Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging unit; an image clipping unit configured to clip a predetermined area from each of images; an analyzing unit configured to analyze the sequentially clipped predetermined areas and generate an analysis result indicating an identified subject; an autofocus (AF) target determination unit configured to determine an AF target in the images based on the analysis result; an AF mode determination unit configured to select and determine an optimal AF mode based on the analysis result and a determination result; a touch panel; an input detection unit; and an imaging control unit configured to repeat control of moving a position of the predetermined area, causing the analyzing unit to analyze the predetermined area of a latest image, causing the AF target determination unit to determine the AF target, and causing the AF mode determination unit to select and determine the optimal AF mode.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging unit; an image clipping unit configured to clip a predetermined area from each of images; an analyzing unit configured to analyze the sequentially clipped predetermined areas and generate an analysis result indicating an identified subject; an autofocus (AF) target determination unit configured to determine an AF target in the images based on the analysis result; an AF mode determination unit configured to select and determine an optimal AF mode based on the analysis result and a determination result; a touch panel; an input detection unit; and an imaging control unit configured to repeat control of moving a position of the predetermined area, causing the analyzing unit to analyze the predetermined area of a latest image, causing the AF target determination unit to determine the AF target, and causing the AF mode determination unit to select and determine the optimal AF mode.

Abstract: An imaging device that photographs a moving image, comprising: an imaging unit configured to repeatedly obtain image data of one frame in a first cycle, further divide a period of the one frame into periods of a predetermined number of divided frames, and repeatedly output divided image data for each divided frame; a gain application section configured to detect object luminance and apply a gain to a plurality of pieces of divided image data; and a synthesis processing section configured to combine the plurality of pieces of divided image data, to generate combined image data of one frame, wherein, when the plurality of pieces of divided image data is obtained in the imaging unit, the number of divided frames is not changed during the period of the first cycle, and wherein, when the number of divided frames is changed for a next cycle of the first cycle.

Abstract: An imaging device, capable of shooting a combined photograph that is a single image made up of a plurality of images, and capable of live view display, comprises a first display section, a second display section, an imaging section for converting a subject image to image data, an image processing section for subjecting the image data to image processing, and a combined photograph processing section, for combining a plurality of image data subjected to image processing by the image processing section to create a single image, wherein, when a live view image is to be displayed on the first display section an image that has been subjected to processing by the combined photograph processing section is displayed, while when a live view image is to be displayed on the second display section an image that has been subjected to image processing by the image processing section is displayed.

Abstract: An imaging device that photographs a moving image, comprising: an imaging unit configured to repeatedly obtain image data of one frame in a first cycle, further divide a period of the one frame into periods of a predetermined number of divided frames, and repeatedly output divided image data for each divided frame; a gain application section configured to detect object luminance and apply a gain to a plurality of pieces of divided image data; and a synthesis processing section configured to combine the plurality of pieces of divided image data, to generate combined image data of one frame, wherein, when the plurality of pieces of divided image data is obtained in the imaging unit, the number of divided frames is not changed during the period of the first cycle, and wherein, when the number of divided frames is changed for a next cycle of the first cycle.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus generates one piece of image including a moving image and a still image which are continuously shot. The apparatus includes an imaging unit, a still image acquisition instruction unit, a moving image acquisition start instruction unit, a time measuring unit, and a moving image time determination unit. The imaging unit acquires the moving image and the still image. The moving image acquisition start instruction unit instructs to start acquisition of the moving image prior to acquisition of the still image. The time measuring unit measures a time from a start of acquisition of the moving image to acquisition of the still image. The moving image time determination unit determines a moving image time which is a time of the moving image included in the image.

Abstract: An imaging device, capable of shooting a combined photograph that is a single image made up of a plurality of images, and capable of live view display, comprises a first display section, a second display section, an imaging section for converting a subject image to image data, an image processing section for subjecting the image data to image processing, and a combined photograph processing section, for combining a plurality of image data subjected to image processing by the image processing section to create a single image, wherein, when a live view image is to be displayed on the first display section an image that has been subjected to processing by the combined photograph processing section is displayed, while when a live view image is to be displayed on the second display section an image that has been subjected to image processing by the image processing section is displayed.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus generates one piece of image including a moving image and a still image which are continuously shot. The apparatus includes an imaging unit, a still image acquisition instruction unit, a moving image acquisition start instruction unit, a time measuring unit, and a moving image time determination unit. The imaging unit acquires the moving image and the still image. The moving image acquisition start instruction unit instructs to start acquisition of the moving image prior to acquisition of the still image. The time measuring unit measures a time from a start of acquisition of the moving image to acquisition of the still image. The moving image time determination unit determines a moving image time which is a time of the moving image included in the image.

Abstract: A digital camera is disclosed which has a first recording medium for recording captured images and a second recording medium, different from the first recording medium, for recording images obtained after editing the captured images. Since the edited images are recorded on the second recording medium, it is easy to sort out a desired image.

Abstract: There is disclosed a camera capable of display a moving image, which executes auto focusing of a hill-climbing system while executing a blur correcting operation to reduce image blur generated by vibration applied to the camera. Examples of the blur correcting operation include a correcting operation by a mechanical blur correction mechanism which moves an image pickup device so as to cancel the vibration, and a correcting operation of electronic image blur correction to obtain a video signal which does not have any image blur from an output of the image pickup device by processing an image.

Abstract: A digital camera, comprising a live view display section for repeatedly acquiring a subject image, cropping and enlarging part of the subject image, and displaying as a moving image, a vibration detection section for detecting vibration of the digital camera and calculating at least one of vibration direction and vibration amount, and a control section for, when part of the moving image is enlarged and displayed, controlling cropping position and size for the moving image to be displayed on the live view section according to output of the vibration detection section, or, when displaying the whole of the moving image, controlling shift of an image sensor or part of a lens according to output of the vibration detection section.

Abstract: A CCD for receiving subject light flux that has passed through a photographing lens and outputting subject image signals, and a rear liquid crystal monitor for displaying a moving image of the subject based on the subject image signals, and a release button that is operated in order to instruct execution of an exposure operation are provided, wherein live view display is performed on the rear liquid crystal monitor at a first update cycle until the release button is pressed down halfway, and live view display is performed on the liquid crystal monitor at a second cycle that is shorter than the first update cycle after the release button has been pressed down halfway.

Abstract: In order to efficiently remove dust, an image pick up apparatus is provided with an image sensor for acquiring subject images via a photographing lens, a shift mechanism, holding the image sensor, capable of moving the image sensor in a first direction orthogonal to the optical axis of the photographing lens, and in a second direction that is different from the first direction, a sensor arranged in front of the image sensor, for detecting vibration applied to the optical element that is displaced by the shift mechanism together with the image sensor, and a controller for driving the shift mechanism according to output of the sensor for detecting vibration when operation is carried out to prevent image shake due to vibration applied to the image pickup apparatus, and moving the shift mechanism in accordance with a specified pattern regardless of sensor output when carrying out a dust removal operation for removing dust that has become attached to the surface of the optical element.

Abstract: There is disclosed a single-lens reflex camera which does not drive a movable reflecting mirror when it enters a shooting operation while a live view is being displayed. For example, the rotation direction of a motor controlling the driving of shutter charge and a movable reflecting mirror can differ between a live view state and the other states. Then, a transmission mechanism for transmitting a driving force from the motor to the movable mirror is configured to release its engagement between the motor and the movable mirror when the motor rotates in a direction for the live view state.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a finder device and camera including the finder device having an information display device arranged near a mat screen on which a subject image is formed, and an imaging device for acquiring a finder image including the subject image on the mat screen. In this structure, the operation of the information display device is stopped in response to the imaging operation of the imaging device. This can prevent the subject image and the image displayed by the information display device from being difficult to see due to the difference between the brightness of the image on the mat screen and the brightness of the information display device. The information display device can be configured such that it superimposes, for example, shooting information and focus points on the image.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a finder device capable of adjusting the amount of light emitted from a light-emitting display section arranged in the device according to the light-receiving level of an image pickup device. The amount of light emitted is adjusted, for example, so that the light-receiving level of the image pickup device is not saturated. The light-emitting display section can be configured, for example, to include a LED display element for projecting light onto a mat screen in the finder device and a drive circuit that can adjust the amount of LED light, or to include an LCD display unit provided adjacent to the mat screen and a backlight unit that can adjust the amount of light for the LCD unit.

Abstract: A data recording apparatus comprises a plurality of recording media, data generating means for generating recording data, recording means for, whenever the recording data is generated from the data generating means, allocating and recording the recording data in the plurality of recording media, and data transfer means for integrating, into one recording medium, the plurality of recording data recorded in a distributed manner in the plurality of recording media, when the data generating means and the recording means are not in operation.

Abstract: A digital camera includes a first imaging section for acquiring subject image data, a movable mirror for guiding the light beam of the subject to a finder optical system, and a second imaging section for capturing the subject image data in the finder optical system. In this structure, the image acquired by the first imaging section and the image acquired by the second imaging section are switched and selectively displayed depending on the movement of the movable mirror. For example, the digital camera can be configured such that the first imaging section is used to acquire a shot image and the second imaging section is used to acquire a live image.

Abstract: There is disclosed a camera capable of display a moving image, which executes auto focusing of a hill-climbing system while executing a blur correcting operation to reduce image blur generated by vibration applied to the camera. Examples of the blur correcting operation include a correcting operation by a mechanical blur correction mechanism which moves an image pickup device so as to cancel the vibration, and a correcting operation of electronic image blur correction to obtain a video signal which does not have any image blur from an output of the image pickup device by processing an image.

Abstract: A digital camera, comprising a live view display section for repeatedly acquiring a subject image, cropping and enlarging part of the subject image, and displaying as a moving image, a vibration detection section for detecting vibration of the digital camera and calculating at least one of vibration direction and vibration amount, and a control section for, when part of the moving image is enlarged and displayed, controlling cropping position and size for the moving image to be displayed on the live view section according to output of the vibration detection section, or, when displaying the whole of the moving image, controlling shift of an image sensor or part of a lens according to output of the vibration detection section.