Abstract: There is provided a drive circuit of a solid-state image pickup device capable of generating a pulse for vertical scanning, an interval of which changes non-linearly, and of generating a pulse other than the pulse for vertical scanning, without increasing a circuit size and a communication time for setting an electronic shutter. There also is provided a drive circuit of a solid-state image pickup device including a polynomial arithmetic operation unit for carrying out an arithmetic operation of a polynomial of a first or higher order; an arithmetic operation controller for generating a variable of the polynomial to control an arithmetic operation in the polynomial arithmetic operation unit; and a pulse generator for generating a pulse based on a result of an arithmetic operation in the polynomial arithmetic operation unit.

Abstract: The image pickup apparatus includes an image production unit producing an image by using an output signal from an image pickup unit, a size detection unit detecting a size of a specific object in the image, a storage unit storing a target value of the size of the specific object, a control unit performing auto zoom control that automatically provides a zoom operation to make the size of the specific object equal or closer to the target value, and a position detection unit detecting a position of the specific object in the image. The control unit controls, in the auto zoom control, a speed of the zoom operation depending on the position of the specific object detected by the position detection unit. The apparatus can prevent easy disappearance of the specific object from the image when the auto zoom operation is performed.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes optical and electronic zooming units, and a controller configured to control an operation of the electronic zooming unit. When the first aspect ratio is selected, the controller operates the electronic zooming unit along with an operation of the optical zooming unit between a first zoom state and a second zoom state that is closer to a telephoto end than the first zoom state. When the second aspect ratio is selected, the controller does not operate the electronic zooming unit between the first zoom state and a third zoom state that is located between the first zoom state and the second zoom state, and operates the electronic zooming unit along with the operation of the optical zooming unit between the second zoom state and the third zoom state.

Abstract: An image forming optical system comprising four or five lens groups in total, wherein during zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end, the distance between the first lens group and the second lens group increases, the distance between the second lens group and the third lens group decreases, and the distance between the third lens group and the fourth lens group changes, the first lens group comprises three lenses including a negative meniscus lens, a positive meniscus lens, and a positive lens, the second lens group includes a negative meniscus lens having a convex surface directed toward the object side and a concave surface directed toward the image side, the negative meniscus lens being located closest to the object side in the second lens group, the position of the second lens group at the telephoto end is closer to the object side than that at the wide angle end, the image forming optical system has an aperture stop that moves integrally with the third lens group, the third lens group includ

Abstract: A zoom lens system comprising a first lens unit having positive optical power, a second lens unit having negative optical power, a third lens unit having positive optical power, a fourth lens unit having negative optical power, and a fifth lens unit having positive optical power, wherein the third lens unit includes at least one lens element having positive optical power and at least one lens element having negative optical power, at least the first to third lens units are moved along an optical axis in zooming so that air spaces between the respective lens units vary, thereby performing magnification change, a lens unit positioned on the image side relative to an aperture diaphragm is moved along the optical axis in focusing, and the conditions: 8.1<fG1/Ir<10.4 and Z=fT/fW?9.

Abstract: A system and method for effectively optimizing zoom settings in a digital camera includes a digital zoom module that performs a digital zoom function, and an optical zoom module that controls a lens unit of the digital camera to perform an optical zoom function. A depth of field manager performs a zoom-setting optimization procedure to select optimal zoom values for the optical zoom module and the digital zoom module to thereby optimize image quality characteristics of images captured by the camera device.

Abstract: A camera includes an imaging device; a phase difference detection unit configured to, in parallel with receipt of the light from the subject by the imaging device, perform phase difference detection using the light to detect a defocus amount of the subject; a focus lens group; a body control section configured to move the focus lens group based on the defocus amount detected by the phase difference detection unit to bring the subject into focus; and an image display section for selecting a subject to be in focus from subjects included in an image signal. The body control section is configured to, when the subject to be in focus is selected, move the focus lens group to bring the selected subject into focus. The body control section adjusts a focusing time depending on the defocus amount detected before the movement of the focus lens group.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus which has an optical system, the focal length of which is variable, and an image sensing element that converts an image formed by the optical system into an electrical signal, and can sense and record a moving image and still image, includes a focal length detection circuit for detecting the focal length of the optical system, and a control unit for inhibiting recording of the still image in accordance with the focal length detected by the focal length detection circuit.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a zoom lens formed by arranging a first lens group having a negative refractive power, a second lens group having a positive refractive power, and a third lens group having a positive refractive power in order from an object side to an image side, wherein at a time of varying power from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end, the first lens group is moved, the second lens group is moved to the object side, and the third lens group is moved to the image side such that an air interval between the first lens group and the second lens group is decreased and such that an air interval between the second lens group and the third lens group is increased.

Abstract: An imaging system incorporates an elevated reflector mounted on a tall ground structure or a means for air flight to reflect a target area onto an imaging device, thus projecting the line-of-sight of said imaging device and enabling the imaging device to view target areas that are beyond the imaging device's direct line-of-sight.

Abstract: An image forming optical system comprising, in order from the object side: a first lens group G1 that is fixed during zooming and includes a reflecting optical element for bending an optical path; a second lens group G2 having a negative refracting power and movable during zooming; a third lens group G3 having a positive refracting power; a fourth lens group G4 having a positive refracting power; and a rearmost lens group GR, wherein during zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end, the third lens group G3 moves on the optical axis toward the object side, characterized in that the rearmost lens group GR satisfies the following condition: 0.95<?Rw<2.5 . . . (1-1).

Abstract: An imaging control device for an imaging apparatus or an imaging system having an imaging section which performs imaging of a subject and an imaging field changing section of the imaging section, includes: a determination section which determines whether or not a subject detecting section detects a predetermined target subject by analyzing a captured image signal acquired by the imaging section, in a subject detection processing; and an imaging field change control section which controls the imaging field changing section to change an angle of view in the imaging section, wherein when the determination section determines that the subject detecting section does not detect a target subject in the subject detection processing, the imaging field change control section controls the imaging field changing section to change the angle of view in the imaging section and then the image control device controls the subject detecting section to perform the subject detection processing.

Abstract: A method for sharpening an input digital image captured using a digital camera having a zoom lens, determining a parameterized representation of lens acuity of the zoom lens as a function of at least the lens focal length and lens F# by fitting a parameterized function to lens acuity data for the zoom lens at a plurality of lens focal length and lens F/#; using a processor to sharpen the input digital image responsive to the particular lens focal length and lens F/# corresponding to the input digital image using the parameterized representation of the lens acuity.

Abstract: A zoom lens system is provided that includes a compactly constructed focusing lens unit and that has a suppressed change in the image magnification at the time of movement of a focusing lens unit. The zoom lens system according to the present invention comprises: a positive lens unit that is arranged on an object side relative to the aperture diaphragm; a negative lens unit that is arranged on an image side relative to the positive lens unit and on an object side relative to the aperture diaphragm; and a focusing lens unit that is arranged in an optical path between the negative lens unit and the aperture diaphragm. The zoom lens system satisfies the condition (4): 1.20<?NT/?NW<4.50 (here, fT/fW>3.

Abstract: A zoom lens is provided and includes: a first lens group having a positive power, a second lens group having a negative power, a stop, a third lens group having a positive power, and a fourth lens group having a positive power in order. Zooming is performed by moving at least the first lens group, the second lens group, the stop, and the third lens group along the optical axis. During zooming, the stop is moved so as to be closer to an image plane at a wide-angle end than at a telephoto end and to be closer to the second lens group at the telephoto end than at the wide-angle end. The following conditional expressions (1) and (2) are satisfied. For the conditional expressions (1) and (2), fw is a focal length at the wide-angle end of the entire system, ft is a focal length at the telephoto end of the entire system, f1 is a composite focal length of the first lens group, and X1 is a displacement of the first lens group during zooming from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end. 4.0<f1/fw<7.0??(1) 0.

Abstract: A zoom lens includes first to fourth lens units in order from the object side to the image side. The first, third, and fourth lens units have a positive refractive power. The second lens unit has a negative refractive power. During zooming from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end, the first lens unit moves along a locus convex toward the image side, the second lens unit moves along a locus convex toward the image side from the wide-angle end to an intermediate zoom position and along a locus convex toward the object side from the intermediate zoom position to the telephoto end, and the third lens unit moves such that the distance to the second lens unit at the telephoto end is smaller than that at the wide-angle end. Focal lengths of the first lens unit and the entire lens system at the telephoto end are adequately set.

Abstract: Provided is a zoom lens in which both higher-order components of distortion and lateral chromatic aberration are corrected in a retrofocus type optical system. The zoom lens includes, in order from a magnifying side, a first lens unit which is negative, a second lens unit which is positive, and a rear lens group which is positive. A solid material having high dispersion and high extraordinary dispersion is used for a negative lens included in the first lens unit to provide a suitable shape and refractive power.

Abstract: A zoom lens includes a first, third and fourth lens group of positive refracting power, a second lens group of negative refracting power, wherein, during zooming from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end, at least the first lens group moves, wherein the third lens group includes, a first lens sub-group of positive refracting power and a second lens sub-group of negative refracting power, wherein the second lens sub-group includes a single negative lens, wherein the first lens sub-group of the third lens group is moved to keep a perpendicular component relative to an optical axis to correct image blur to be produced when the zoom lens vibrates, and wherein, when a focal length of the first lens group is denoted by f1 and the focal length of the whole system at the wide-angle end is denoted by fw, a conditional expression 10.0<f1/fw<20.0 is satisfied.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for viewing portions of an image in high resolution and in context with a full image, which is displayed at a base resolution that is lower resolution than the resolution of the high-resolution image. A user can select an area of interest from the base-resolution image for viewing at a higher resolution on the client device. The server, or in some implementations the client device, can generate a high-resolution image representing the area of interest and the client device can display a portion of the high-resolution image in a virtual lens overlaid on the base-resolution image.

Abstract: The invention relates to an imaging apparatus that makes effective use of an image restoration processing method, thereby working favorably for size reductions while making sure zoom ratios and brightness, and ensuring good images. The imaging apparatus includes a zoom lens 1 comprising a plurality of lens groups G1 to G4 and adapted to implement zooming from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end with a change in a space between the plurality of lens groups, an imaging device 2 adapted to take an image formed through the zoom lens 1, and an image restoration processor 11 adapted to implement signal processing by which image restoration is implemented on the basis of a signal for the image taken by the imaging device 2 to generate an image signal for a restored image.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming optical system in which, it is possible to achieve both, the small-sizing and slimming of an optical system, and a favorable correction of various aberrations, mainly the chromatic aberration. In an image forming optical system including a lens component in which, a shape of another optical surface C of an intermediate layer L2 which is made of a transparent material having Abbe's number ?d2 which is in a close contact with one optical surface B of a lens L1 which is made of a transparent material having Abbe's number ?d1, is an aspheric shape differing from (a shape of) the optical surface B, and furthermore, a lens L3 which is made of a transparent material having Abbe's number ?d3 is in a close contact with the optical surface C, the following conditions are satisfied 0.012<1/?d3?1/?d1<0.090??(1) 0.

Abstract: A zoom lens includes: first, second and third lens groups having negative refracting power, positive refracting power and positive refracting power, respectively, disposed in the order from an object side. During zooming from a wide angle end to a telephoto end, the first lens group is moved and the second lens group is moved together with a stop toward the object such that an air space between the first and second lens groups decreases and an air space between the second and third lens groups increases. The second lens group includes positive and negative lenses aspherically shaped on at least a side thereof facing the object and having a convex or concave surface facing the object, the negative lens being positioned on the image side of the positive lens. The zoom lens is configured to satisfy the following Conditional Expressions (1) and (2) 0.7<R2f/R2r<2.0??(1) 1.0<|Sga/Sgs|<1.5??(2).

Abstract: A high-performance zoom lens system which is compact and has a wide view angle at a wide-angle limit and a high zooming ratio in a balanced manner, in order from an object side to an image side, comprising a first lens unit having positive optical power, a second lens unit having negative optical power, a third lens unit having positive optical power, and a fourth lens unit having positive optical power, wherein the first lens unit is composed of at most two lens elements, the second lens unit is composed of two lens elements, the third lens unit is composed of three lens elements, in order from the object side to the image side, including an object side lens element having positive optical power, a lens element having negative optical power, and an image side lens element having positive optical power, and the conditions: ?2.3<f2/fW<?1.5, ?W?36 and fT/fW>4.

Abstract: Conventional electro-optical imaging systems can not achieve wide field of view (FOV) and high spatial resolution imaging simultaneously due to format size limitations of image sensor arrays. To implement wide field of regard imaging with high resolution, mechanical scanning mechanisms are typically used. Still, sensor data processing and communication speed is constrained due to large amount of data if large format image sensor arrays are used. This invention describes an electro-optical imaging system that achieves wide FOV global imaging for suspect object detection and local high resolution for object recognition and tracking. It mimics foveated imaging property of human eyes. There is no mechanical scanning for changing the region of interest (ROI). Two relatively small format image sensor arrays are used to respectively acquire global low resolution image and local high resolution image. The ROI is detected and located by analysis of the global image.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a zoom lens including a first lens group, a second lens group, a third lens group, a fourth lens group, and a fifth lens group. The zoom lens satisfies following conditional expressions (1) and (2), 0.03<H1?/f1<0.3??(1) 0.3<|f2|/?(fw·ft)<0.65??(2) where H1? is an interval from a vertex of a surface nearest to the image side in the first lens group to a principal point on the image side of the first lens group (? denotes the object side, and + denotes the image side), f1 is focal length of the first lens group, f2 is focal length of the second lens group, fw is focal length of an entire lens system at a wide-angle end, and ft is the focal length of the entire lens system at a telephoto end.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a zoom lens, and an image pickup element having an image pickup surface which receives optically an image formed by the zoom lens, and which converts the image received to an electric signal. The image pickup apparatus satisfies the following conditional expressions (1), (2), and (3). Lv 1 Er/Lv 1 EL<0.49 ??(1) 0.93<Lv 1 Ef/IHs ??(2) Lv 1 Ef/Lv 1 Er<0.

Abstract: An image-capture apparatus includes a variable magnification lens, imaging means for converting an image taken by the variable magnification lens into an electrical image signal, and imaging control means. By referring to a conversion coordinate coefficient, the image control means moves a point on the image and outputs the new image signal. In the variable magnification lens, in order from the object side, a first lens group having positive refractive power, a second lens group that has negative refractive power and performs a variable magnification action by shifting on an optical axis, a third lens group having positive refractive power, a fourth lens group that has negative refractive power and a fifth lens group having positive refractive power are arrayed.

Abstract: A zoom lens includes: a first lens group having a positive refracting power; a second lens group having a negative refracting power; a third lens group having a positive refracting power; a fourth lens group having a positive refracting power; and a fifth lens group having a positive or negative refracting power; the first, second, third, fourth and fifth lenses being disposed in order from the object side to the image side of the zoom lens.

Abstract: This invention provides a photographing module with optical zoom, which at least includes a focusing lens assembly, a zoom lens assembly, a focusing lens actuator, a zoom lens actuator, a photo sensor and a vibration sensor. The focusing lens actuator at least includes a first movable member, a first fixed member and a first electric unit, wherein the first electric unit can drive the first movable member to proceed axial displacement and incline at an angle with respect to at least one axis. The zoom lens actuator at least includes a second movable member, a second fixed member and a second electric unit, wherein the second electric unit can drive the second movable member to proceed axial displacement. Alternatively, the axial inclination driven by the first electric unit of the focusing lens actuator may be driven by the second electric unit of the zoom lens actuator.

Abstract: An image surface illuminance varying apparatus includes a variable power optical system in which the optical power thereof can be varied by changing a relative position of a plurality of optical elements thereof; and a light-quantity ratio varying optical element whose transmittance varies in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the variable power optical system, the light-quantity ratio varying optical element being located in a light path of the variable power optical system to reduce an illuminance difference of an imaging surface. A distance from the light-quantity ratio varying optical element, which is moved along the optical axis, to a diaphragm or a shutter is varied in accordance with the power varying operation.

Abstract: Provided are: an imaging sensor that captures subject light via a photographic optical system provided with a zoom lens and a focus lens; a display unit that displays a through image based upon an imaging signal from the imaging sensor; a predetermined area setting unit that sets a predetermined area on the through image displayed on a display surface of the display unit in a state which is set to a first angle of view or a second angle of view different from the first angle of view by driving the zoom lens; a movement control unit that moves positions of the zoom lens and the focus lens by controlling drive of the zoom lens and the focus lens, so as to change from a first state, which is set to the first angle of view and serves as an in-focus state focused on the predetermined area set by the predetermined area setting unit to a second state, which is set to the second angle of view and serves as an out-of-focus state defocused on the predetermined area, or from the second state to the first state over a pr

Abstract: In a learning process, first, images having different resolutions are obtained from a target region of the subject (S101). Further, the subject characteristic of the target region is obtained (S102). Then, the resolution conversion rules are learned from the images having different resolutions, and those are recorded to a storage device along with the subject characteristics (S103). When converting the resolutions, the resolution conversion rules learned for the corresponding subject characteristics are applied to each region of the original image so as to convert the resolutions of the original image.

Abstract: A zoom lens includes: first, second and third lens groups having negative refracting power, positive refracting power and positive refracting power, respectively, disposed in the order listed from an object side to an image side, wherein during zooming from a wide angle end to a telephoto end, the first lens group is moved and the second lens group is moved toward the object such that an air space between the first and second lens groups decreases and an air space between the second and third lens groups increases; and the first lens group is formed by first and second lenses, the first and second lenses being disposed in the order listed from the object side to the image side, and the zoom lens satisfying the following Conditional Expressions (1) and (2) nd12>2.0??(1) ?d12<21.6??(2).

Abstract: An image-taking apparatus is disclosed which is capable of adjusting a positional displacement of an image-taking optical system and an image-pickup element even in a state in which they are fixed. The image-taking apparatus includes the image-taking optical system including an offset lens unit movable in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis, the image-pickup element and a memory which stores adjustment data. The adjustment data is data on a movement amount of the offset lens unit to make light amounts in peripheral parts on the image-pickup element substantially homogeneous in a case where an object has a surface with approximately homogeneous luminance.

Abstract: A zoom lens includes, in order from the object side, an object side lens group having a negative refracting power at the wide angle end and including at least one negative lens unit, and an image side lens group having a positive refracting power at the wide angle end and including at least one positive lens unit including a cemented doublet lens component. The distance between the two lens groups is smaller at the telephoto end than at the wide angle end. The cemented doublet lens component includes, in order from the object side, a negative object side lens having a concave surface facing the image side, and positive image side lens having a meniscus shape with a concave surface facing the image side. The cemented doublet lens component is located closest to the image side in the positive lens unit. The zoom lens satisfies specific conditions.

Abstract: A zoom lens system, in order from an object side to an image side, comprising a first lens unit having negative optical power, a second lens unit having positive optical power, a third lens unit having positive optical power, and a fourth lens unit having positive optical power, wherein in zooming, the intervals between the respective lens units vary, and the condition (I-1): 2?W/FW?34 (fT/fW>2.0, ?W: a half view angle (°) at a wide-angle limit, FW: an F-number at a wide-angle limit, fT: a focal length of the entire system at a telephoto limit, fW: a focal length of the entire system at a wide-angle limit) is satisfied, having a high resolution and a short overall optical length (overall length of lens system), and still having a view angle of 70° or greater at a wide-angle limit, which is satisfactorily adaptable for wide-angle image taking, and yet having a large aperture with an F-number of about 2.0 at a wide-angle limit; an imaging device; and a camera.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a processing portion having a first mode in which one piece of pixel information is output per m-square light receiving portion(s) among light receiving portions in a first region and a second mode in which one piece of pixel information is output per light receiving portions as many as a number calculated by multiplying a square of m by a square of n among light receiving portions in a second region which is a similar figure to the first region at a scaling factor of n times. The apparatus accepts an operation to switch between wide-angle and telephoto, switches the processing portion to the second mode when an operation to switch to wide-angle is accepted and the processing portion to the first mode when an operation to switch to telephoto is accepted, and outputs image information based on the pixel information output from the processing portion.

Abstract: An object is to provide: a zoom lens system that has a reduced overall length, a high resolution, and a variable magnification ratio as high as 9 or greater and that is satisfactorily adaptable for wide-angle image taking where the view angle at a wide-angle limit is 70° or greater; an imaging device employing this zoom lens system; and a thin and compact camera. The zoom lens system has a plurality of lens units each consisting of at least one lens element, and, in order from the object side to the image side, comprises a first lens unit having positive optical power, a second lens unit having negative optical power, a third lens unit having positive optical power, a fourth lens unit and a fifth lens unit. In zooming from a wide-angle limit to a telephoto limit at the time of image taking, at least the first lens unit and the second lens unit move in an optical axis direction, while the fourth lens unit and the fifth lens unit are each consists of one lens element.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a zoom lens formed by arranging a first lens group having a negative refractive power, a second lens group having a positive refractive power, and a third lens group having a positive refractive power in order from an object side to an image side, wherein at a time of varying power from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end, the first lens group is moved, and the second lens group is moved to the object side such that an air interval between the first lens group and the second lens group is decreased and such that an air interval between the second lens group and the third lens group is increased.

Abstract: An object is to provide: a zoom lens system that has a reduced overall length, a high resolution, and a variable magnification ratio as high as 9 or greater and that is satisfactorily adaptable for wide-angle image taking where the view angle at a wide-angle limit is 70° or greater; an imaging device employing this zoom lens system; and a thin and compact camera. The zoom lens system has a plurality of lens units each consisting of at least one lens element, and, in order from the object side to the image side, comprises a first lens unit having positive optical power, a second lens unit having negative optical power, a third lens unit having positive optical power, a fourth lens unit and a fifth lens unit. In zooming from a wide-angle limit to a telephoto limit at the time of image taking, at least the first lens unit and the second lens unit move in an optical axis direction, while the fourth lens unit and the fifth lens unit are each consists of one lens element.

Abstract: Provided is a zoom lens including, in order from an object side to an image side: a first lens unit having a negative refractive power; a second lens unit having a positive refractive power; and a third lens unit having a positive refractive power, all the lens units moving during zooming; and a secondary aperture having a constant aperture diameter disposed on the image side of the second lens unit, in which the second lens unit includes lens components having a positive refractive powers disposed at a position closest to the object side and a position closest to the image side, and a distance (dd) on an optical axis between a lens surface closest to the image side in the second lens unit and the secondary aperture, and a focal length (fw) of the entire zoom lens at a wide angle end are appropriately set.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus is provided which can continuously keep track of an object even under changes of the angle of view during enlarged live-view display, as well as an image capturing method for such an image capturing apparatus. Acquisition range of image signals is controlled by the CPU to crop a portion of an object image formed on the image pickup device. Subsequently, the enlarged live-view display is performed in which the image based on the obtained image signals is enlarged and displayed on the display unit. If a zooming operation is performed during the enlarged live-view display, the CPU obtains information regarding the angle of view and updates the acquisition range of the image signals according to the information regarding the angle of view after the change.

Abstract: A zoom lens system, in order from an object side to an image side, comprising a first lens unit having negative optical power, a second lens unit having positive optical power, a third lens unit having positive optical power, and a fourth lens unit having positive optical power, wherein in zooming, the intervals between the respective lens units vary, and the condition (I-1): 1.3<|fG2/fG3|<10.0 (fT/fW>2.0, fG2: a focal length of the second lens unit, fG3: a focal length of the third lens unit, fT: a focal length of the entire system at a telephoto limit, fW: a focal length of the entire system at a wide-angle limit) is satisfied, having a high resolution and a short overall optical length (overall length of lens system), and still having a view angle of 70° or greater at a wide-angle limit, which is satisfactorily adaptable for wide-angle image taking, and yet having a large aperture with an F-number of about 2.0 at a wide-angle limit; an imaging device; and a camera.

Abstract: A zoom optical system having a lens group I including two single lenses or one lens component, an aperture stop, and a lens group A disposed between the lens group I and the aperture stop, including a lens component made up of a positive lens LA and a negative lens LB that are cemented together, and having a negative refracting power as a whole. The distance between the lens group I and the lens group A on the optical axis changes for zooming, and the lens component has an aspheric cemented surface. When the shape of the aspheric surface is expressed by a certain equation, the shape of the air-contact surface of the positive lens LA and its aspheric components etc. satisfy conditional expressions (3a) and (3b).

Abstract: An imaging apparatus has an optical zoom function, with which the image imaged on the imaging device (CCD) is enlarged and reduced by moving an optical system, and an electronic zoom function, with which the image data generated by the imaging device is electronically enlarged and reduced. In an imaging mode (pixel-number conversion mode) in which the image generated by the imaging device is recorded with the number of pixels lower than that of the imaging device, the imaging apparatus performs control so that only the electronic zoom is actuated when a total zoom magnification is not more than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A lens barrel that can realize increased shooting magnification and slimming down of an image pickup apparatus without increasing drive load and optical accuracy error in driving the lens barrel along an optical axis. A cam follower follows cam grooves in a cam cylinder to move along the optical axis, and engages with a lens holding frame to move the same from a retracted state to a shooting state. A compression coil spring urges the cam follower and the lens holding frame in such a direction as to draw them away from each other, and when the cam follower moves from the shooting state to the retracted state, engages with the lens holding frame to move the same toward an image plane. A fixed portion coming into abutment with the lens holding frame restricts movement of the lens holding frame toward the image plane.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus which is arranged so that a calculation portion calculates a first adjustment value for white balance adjustment from a first image obtained by capturing an image at first timing, a discrimination portion discriminates depending on objects conditions whether or not white balance of a second image obtained by capturing the image at second timing is subjected to white balance adjustment using the first adjustment value, and an adjustment portion performs the white balance adjustment on the second image using the first adjustment value on the basis of a discrimination result of the discrimination portion.

Abstract: There is provided an imaging apparatus which can prevent a privacy zone from being shifted from a mask when a magnification converting lens is switched. The imaging unit (3) has an extender (29) which is a magnification converting lens capable of switching between an inserted state and an extracted state with respect to an optical axis. The signal processing circuit (5) composites a mask to an object region of the privacy zone in the image generated by the imaging unit (3). The control unit (13) controls the signal processing circuit (5) according to switching of the extender (29). When the extender (29) is switched, the control unit (13) instructs the signal processing circuit (5) to change the mask region in the image according to the magnification shift caused by the switching of the extender (29) and maintains the privacy zone in a masked state after the signal processing circuit (5) is switched.

Abstract: A zoom lens includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit having a negative refractive power, a second lens unit having a positive refractive power, a third lens unit having a negative refractive power, and a fourth lens unit having a positive refractive power. In the zoom lens, an interval between every adjacent ones of the first through fourth lens units varies during zooming, the second lens unit includes at least one negative lens, and the third lens unit includes at least one positive lens. An Abbe number and a relative partial dispersion of a material of the at least one negative lens (?d2N, ?gF2N) and an Abbe number and a relative partial dispersion of a material of the at least one positive lens (?d3P, ?gF3P) are appropriately set.

Abstract: An imaging device of the present invention comprises a photographing lens for forming a subject image, an imaging section for converting the subject image to image signals and outputting the image signals, a storage section for storing image data obtained based on the image signals output from the storage section, an attitude detection section for detecting an attitude of the imaging device, an image detection section for detecting a face image contained in the image signals, and a storage control section for determining storage start and storage end for the image data, based on detection results of the attitude detection section and detection results of the image detection section.