Abstract: An infrared illuminator including at least two carrier members in angularly adjustable relation with respect to one another, each carrier member having at least one infrared light source mounted thereto, for projecting infrared light in a variable illumination pattern. The illuminator may also include at least one fan for cooling the light sources, and a housing for containing the light sources. The carrier members are positionally adjustable such that the width, range, and/or intensity of the light projected by the illuminator can be varied depending on the desired application.

Abstract: A movable-mechanical-section controlling device includes a driving controlling unit and an angular position range setting unit. The driving controlling unit performs control so that a movable mechanical section performs a unit pan operation that is performed in a predetermined angular position range in a pan direction, the movable mechanical section having a structure that moves so that an image pickup direction of an image pickup section changes in the pan direction, the predetermined angular position range being set on the basis of a previously set pan-direction movable angular range. The angular position range setting unit sets the angular position range so that, after the unit pan operation has been performed in a first angular position range, the unit pan operation is performed in a second angular position range differing from the first angular position range.

Abstract: Video processing circuitry to adaptively process input video data which corresponds to a plurality of video frames of a selected channel which is one of a plurality of channels of a broadcast spectrum. In one aspect, the video processing circuitry includes spatial adaption circuitry to generate and output spatially adapted video data corresponding to the plurality of video frames, temporal adaption circuitry to generate and output temporally adapted video data corresponding to the plurality of video frames, and video manipulation circuitry, coupled to the spatial adaption circuitry and the temporal adaption circuitry, to generate output video data corresponding to the plurality of video frames, using the input video data, the spatially adapted video data and the temporally adapted video data. Methods of adaptively processing input video data which corresponds to a plurality of video frames of a selected channel which is one of a plurality of channels of a broadcast spectrum are also disclosed.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes a communication module which performs close proximity wireless transfer, a connection establishing module which establishes connection between the communication module and an external device, and a capture image transmission module which transmits screen capture image data to the external device when a command for requesting data transmission is received from the external device in a state where connection between the communication module and external device is established. The command is determined in a protocol for transmitting and receiving data between the communication module and the external device, and is added a parameter for specifying the attribute of requested data as images.

Abstract: A digital camera (1) has an image recorder (12), a microcomputer (3), and an image display controller (13). The image recorder (12) is configured to record a moving picture formed from a plurality of still pictures, along with a panning mode signal (60) related to the panning of the digital camera (1). The microcomputer (3) is configured to produce a plurality of extracted images from the moving picture recorded by the image recorder (12), and configured to determine the disposition of the plurality of extracted images on the basis of the panning mode signal (60) recorded by the image recorder (12). The image display controller (13) is configured to display at least two of the plurality of the extracted images side by side on a display section (55) on the basis of the determination result of the microcomputer (3).

Abstract: A multi-channel camera system for capture of still or video images includes multiple fixed focal length lenses and multiple digital sensors in a compact package. A preferred embodiment of the invention is wearable, and is intended to be head-mounted near a user's eye to capture, in real time, the user's perspective view of a scene. The multi-channel lens system sub-assembly preferably includes three fixed focal length lenses—a wide angle lens, a standard lens, and a telephoto lens,—each providing a different field of view. Lens elements are arranged in a monolithic integrated structure, and optionally separated from each other by light-absorbing baffles to minimize cross-talk between the channels. The camera system includes circuitry to select one or more lenses, capture and compress a series of images, and transfer the images for storage on a remote device. Standard communication protocols may be used for wireless image data transfer.

Abstract: A digital image acquisition system includes a portable apparatus for capturing digital images and a digital processing component for detecting, analyzing and informing the photographer regarding motion blur, and for reducing camera motion blur in an image captured by the apparatus. The digital processing component operates by comparing the image with at least one other image, for example a preview image, of nominally the same scene taken outside the exposure period of the main image. In one embodiment the digital processing component determines the degree of artifacts and whether to inform the user that the image is blurred by identifying at least one feature in a single preview image which is relatively less blurred than the corresponding feature in the main image.

Abstract: Provided is a digital photographing apparatus and method of obtaining data of a clear image even though the digital photographing apparatus shakes. The digital photographing apparatus includes: a lens; an imaging device generating data from light incident through the lens; an imaging device base on which the imaging device is disposed; a light diode integrated circuit disposed on the imaging device base; and an imaging device base actuator moving the imaging device base and controlling a position of the imaging device. The method comprises generating data from light incident through a lens; detecting a direction of shake of the digital photographing apparatus according to a difference in the amount of light detected in each of four regions of the surface of a light diode integrated circuit; and changing a position of the imaging device in the opposite direction to the detected direction of the shake.

Abstract: A remote control system is used to control a plurality of cameras. The remote control system includes a frequency identification (RFID) reader and a plurality of RFID tags. Each tag has a unique code and is embedded in a corresponding camera. Each tag stores information of the corresponding camera. The RFID reader reads the information in the tag to control the corresponding camera.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for creating image maps. Some embodiments include a method comprising the steps of: capturing a first image illuminated by natural light and capturing a second image illuminated by infrared light. The second image may be captured at the same time as the first image. The R, G, and B values for each pixel in the first image may be determined. The intensity for each pixel in the first image may be calculated. An IR intensity for each pixel in the second image may be calculated. A depth value may then be estimated for each pixel using the ratio of the IR intensity and the intensity of corresponding pixels in the first and second images.

Abstract: Techniques are described for determining cleanliness of various surfaces by processing images of the surfaces. The surfaces may comprise, for example, drinking glasses, dishes, fabric swatch arrays, Tosi plates, ceramic tiles, or stainless steel coupons. In one example, a system includes a camera to capture a digital image of a surface, a light source to illuminate the surface, a housing to enclose the surface, the camera, and the light source in a light-tight environment, and an analysis computer to receive the digital image, calculate a luminosity value for the surface from the digital image, and determine a cleanliness value for the surface from the calculated luminosity value. The analysis computer may automatically configure an environment in which to capture the digital image such that the environment is suited for the particular surface to be analyzed. The analysis computer may also cause the camera to automatically capture the digital image.

Abstract: An image processor (24) includes an image processing section (04) which performs a blurring process on a given image data. The image processing section (04) is provided with an image data reduction part (04A), a spatial filter processing part (04B), and an image data expansion part (04C). The image data reduction part (04A) reduces the given image data at a predetermined reduction rate to generate a reduced image data. The spatial filter processing part (04B) performs a spatial filter process on the reduced image data reduced by the image data reduction part (04A) to generate a processed image data. An image data expansion part (04C) expands the processed image data processed by the spatial filter processing part (04B) at an expansion rate inverse of the reduction rate.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a photoelectric conversion device having unit pixels arranged in a matrix, each of the unit pixels including: a photoelectric conversion element; a source follower readout transistor configured to receive a signal charge arising from photoelectric conversion by the photoelectric conversion element by a gate, and read out an electrical signal dependent on the signal charge; and a correction circuit configured to reset gate potential of the readout transistor to Vref+Vth prior to signal readout by the readout transistor, if a reference potential given to the gate of the readout transistor is defined as Vref and threshold voltage of the readout transistor is defined as Vth.

Abstract: An electronic camera includes an image sensor having a plurality of pixels and a control section that sets an imaging sensitivity at a time of imaging. Each of the pixels includes a first light receiving element that generates a first image signal, a second light receiving element that generates a second image signal higher in the sensitivity than the first image signal under a same condition, and an output circuit capable of adding the first image signal and the second image signal. The control section specifies an output signal of each of the pixels from the first image signal, the second image signal, and an additional image signal of the first image signal and the second image signal in accordance with an SN ratio at the imaging sensitivity.

Abstract: Image processing parameters including the sensor pitch, optical low-pass filter, and spectral transmittances of color component filters of an image sensor are transmitted to a photographing lens. After the start of image capturing, it is determined whether to send a transmission request of recovery filters to the photographing lens. To send the transmission request, capturing parameters set for image capturing are sent to the photographing lens. Recovery filters corresponding to the capturing parameters, which is created by the photographing lens based on the image processing parameters, are received from the photographing lens, and stored in a memory.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus previously captures a calibration image that serves as a reference when a distance to an object is calculated, and calculates, when an image of the object is captured using a monocular camera, the distance from the lens of the camera to the object using the calibration image and the distance from the lens of the camera to the calibration image. In this case, the image capturing apparatus measures the distance from the lens of the camera to one or more arbitrary points on the object, calculates the diffuse reflection coefficient of the object using the measured distance, the luminance on each of one or more arbitrary points, the distance to the calibration image, and the luminance, and calculates the distance to the object from the lens of the camera to the object using the calculated diffuse reflection coefficient.

Abstract: A digital photographing apparatus capable of acquiring data about an image having a wide dynamic range and a high grayscale resolution, a method of controlling the digital photographing apparatus, and a recording medium storing a program to implement the method are provided. An embodiment includes an imaging device that acquires a reference image and additional images at different exposures and a multi-level threshold map generation unit that classifies the pixels of the images into levels according to brightness. The embodiment further includes a motion data acquiring unit that acquires motion data for each pixel based on its respective brightness level and a first weight data acquiring unit that acquires first weight data based on the motion data of each pixel. In addition, the embodiment includes a final image data acquiring unit that synthesizes the pixels of the reference image and the additional images based on first weight data.

Abstract: Systems and methods include imaging optics having one or more optical elements for modifying a wavefront of electromagnetic energy incident thereon. The wavefront, modified by the optical elements, exhibits a non-monotonic wavefront phase profile. The imaging optics are characterized by a modulation transfer function that is substantially invariant over a range of misfocus. The system optionally includes a detector for receiving the electromagnetic energy from the imaging optics. A method of maintaining modulation transfer invariance over a range of misfocus in an optical imaging system includes modifying a wavefront of electromagnetic energy incident to the optical imaging system such that the wavefront exhibits a non-monotonic wavefront phase profile and a substantially invariant modulation transfer function over the range of misfocus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a shape measuring device that can improve measurement accuracy. A liquid crystal element 35 projects striped projection patterns whose intensities are changed according to the position in three sinusoidal states with initial phases of 0, 120, and 240 degrees onto an object 2 to be measured, each of a CCD sensor 44 and a CCD sensor 50 picks up an image obtained by forming reflection light from the object 2 to be measured by the projected projection pattern, and a controller 23 evaluates reliability of a measurement result at a position where a position conjugated with an image pickup surface of image pickup means is different along an optical path direction on the basis of each received light amount of each pixel of a plurality of images picked up when at least two projection patterns are projected. As a result, measurement accuracy can be improved. The present invention can be applied to a shape measuring device that measures the shape of an object to be measured.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a plurality of pixels each configured to convert incident light to an electric charge signal and output the electric charge signal as a pixel signal, and a pixel binning unit configured to bin pixel signals from pixels adjacent to each other and output the binned pixel signal. The pixel binning unit performs first pixel binning operation of binning pixel signals from pixels on the same column and second pixel binning operation of binning pixels on the same row.

Abstract: A digital segmentation method and apparatus determines foreground and/or background within at least one portion of a captured image. The determining includes comparing a captured image to a pre-captured or post captured reference image of nominally the same scene. One of the images is taken with flash and the other without. The system can be implemented as part of a digital camera acquisition chain having effective computation complexity.

Abstract: An image capture apparatus has an image capture unit to capture an object image, an acquisition unit to acquire a developing parameter for image data captured by the image capture unit, an analysis unit to analyze RAW image data generated by the image capture unit, an image composition unit to compose a plurality of RAW image data generated by the image capture unit and generate composite RAW image data, a composition ratio determination unit to determine a composition ratio for a plurality of developing parameters respectively for development of the plurality of RAW image data acquired by the acquisition unit, a parameter composition unit to compose the plurality of developing parameters and generate one composite developing parameter, and a development unit to develop the composite RAW image data using the composite developing parameter.

Abstract: A method including receiving an image from an image sensor, the image including a portion corresponding to an object; determining distance of the object from the image sensor using the received image; and controlling exposure of the image sensor using the determined distance.

Abstract: A method for matching the sensitivity characteristic of an image converter to the light-intensity distribution of an optical image which is projected onto the photosensitive surface of the image converter. There are provided steps for creating a frequency distribution of the image signal values in the optical image converted by the image converter, for determining one or more quantiles of the frequency distribution of the image signal values, and for creating a adapted parameter set of setting values of the image converter on the basis of the specific quantile or quantiles of the frequency distribution.

Abstract: An imaging control apparatus includes an HDR signal processor and a frame memory. The HDR signal processor obtains pixel data S1 and S2 obtained by imaging with a very short exposure time T1 and a short exposure time T2 earlier than obtaining pixel data S3 obtained by imaging with a normal exposure time T3, generates a luminance image data by separating illumination light component from the pixel data S1 and S2, the generation of the luminance image data starting when the pixel data S2 is obtained, and generates a gain for tone mapping from the luminance image data. On the other hand, the HDR signal processor generates an HDR image data from the pixel data S1 to S3, the generation of the HDR image starting when the pixel data S3 is obtained, and performs tone mapping by multiplying this image data by the gain.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for dynamic range estimation of imaged scenes for automatic exposure control. For a given exposure time setting, certain areas of a scene may be brighter than what a camera can capture. In cameras, including those experiencing substantial lens vignetting, a gain stage may be used to extend dynamic range and extract auto-exposure data from the extended dynamic range. Alternatively, dynamic range can be extended using pre-capture image information taken under reduced exposure conditions.

Abstract: A device and system and a method for selecting and displaying images in accordance with attention responses of an image viewer. An image capture device captures a viewer image of a spatial region potentially containing a viewer of the image display device and a viewer detection mechanism analyzes the viewer image and determines whether a potential viewer is observing the display screen. A gaze pattern_analysis mechanism identifies a viewer response to a currently displayed image by analysis of the viewer's emotional response as revealed by the viewer's facial expression and other sensory inputs, and the selection of an image to be displayed is then modified in accordance with the indicated viewer's attention response.

Abstract: Systems and methods of receiving image content in a first format and storing converted image content in a second format are disclosed. A method includes receiving image content in a first format from a camera at an interface of a data storage device that includes a controller coupled to a memory. The data storage device emulates a printer via the interface. The image content in the first format is converted to image content in a second format and stored at the memory of the data storage device.

Abstract: A photographing apparatus and method. The apparatus including: an image pickup unit configured to capture an image of a subject to create image data; a image pickup unit controller configured to set a photographing time that is longer than an exposure time required for photographing the subject, and configured to divide the overall photographing time into a plurality of unit photographing times, and configured to control the image pickup unit to sequentially perform a plurality of unit photographing operations corresponding to the plurality of unit photographing times to create unit images; a storage unit; a user inputting unit; an image synthesis unit configured to sum up the image data of the unit images to create preparatory images and configured to sum up the unit images of a preparatory image to create a final image; and a display unit configured to display the preparatory images and the final image.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus is able to record a moving image in a first image capturing mode or a second image capturing mode. In the first image capturing mode, the apparatus starts recording of a moving image signal in response to an instruction to start recording and stops recording of the moving image signal in response to an instruction to stop recording. In the second image capturing mode, the apparatus starts recording of a moving image signal in response to the instruction to start recording, and automatically stops recording of the moving image signal when a predetermined period elapses after recording of the moving image signal starts. The apparatus controls so as to extract a moving image signal of the predetermined period from a moving image signal recorded in the first image capturing mode on a recording medium, and to record the extracted moving image signal on a recording medium.

Abstract: Data of updated or new advertising messages are loaded into a non-volatile memory of a digital camera in the course of it being recycled. The user of the camera therefore receives the updated or new advertising messages as a part of recycling the camera. There are a number of ways the advertising message can be displayed on a picture preview screen of the camera and/or reproduced by a loudspeaker on the camera. The advertising message can either be displayed along with a picture acquired by the camera or at separate times.

Abstract: A memory control block performs in parallel a process of writing a current frame of image data captured by an image capturing device into a system shared memory, a process of reading out a previous frame of image data stored in the system shared memory, and a process of writing combined image data generated in an image combining block into the system shared memory.

Abstract: A shooting parameter adjustment method for face detection includes (A) acquiring an image; (B) dividing the image into a plurality of blocks, and calculating a brightness value of each of the blocks; (C) selecting at least one of the plurality of blocks, and adjusting a shooting parameter according to the brightness value of the selected block; and (D) acquiring another image according to the shooting parameter, and performing a face detection procedure with the another image. The shooting parameter adjustment method can automatically adjust a shooting parameter of an image capturing device according to brightness of different blocks in an image. Therefore, by using this method, the brightness of a face, no matter being too high or too low, can be adjusted to a value suitable for face detection, so as to improve the accuracy of the face detection procedure.

Abstract: A portable, aerial, dual-swath photogrammetric imaging system comprising twin nadir pointing CCD cameras for simultaneously acquiring twin adjacent digital images for merging into a large panorama. A pair of lens shifters symmetrically shift twin images to the left and right sides of the focal points of two parallel lenses to extend imaging swathwidth. The twin adjacent images of the imaging system have a strip of narrow overlap at the center of the whole scene that are reserved for photogrammetric processing and stitching twin images into a seamless panorama. Each camera is connected to an embedded computer which controls imaging data acquisition, attaches GPS/IMU measurements, generates KML metadata files for its snapshots, and stores acquired images and metadata into removable SSDs. Direct geo-referenced panoramic digital stills are immediately registered on to Google™ Earth precisely. Its images can be further processed for advanced mapping, change detection and GIS applications.

Abstract: A zoom lens system of the present invention has a plurality of lens units each composed of at least one lens element and, in order from the object side to the image side, comprises: a first lens unit having negative optical power and composed of two lens elements; a second lens unit having positive optical power; and a third lens unit having positive optical power, wherein in zooming from a wide-angle limit to a telephoto limit during image taking, the individual lens units are moved along an optical axis such that an interval between the first lens unit and the second lens unit should decrease and that an interval between the second lens unit and the third lens unit should increase, so that magnification change is achieved, and wherein on the image side relative to the second lens unit, an aperture diaphragm is arranged that moves along the optical axis integrally with the second lens unit during zooming.

Abstract: The invention relates to an image sensor array having multiple pixel sensor elements along the surface area of said image sensor and outputting at a specified video frame rate subsequent video frames corresponding to the image, characterized in that each multiple pixel sensor element is arranged for generating one or more video frame segments, said segments each having a time duration being a fraction of the time equivalent to the video frame rate, and composing a single video frame from the multiple of said video frame segments. The invention also relates to said pixel sensor element for use with an image intensifier or in an electron bombarded image sensor array device according to the invention.

Abstract: A frequency component comparing unit performs frequency component comparison for each of the image signals corresponding to the wavelength components subjected to resolution reconstruction. An image synthesizing unit performs image synthesis with an image signal that is selected according to a comparison result of the frequency component comparing unit as a component. The wavelength component that is subjected to frequency component comparison by frequency component comparing unit is selected according to the modulation transfer function characteristic of the optical system.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus capable of performing phase difference detection while allowing light to enter an imaging device is provided. An imaging unit (1) includes an imaging device (10) configured to perform photoelectric conversion on received light and allow light to pass therethrough and a phase difference detection section (20) configured to perform phase difference detection on received light which has passed through the imaging device (10). The imaging device (10) includes a color-purpose light receiving section (11b, 11b, . . . ) including color filters (15r, 15g, 15b) and configured to obtain color information and an brightness-purpose light receiving section (11b, 11b, . . . ) configured to obtain brightness information and receive a larger amount of light than the color-purpose light receiving section (11b, 11b, . . . ).

Abstract: A method for providing an output image based on an input image, the method comprising determining a location of an output pixel with respect to an input image, determining values of elements of a filter array such that the effective width of the filter array depends on the density of exposed input pixels within the input image, and determining the value of the output pixel by performing a sum-of-products operation between non-zero values of the elements of the filter array and the values of input pixels of the input image located at respective positions, when the filter array is superimposed on the input image such that the center of the filter array corresponds to the location of the output pixel.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a plurality of pixels which convert incident light to pixel signals which are electric charge signals and output the pixel signals, color filters which filter light incident to the respective pixels, and a pixel binning unit which bins pixel signals from pixels on adjacent lines and outputs a binned pixel signal. The color filters have a repeating pattern of a unit array corresponding to a unit of 16 pixels arranged in 4 rows×4 columns. In an image obtained from an output signal after pixel binning, the color filters constituting first pixels adjacent to each other in a row direction, and the color filters constituting second pixels having the same center-of-mass position in the row direction as that of the first pixels and being adjacent to each other in a column direction, have the same color component ratio.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing current pulses to the illumination source in an imaging scanner. The method includes: (1) sensing a current supplied from a current port to obtain a current-monitoring signal; (2) controlling a charge current provided to a storage capacitor based on the current-monitoring signal; (3) measuring a parameter related to a voltage across the storage capacitor; and (4) generating a driving current for the illumination source by the illumination driver circuit, if the parameter is above a predetermined threshold value, to provide a driving current for a illumination source in an imaging scanner.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a pixel area section in which plural pixels having photoelectric conversion sections, in which signal charges are accumulated, are arranged along a horizontal direction and a vertical direction; a vertical scanning unit that selects the pixels of the pixel area section in row units and reads out the signal charges from the pixels in row units; and an electronic shutter unit that supplies a reset signal set in a valid state and a transfer signal set in a valid state to the pixels in row units to reset all the pixels and, then, supplies the transfer signal set in an invalid state to the pixels in row units to release the reset of the pixels and starts accumulation of the signal charges in the pixels.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of processing images arising from a photosensitive detector of the type in particular made by techniques of depositing semiconductor materials. The method consists in correcting an image acquired (INPUT(T)) by the detector by a gain image (Gain(T)). According to the invention, an image for correcting drifting gain in terms of temperature (C(T1), C(T2)) as a function of a temperature (T) measured by the detector during the acquisition of the image (INPUT(T)) is applied to the image acquired. The invention also relates to a photosensitive detector in which the means for correcting drifting gain in terms of temperature are included, independently of the gain image (Gain(T)).

Abstract: Each pixel has a photoelectric conversion unit configured to convert light into electrical charges and to store the electrical charges, an amplifying unit configured to amplify a signal based on the electrical charges stored in the photoelectric conversion unit and to output the signal to an output line, and a reset unit configured to reset a input part of the amplifying unit. A clip unit, which is configured to limit an electric voltage of the output line, includes an amplifying circuitry for amplifying a signal based on the electric voltage of the output line and an MOS transistor for limiting the electric voltage of the output line based on the difference in electric potential between the gate and source. The clip unit controls the electric potential of the gate of the MOS transistor by the amplifying circuitry.

Abstract: Unit cells each having a plurality of photodiodes 101a and 101b, a plurality of transfer MOSFETs 102a and 102b provided in correspondence to the plurality of photodiodes, respectively and a common amplifying MOSFET 104 for amplifying and outputting signals read out from the plurality of diodes are arranged two-dimensionally, and, plural photodiodes are disposed around the photodiode 101b and trapping regions 130, 134, 135 and 132 are for trapping excessive carriers from the photodiode 101b are provided between the photodiode 101b and the plural photodiodes, respectively.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of pixels including a photoelectric conversion unit and a pixel amplification unit for amplifying a signal transmitted from the photoelectric conversion unit and outputting an amplified signal, a sequential averaging unit configured to sequentially average signals read a plurality of times via the pixel amplification unit, and a memory configured to store a signal obtained by sequential averaging.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of a heterogeneous image sensor array comprising more than one image sensor structures that are interconnected. The final image sensor array image output for each image sensor structure or pixel is computed using single image sensor structure output data or output data from more than one image sensor structures. The heterogeneous array exhibits complexity, cost, power consumption, device yields and reliability benefits when compared to other image sensor array structures.

Abstract: A digital image signal processing apparatus having an angle of view preview function, a method of controlling the digital image signal processing apparatus, and a recording medium having embodied thereon a computer program for executing the method. Accordingly, a display image displaying at least one piece of angle of view information that is different from angle of view information of a currently mounted interchangeable lens is generated by performing image signal processing, and the display image is displayed. Accordingly, a photographer is informed about angle of view information needed to capture a desired image, and the photographer may easily select an interchangeable lens having desired angle of view information.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus generates display data and index data. The display data includes compressed image data and thumbnail image data. The index data indicates the locations of the thumbnail image data in the display data. The imaging apparatus outputs the display data that is appended with the index data.

Abstract: An electronic still camera includes a finder optical system for viewing a subject image. An imaging section obtains the subject image. A display section displays the subject image based on image data associated with the subject image obtained by the imaging section. A mode selecting section selects either a first mode in which the electronic still camera performs imaging operation using the imaging section while a user views the subject image through the finder optical system or a second mode in which the electronic still camera performs imaging operation using the imaging section while the user views the subject image on the display section. A first focus detection circuit performs a first focus detecting operation when the first mode is selected by the mode selecting section. A second focus detection circuit performs a second focus detecting operation when the second mode is selected by the mode selecting section.