Abstract: An image pickup apparatus on which a lens unit is to be removably mounted includes an image pickup element, a first focus detection unit which performs a focus detection by a contrast detection method based on a signal output from the image pickup element, a second focus detection unit which performs a focus detection by a phase difference detection method based on a pair of image signals output from the image pickup element, and a control unit which performs a focus control based on an in-focus position detected by the first or second focus detection unit, and the control unit receives, from the mounted lens unit, first information related to a displacement of the in-focus position by the phase difference detection method and determines whether to use the second focus detection unit for the focus control according to the first information.

Abstract: A lens apparatus, which is communicatable with an image capturing apparatus and includes a lens, comprises a communication unit configured to receive information concerning a driving amount of the lens which is used to move the lens to a focus position, and a controller having a first mode and a second mode of controlling the lens, wherein the controller selects one of the first mode and the second mode based on the received information, and wherein the controller decelerates the lens in the first mode slower than in the second mode.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus on which a lens unit is to be removably mounted includes an image pickup element, a first focus detection unit which performs a focus detection by a contrast detection method based on a signal output from the image pickup element, a second focus detection unit which performs a focus detection by a phase difference detection method based on a pair of image signals output from the image pickup element, and a control unit which performs a focus control based on an in-focus position detected by the first or second focus detection unit, and the control unit receives, from the mounted lens unit, first information related to a displacement of the in-focus position by the phase difference detection method and determines whether to use the second focus detection unit for the focus control according to the first information.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus on which a lens unit is to be removably mounted includes an image pickup element, a first focus detection unit which performs a focus detection by a contrast detection method based on a signal output from the image pickup element, a second focus detection unit which performs a focus detection by a phase difference detection method based on a pair of image signals output from the image pickup element, and a control unit which performs a focus control based on an in-focus position detected by the first or second focus detection unit, and the control unit receives, from the mounted lens unit, first information related to a displacement of the in-focus position by the phase difference detection method and determines whether to use the second focus detection unit for the focus control according to the first information.

Abstract: A lens apparatus, which is communicatable with an image capturing apparatus and includes a lens, comprises a communication unit configured to receive information concerning a driving amount of the lens which is used to move the lens to a focus position, and a controller having a first mode and a second mode of controlling the lens, wherein the controller selects one of the first mode and the second mode based on the received information, and wherein the controller decelerates the lens in the first mode slower than in the second mode.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus on which a lens unit is to be removably mounted includes an image pickup element, a first focus detection unit which performs a focus detection by a contrast detection method based on a signal output from the image pickup element, a second focus detection unit which performs a focus detection by a phase difference detection method based on a pair of image signals output from the image pickup element, and a control unit which performs a focus control based on an in-focus position detected by the first or second focus detection unit, and the control unit receives, from the mounted lens unit, first information related to a displacement of the in-focus position by the phase difference detection method and determines whether to use the second focus detection unit for the focus control according to the first information.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus for recording an image captured by use of electronic zoom, comprises an electronic-zoom setting unit configured to set a zoom magnification when using the electronic zoom, a recording-mode selection unit configured to select at least either a non-compression format or a compression format as a recording mode in recording the captured image, a recording-size setting unit configured to set a recording size in each recording mode, and a control unit configured to, when the zoom magnification is set to a magnification at which an image is enlarged, control a recording size in the non-compression format to be larger than the recording size set by the recording-size setting unit.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus for recording an image captured by use of electronic zoom, comprises an electronic-zoom setting unit configured to set a zoom magnification when using the electronic zoom, a recording-mode selection unit configured to select at least either a non-compression format or a compression format as a recording mode in recording the captured image, a recording-size setting unit configured to set a recording size in each recording mode, and a control unit configured to, when the zoom magnification is set to a magnification at which an image is enlarged, control a recording size in the non-compression format to be larger than the recording size set by the recording-size setting unit.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus for recording an image captured by use of electronic zoom, comprises an electronic-zoom setting unit configured to set a zoom magnification when using the electronic zoom, a recording-mode selection unit configured to select at least either a non-compression format or a compression format as a recording mode in recording the captured image, a recording-size setting unit configured to set a recording size in each recording mode, and a control unit configured to, when the zoom magnification is set to a magnification at which an image is enlarged, control a recording size in the non-compression format to be larger than the recording size set by the recording-size setting unit.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus performs photographing multiple times and composing these multiple images to obtain one image of a correct exposure. The apparatus includes an image capturing unit, an illumination unit and an image composition unit. The image capturing unit captures an optical image of an object as an electrical signal. The illumination unit performs illumination on photographing by the image capturing unit. The image composition unit composes multiple images obtained by multiple times of photographing by the image capturing unit. All of the multiple images are the images shot by performing illumination with the illumination unit. A light amount of each photographing in multiple times of photographing by performing illumination with the illumination unit is obtained by dividing light amount required for the correct exposure based on the number of photos taken of an image to be composed.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus for recording an image captured by use of electronic zoom, comprises an electronic-zoom setting unit configured to set a zoom magnification when using the electronic zoom, a recording-mode selection unit configured to select at least either a non-compression format or a compression format as a recording mode in recording the captured image, a recording-size setting unit configured to set a recording size in each recording mode, and a control unit configured to, when the zoom magnification is set to a magnification at which an image is enlarged, control a recording size in the non-compression format to be larger than the recording size set by the recording-size setting unit.

Abstract: A flash device connectable to an imaging apparatus includes a light emission unit arranged for continuous light emission, a calculation unit configured to calculate a reach distance of flash light from the light emission unit based on an exposure time for flash photographing set in the imaging apparatus, and a display control unit configured to cause information indicating the reach distance calculated by the calculation unit to be displayed.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus performs photographing multiple times and composing these multiple images to obtain one image of a correct exposure. The apparatus includes an image capturing unit, an illumination unit and an image composition unit. The image capturing unit captures an optical image of an object as an electrical signal. The illumination unit performs illumination on photographing by the image capturing unit. The image composition unit composes multiple images obtained by multiple times of photographing by the image capturing unit. All of the multiple images are the images shot by performing illumination with the illumination unit. A light amount of each photographing in multiple times of photographing by performing illumination with the illumination unit is obtained by dividing light amount required for the correct exposure based on the number of photos taken of an image to be composed.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus performs photographing multiple times and composing the multiple images to obtain one image of a correct exposure. The apparatus includes an image capturing unit, an illumination unit and an image composition unit. The image capturing unit captures an optical image of an object as an electrical signal. The illumination unit performs illumination on photographing by the image capturing unit. The image composition unit composes multiple images obtained by multiple times of photographing by the image capturing unit. All of the multiple images are the images shot by performing illumination with the illumination unit.

Abstract: The present invention is an image capturing apparatus for performing photographing multiple times in an exposure time in which no occurrence of a hand shake is expected and composing these multiple images to obtain one image of a correct exposure, the apparatus including image capturing unit adapted to capture an optical image of an object as an electrical signal, illumination unit adapted to perform illumination on photographing by the image capturing unit, and image composition unit adapted to compose multiple images obtained by multiple times of photographing by the image capturing unit, wherein all of the multiple images are the images shot by performing illumination with the illumination unit.

Abstract: This invention relates to a camera provided with a focus adjusting apparatus having an automatic mode for automatically selecting a focus detection area and an arbitrary mode for manually selecting the focus detection area. This invention provides a camera designed such that even in the case of the automatic mode in the camera, when an in-focus state is attained, the selection of the focus detection area can be effected in that state by a manual operation.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electronic flash device, and in particular, an electronic flash device including forward and flyback type booster circuits. The two booster circuits are appropriately switched depending on the charged state of a capacitor of the electronic flash device or the operative state of the camera, thereby achieving proper charging time and charging efficiency.

Abstract: A capacitor charging apparatus includes a DC/DC converter for stepping up the voltage of a battery and charging the capacitor; a detection circuit that determines whether a primary current of the DC/DC converter reaches a predetermined limit current; a control circuit that controls the DC/DC converter according to a detection signal received from the detection circuit; and a battery-information detection circuit that detects battery information of the battery. The control circuit performs a predetermined calculation using the battery information received from the battery-information detection circuit to determine the predetermined limit current and to vary the primary current of the DC/DC converter so as to control the DC/DC converter each time the capacitor is charged by the DC/DC converter.

Abstract: In a flash apparatus, when it is determined that the oscillation of a voltage boosting circuit is stopped before it is controlled so as to stop, it is possible to continuously charge a voltage to a main capacitor by causing the voltage boosting circuit to continue oscillation by providing a control circuit for oscillating the voltage boosting circuit again. Further, the flash apparatus includes a charged current detecting circuit for detecting the current charged in a main capacitor using an auxiliary power source as a power source. The charged current detecting circuit is simply arranged with a passive element for bypassing a part of the current charged in the main capacitor from a loop through the above-mentioned auxiliary power source.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electronic flash device, and in particular, an electronic flash device including forward and flyback type booster circuits. The two booster circuits are appropriately switched depending on the charged state of a capacitor of the electronic flash device or the operative state of the camera, thereby achieving proper charging time and charging efficiency.