image capturing unit; and a setting unit configured to set the predetermined time interval according to a scene based on the feature amount; wherein the feature amount is information related to at least one of luminance of the image data, object distance to an object, a detection result of an object, and movement of an object.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus that performs intermittent image capturing to acquire a moving image composed of combined plural images includes an imaging means, a luminance value acquisition means configured to acquire a luminance value of a subject of which image is to be captured, an exposure control means configured to control exposure according to the acquired luminance value, and a range setting means configured to set a predetermined range in which changing the exposure according to a change of the luminance value is not executed. The range setting means sets the predetermined range based on information related to time when intermittent image capturing is performed.

Abstract: A light emission control device that is capable of controlling an emission amount of a light emitting unit irrespective of existence of a high-intensity light source. A selecting unit divides each of a non-emission image and a pre-emission image into a predetermined number of block areas, and selects a light-control target area according to a difference between luminance values in the non-emission image and the pre-emission image. A first weighting unit generates first weighting data by allocating a predetermined weight to each the light-control target area. A second weighting unit finds a weighting coefficient for each the light-control target area in the non-emission image, and to generate second weighting data by multiplying the first weighting data by the weighting coefficient. A control unit controls the emission unit according to a main emission amount that makes the light-control target area be proper exposure with reference to the second weighting data.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus capable of performing intermittent image capturing at a predetermined time interval, the image capturing apparatus comprises: an acquisition unit configured to acquire a feature amount of image data obtainable from an image capturing unit; and a setting unit configured to set the predetermined time interval according to a scene based on the feature amount; wherein the feature amount is information related to at least one of luminance of the image data, object distance to an object, a detection result of an object, and movement of an object.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus that selects images for digest reproduction from a plurality of images, comprises: an information acquisition unit configured to acquire, for every image, shooting information generated at a time of shooting; an image evaluation unit configured to derive evaluation values for images based on the shooting information and an evaluation criterion; and an image selection unit configured to select images for digest reproduction by ranking images based on the evaluation values, wherein the image evaluation unit changes the evaluation criterion based on information on a lens used in shooting the images.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus that performs intermittent image capturing to acquire a moving image composed of combined plural images includes an imaging means, a luminance value acquisition means configured to acquire a luminance value of a subject of which image is to be captured, an exposure control means configured to control exposure according to the acquired luminance value, and a range setting means configured to set a predetermined range in which changing the exposure according to a change of the luminance value is not executed. The range setting means sets the predetermined range based on information related to time when intermittent image capturing is performed.

Abstract: A determination unit determines exposure control values for a light emission shooting operation and a non-light emission shooting operation based on information acquired by an acquisition unit about a brightness of an object a preliminary light emission is performed by the light emitting device.

Abstract: A light emission control device that is capable of controlling an emission amount of a light emitting unit irrespective of existence of a high-intensity light source. A selecting unit divides each of a non-emission image and a pre-emission image into a predetermined number of block areas, and selects a light-control target area according to a difference between luminance values in the non-emission image and the pre-emission image. A first weighting unit generates first weighting data by allocating a predetermined weight to each the light-control target area. A second weighting unit finds a weighting coefficient for each the light-control target area in the non-emission image, and to generate second weighting data by multiplying the first weighting data by the weighting coefficient. A control unit controls the emission unit according to a main emission amount that makes the light-control target area be proper exposure with reference to the second weighting data.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus that uses luminance information obtained through a test flash by a flash unit for illuminating a subject to determine a flash quantity of a flash unit for main photographing sets exposure conditions for the test flash based on exposure conditions for the main photographing. The imaging apparatus changes a predetermined test flash quantity for the test flash to compensate a difference between the set exposure conditions and predetermined initial values of exposure conditions for the test flash and performs the test flash based on the set exposure conditions and the changed test flash quantity.

Abstract: An image capture apparatus comprises an image capture unit which captures an object image, a compensation unit which performs exposure compensation corresponding to a shooting scene when a display unit sequentially displays images based on image data obtained by continuously capturing images by the image capture unit, an illumination control unit which controls an illumination device for illuminating an object, and a control unit which, in turning on the illumination device which is OFF when the compensation unit performs exposure compensation and the display unit sequentially displays images based on image data obtained by continuously capturing images by the image capture unit, controls to decrease a compensation amount of exposure compensation by the compensation unit and then turn on the illumination device.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus that uses luminance information obtained through a test flash by a flash unit for illuminating a subject to determine a flash quantity of a flash unit for main photographing sets exposure conditions for the test flash based on exposure conditions for the main photographing. The imaging apparatus changes a predetermined test flash quantity for the test flash to compensate a difference between the set exposure conditions and predetermined initial values of exposure conditions for the test flash and performs the test flash based on the set exposure conditions and the changed test flash quantity.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a first detection unit configured to detect movement information of an object which is a tracking target from a movie generated at an image pickup element; a second detection unit configured to detect movement information of an apparatus main body; and a determination unit configured to determine that tracking cannot be continued when the difference between a motion vector of the apparatus main body and a motion vector of the object is larger than a certain threshold.

Abstract: A determination unit determines exposure control values for a light emission shooting operation and a non-light emission shooting operation based on information acquired by an acquisition unit about a brightness of an object a preliminary light emission is performed by the light emitting device.

Abstract: An apparatus stores a luminance signal and a color signal extracted from a tracking area in image data and determines a correlation with the stored luminance signal, thereby extracting an area where a specified object exists in another image data to update the tracking area using the position information of the extracted area. If a sufficient correlation cannot be obtained from the luminance signal, the apparatus makes a comparison with the stored color signal to determine whether the specified object is lost. The apparatus updates the luminance signal every time the tracking area is updated, but does not update the color signal even if the tracking area is updated or updates the color signal at a period longer than a period at which the luminance signal is updated.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit configured to capture an image of an object to acquire image data; a display unit configured to display the image captured by the imaging unit; a motion detection unit configured to detect information about motion of the object and the background in a display image based on image data acquired by the imaging unit; a determination unit configured to determine whether the imaging apparatus is taking a panning shot from a result detected by the motion detection unit; and an exposure control unit configured to execute exposure control to decrease the amount of motion of the object and the background in the display image based on a result detected by the motion detection unit, wherein the exposure control unit executes exposure control based on a result detected by the motion detection unit when the imaging apparatus is determined not to be taking a panning shot by the determination unit and, when the imaging apparatus is determined to be taking a panning shot by the d