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 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 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: In an image processing apparatus that performs tracking processing based on a correlation between frame images, when an object that is a tracking target is missed and a frame indicating the tracking target is set to a uniform background during tracking processing, a display of the frame may blur. An image processing apparatus is provided which detects a tracking target candidate region which has a highest correlation with a set tracking target region, calculates a difference between an evaluation value acquired in the tracking target candidate region and an evaluation value acquired in a peripheral region of the tracking target candidate region, and stops tracking if the difference is less than a threshold value.

Abstract: In an image sensing apparatus capable of sensing a moving image, when sensing of the moving image, image data of the sensed moving image and image sensing condition data of such moving image are stored, a frame for printing is selected from among multiple frames of the image data forming the stored moving image, and a number of frames to synthesize is determined based on image sensing conditions for the selected frames. Of the plurality of frames of image data forming the moving image/image data of the selected frame and of the determined number of frames sensed before and after the selected frame is synthesized to generate image data for printing.

Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment can control light emission so as to facilitate a face area of a subject to be adequately photographed. In the at least one exemplary embodiment, respective face areas of the subject can be detected from captured image signals acquired before and after preliminary light emission, and a luminance comparison calculation can be performed between the detected face areas from the captured image signals, so that light amount control can be performed in an area centered on the face area of the subject.

Abstract: In an image sensing apparatus and exposure control method, detecting an object that satisfies a certain preset condition from image data obtained by image sensing with an image sensing element, and carrying out photometry on the image data as a whole to acquire an overall photometric value while carrying out photometry on an area of a detected object within the image data to acquire an object photometric value. An exposure value is then determined based on the overall photometric value and the object photometric value, with exposure controlled during image sensing based on the determined exposure value.

Abstract: An image sensing method and image sensing apparatus, including a subject detection unit and a flash unit, are provided. The method includes a first detection step of detecting a subject from image data obtained during preparation for main image sensing, a second detection step of detecting a subject based on reflected light data obtained during pre-flash after an instruction to begin main image sensing, a step of setting a flash illumination area based on a comparison result between a first proportion of the subject detected in the first detection step within a subject area in which the subject exists and a second proportion of the subject detected in the second detection step within the subject area, a step of calculating a flash illumination amount based on the set flash illumination area, and a step of controlling the flash unit during main image sensing based on the calculated flash illumination amount.

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: In an image processing apparatus that performs tracking processing based on a correlation between flame images, when an object that is a tracking target is missed and a frame indicating the tracking target is set to a uniform background during tracking processing, a display of the frame may blur. An image processing apparatus is provided which detects a tracking target candidate region which has a highest correlation with a set tracking target region, calculates a difference between an evaluation value acquired in the tracking target candidate region and an evaluation value acquired in a peripheral region of the tracking target candidate region, and stops tracking if the difference is less than a threshold value.

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: 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

Abstract: In an image sensing apparatus capable of sensing a moving image, when sensing of the moving image, image data of the sensed moving image and image sensing condition data of such moving image are stored, a frame for printing is selected from among multiple frames of the image data forming the stored moving image, and a number of frames to synthesize is determined based on image sensing conditions for the selected frames. Of the plurality of frames of image data forming the moving image/image data of the selected frame and of the determined number of frames sensed before and after the selected frame is synthesized to generate image data for printing.

Abstract: An object of this invention is to eliminate cumbersomeness and improve the photographer's convenience by inputting settings to an image sensing apparatus by the user. To achieve this object, an image sensing apparatus includes a memory which stores information on a photographing frequency in association with object distance information and brightness information, an acquisition device which acquires an object brightness value on the basis of image information sensed by an image sensing device, and a control device which refers to the memory to detect an object distance having the highest photographing frequency among object distances corresponding to the acquired object brightness value, and controls image sensing operation on the basis of the detected object distance information.

Abstract: An image sensing method and image sensing apparatus, including a subject detection unit and a flash unit, are provided. The method includes a first detection step of detecting a subject from image data obtained during preparation for main image sensing, a second detection step of detecting a subject based on reflected light data obtained during pre-flash after an instruction to begin main image sensing, a step of setting a flash illumination area based on a comparison result between a first proportion of the subject detected in the first detection step within a subject area in which the subject exists and a second proportion of the subject detected in the second detection step within the subject area, a step of calculating a flash illumination amount based on the set flash illumination area, and a step of controlling the flash unit during main image sensing based on the calculated flash illumination amount.

Abstract: In an image sensing apparatus and exposure control method, detecting an object that satisfies a certain preset condition from image data obtained by image sensing with an image sensing element, and carrying out photometry on the image data as a whole to acquire an overall photometric value while carrying out photometry on an area of a detected object within the image data to acquire an object photometric value. An exposure value is then determined based on the overall photometric value and the object photometric value, with exposure controlled during image sensing based on the determined exposure value.

Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment can control light emission so as to facilitate a face area of a subject to be adequately photographed. In the at least one exemplary embodiment, respective face areas of the subject can be detected from captured image signals acquired before and after preliminary light emission, and a luminance comparison calculation can be performed between the detected face areas from the captured image signals, so that light amount control can be performed in an area centered on the face area of the subject.

Abstract: An object of this invention is to eliminate cumbersomeness and improve the photographer's convenience by inputting settings to an image sensing apparatus by the user. To achieve this object, an image sensing apparatus includes a memory which stores information on a photographing frequency in association with object distance information and brightness information, an acquisition device which acquires an object brightness value on the basis of image information sensed by an image sensing device, and a control device which refers to the memory to detect an object distance having the highest photographing frequency among object distances corresponding to the acquired object brightness value, and controls image sensing operation on the basis of the detected object distance information.