JP3836732B2 - Digital camera - Google Patents

Description

【００３４】
これは、本実施形態のデジタルカメラ１では、固体撮像素子を構成する複数の単位受光素子で得られた複数の輝度情報を、隣接する４つの単位受光素子で得られた４つの輝度情報ごとに統合して１つの輝度情報とする画素混合により高感度が実現されているためである。したがって、本来の記録可能な画像サイズである６メガピクセルが４分の１に縮減され、設定されている記録画像サイズが１．５メガピクセルを上回る場合は、１．５メガピクセルでしか撮影が行なわれないためである。尚、本実施形態では、この１．５メガピクセルではなく１メガピクセルを、画素混合の結果の記録可能な画像サイズとしており、この１メガピクセルが、本発明にいう高感度対応画像サイズに相当する。このため、設定されている記録画像サイズが１Ｍである場合は、高感度設定が可能であるとしている。また、本来であれば、記録画像サイズを０．４メガピクセル（ＶＧＡ規格）に設定した場合にも高感度設定が可能となるはずであるが、ここでは設定不能としている。
【００３５】
また、本実施形態のデジタルカメラ１の、設定可能な撮影モードに対して設定可能なＩＳＯ感度を示す表を以下に示す。
【００３６】
表２には、設定可能な撮影モードである、‘オート’モード、‘マニュアル’モード、‘人物’モード、‘スポーツ’モード、‘風景’モード、および‘夜景’モードそれぞれにおいて設定可能なＩＳＯ感度が示されており、‘マニュアル’モードでは、すべてのＩＳＯ感度（１００〜１６００）を選択することができるが、‘マニュアル’モード以外のモードでは、ＩＳＯ感度２００のみが選択可能である様子が示されている。
【００３７】
【表２】

【００３８】
図３は、本実施形態のデジタルカメラの、モードダイヤルの状態、および、液晶パネルに表示される画像を示す図である。
【００３９】
図３の上段左端には、モードダイヤルが、‘マニュアル’モードに設定されている様子が示されており、図３の下段左付近には、モードダイアルが、‘オート’モードに設定されている様子が示されている。
【００４０】
図３（ａ）から図３（ｈ）には、液晶パネル２０に表示される画像が、図１に示す、メニュー／ＯＫボタン２７およびモードダイヤル２６の操作によって変化している様子が示されている。
【００４１】
以下、図１に示すメインスイッチ２３を押下して、図１および図２に示す機能選択レバー２４によって‘撮影記録’機能を選択した後、図３の上段左側に示すように、モードダイヤル２６（図１参照）で‘マニュアル’を選択した場合について説明しながら、このデジタルカメラ１の動作について述べる。
【００４２】
まず、モードダイヤル２６で‘マニュアル’モードが選択されていることから、図３（ａ）に示すスルー画像が、液晶パネル２０に表示される。
【００４３】
図３（ａ）の上端右側には、この画像が３メガピクセルの記録画像サイズで記録されていることを示す‘３Ｍ’が表示されると共に、図３（ａ）の上端左側には、‘マニュアル’モードのマークが表示されている。尚、この３メガピクセルは、後述するメニュー‘ピクセルサイズ’のデフォルトとなっている。
【００４４】
ここで、図１に示すメニュー／ＯＫボタン２７を押下すると、液晶パネル２０には、図３（ｂ）に示す画像が表示される。
【００４５】
図３（ｂ）には、この‘マニュアル’モードで選択することのできる複数のメニューが表示されている様子が示されている。ここでは、デフォルトでメニュー‘感度’が選択されており、このことを示すために、図３（ｂ）の中段左側に示す表示‘感度’がライトアップされると共に、図３（ｂ）の上端左側にも‘感度’が表示されている。尚、図３に示される表示‘感度’の右斜め上には、メニュー‘ピクセルサイズ’を選択するための表示‘ピクセルサイズ’が示されており、メニュー‘ピクセルサイズ’では、記録画像サイズの設定が可能となっている。これら以外のメニューについては、本発明とは無関係であるので説明は省略するが、これらメニューの選択は、図１に示す十字キー２８を操作して、ライトアップを、所望のメニューを表わす表示上に移動させることによって行ない、決定は、メニュー／ＯＫボタン２７を押下することによって行なわれる。
【００４６】
図３（ｃ）には、デフォルトメニュー‘感度’をライトアップさせたまま、メニュー／ＯＫボタン２７を押下(決定)し、このデジタルカメラ１において設定可能なＩＳＯ感度（１００、２００、４００、８００、１６００）のうち、ＩＳＯ感度４００を選択した時の液晶パネル２０における画像表示が示されている。
【００４７】
図３（ｄ）には、高感度であるＩＳＯ感度８００を選択するために、ライトアップをＩＳＯ感度４００からＩＳＯ感度８００に移動させたときの液晶パネルに表示される画像が示されている。この移動は、図１に示す十字キー２８を操作して行なわれる。尚、表示‘８００’および表示‘１６００’の右横の表示‘（１Ｍ）’の意味については後述する。
【００４８】
図３（ｅ）には、このＩＳＯ感度８００の選択による画素混合により、記録可能な画像サイズが３メガピクセル(図３（ａ）)参照）から１メガピクセルに縮減されたことを示すメッセージ‘ピクセル→（１Ｍ）’が液晶パネルに表示された様子が示されており、これにより、デフォルト選択されていた記録画像サイズである３メガピクセルは、この高感度設定により１メガピクセルに変更される。尚、このメッセージの表示は、図１に示すメニュー/ＯＫボタン２７が押下されるまで続けられる。
【００４９】
図３（ｆ）には、図３（ｅ）にメッセージに対して、メニュー/ＯＫボタン２７が押下された後、液晶パネル２０に表示される画像が示されている。
【００５０】
ここで、このデジタルカメラ１の電子ズーム機能について、以下に示す表を用いて説明する。
【００５１】
表３には、このデジタルカメラ１の電子ズーム機能を使用することのできる、選択可能な記録画像サイズとＩＳＯ感度との組み合わせが示されている。
【００５２】
【表３】

【００５３】
表３に示されるように、このデジタルカメラ１では、ＩＳＯ感度８００、１６００が選択されると、すべての記録画像サイズにおいて電子ズーム機能は使用不能となり、さらに、ＩＳＯ感度８００未満であっても、６メガピクセルの記録画像サイズが選択されているときには、電子ズーム機能は使用不能となる。
【００５４】
これは、このデジタルカメラ１の電子ズーム機能は、画質の悪化防止のために、固体撮像素子上に設定される拡大する範囲によって決定される画像サイズが、１メガピクセルよりも大きい場合にのみ動作可能となっているためであり、ＩＳＯ感度８００以上が選択された場合には、固体撮像素子上の記録可能な画像サイズは１メガピクセルに縮減され、既に選択されている記録画像サイズが６メガピクセル、あるいは３メガピクセルの時は、この記録画像サイズが１メガピクセルに変更される。したがって、高感度設定が行なわれると、記録可能な画像サイズと記録画像サイズとは同じサイズになるため、電子ズーム機能の使用は不能となる。尚、ＩＳＯ感度が８００未満である場合の、選択されている記録画像データが６メガピクセルの場合も、同じ理由で電子ズームの使用が不能となる。また、選択された記録画像データが、０．４メガピクセル（ＶＧＡ規格）である場合については、ＩＳＯ感度が８００以上である場合には、前述したように、記録画像サイズは、１メガピクセルに変更されることから、電子ズーム機能の使用は不能となる。さらに、ＩＳＯ感度が８００未満で、選択されている記録画像データが３メガピクセル、あるいは１メガピクセルである場合には、拡大範囲が、固体撮像素子全体の６メガピクセルから、選択されている記録画像データのピクセルサイズまでの電子ズームが可能となっており、ＩＳＯ感度が８００未満で、選択されている記録画像データが０．４メガピクセルの場合には、固体撮像素子全体の６メガピクセルから１メガピクセルまでの電子ズームが可能となっている。
【００５５】
以下、図３（ｆ）に話を戻して説明を続ける。
【００５６】
図３（ｅ）に示されるメッセージ‘ピクセル→（１Ｍ）’の表示をメニュー／ＯＫボタン２７の押下によって終了させると、図３（ｆ）に示される、選択されたＩＳＯ感度が高感度のために電子ズーム機能の使用が不能であることを表わすメッセージ‘電子ズームできません’が、液晶パネル２０に表示される。
【００５７】
図３（ｆ）に示されるメッセージも、メニュー／ＯＫボタン２７の押下により終了させることができる。
【００５８】
図３（ｆ）に示されたメッセージをメニュー／ＯＫボタン２７で終了させると、選択されたＩＳＯ感度が高感度であることを表わす表示‘ＩＳＯ’が、現在の記録画像サイズである表示‘１Ｍ’と共に図３（ｇ）の上端中央付近に表示される。また、現在の選択モードである‘マニュアル’モードを表わすマークが、図３（ｇ）の上端左側に表示される。
【００５９】
ここで、図３の下段左付近に示すように、モードダイヤル２６が‘ＡＵＴＯ’に設定されると、図３（ｈ）に示されるように、図３（ｇ）で表示されていた表示‘ＩＳＯ’は省かれる。これは、撮影モードが‘マニュアル‘モードから‘ＡＵＴＯ’モードに切り換えられたため、感度が、表２に示すようにデフォルトのＩＳＯ感度２００に設定されたからである。
【００６０】
ここで、再び、モードダイヤルが、‘ＡＵＴＯ’モードから‘マニュアル‘モードに切り換えられると、感度は、直前の‘マニュアル’モードにおける高感度設定の直前に選択されていた通常感度であるＩＳＯ４００に設定されることとなる。
【００６１】
図４は、‘マニュアル’モードにおけるメニュー‘感度’においてＩＳＯ８００、あるいはＩＳＯ１６００が選択されたときに起動され、図２に示すＣＰＵによって実行されるルーチンのフローチャートである。
【００６２】
図４に示すルーチン‘高感度設定処理’のステップ１では、ＩＳＯ８００以上の高感度に設定される前の記録画像サイズが１メガピクセルであったか否かが判定される。
【００６３】
ステップＳ１において、１メガピクセルではないと判定されると、ステップＳ２に進み、記録画像サイズが１メガピクセルに変更されたことを意味するメッセージ’ピクセル→（１Ｍ）’が表示される。その後、ステップＳ３に進み、メニュー／ＯＫボタン２７の押下を待つ。
【００６４】
ステップＳ３において、メニュー／ＯＫボタン２７の押下がなければ、ステップＳ１に戻り、押下があれば、ステップＳ４に進む。
【００６５】
ステップＳ１において、１メガピクセルであると判定されると、ステップＳ４に進み、電子機能の使用が不能であることを意味するメッセージ‘電子ズームできません’が表示される。その後、ステップＳ５に進み、メニュー／ＯＫボタン２７の押下を待つ。
【００６６】
ステップＳ５において、メニュー／ＯＫボタン２７の押下がなければ、ステップＳ１に戻り、押下があれば、ステップＳ６に進む。
【００６７】
ステップＳ６では、現在の感度設定が高感度であることを意味する‘ＩＳＯ‘の表示が行なわれる。その後、ステップＳ７に進み、現在の感度が未だＩＳＯ８００以上であるか否かが判定される。
【００６８】
ステップＳ７において、感度が、ＩＳＯ８００以上であると判定されると、ステップＳ６を繰り返し、ステップＳ７において、ＩＳＯ８００未満であると判定されると、このルーチンを終了する。
【００６９】
図５は、モードダイヤル２６が操作することにより撮影モードが切り換えられた時に起動されるルーチン‘モード切換処理’のフローチャートである。
【００７０】
このルーチン‘モード切換処理’のステップＳ１１では、このモード切り換えが、６種類の撮影モードのうちの‘マニュアル’モード以外のモードからマニュアル’モードへの切り換えであるか否かが判定される。
【００７１】
ステップＳ１１において、‘マニュアル’モード以外のモードからマニュアル’モードへの切り換えではない、すなわち‘マニュアル’モード以外のモードどうしのモード切り換えである、あるいは、‘マニュアル’モードから‘マニュアル’モード以外のモードへの切り換えであると判定されたときは、ステップＳ１３に進み、デフォルトの感度であるＩＳＯ２００（表２参照）が設定される。
【００７２】
ステップＳ１１において、‘マニュアル’モード以外のモードからマニュアル’モードへの切り換えであると判定されると、ステップＳ１２に進み、前回の‘マニュアル’モードにおける高感度設定の直前に選択されていた通常感度であるＩＳＯ４００（図３（ｃ）参照）が設定される。
【００７３】
以上説明したように、本実施形態のデジタルカメラ１において、ＩＳＯ８００以上の高感度が設定されると、この高感度設定以前に設定されていた記録画像サイズが１メガピクセルを上回っていた場合には、その記録画像サイズが１メガピクセルに変更され、その変更を意味するメッセージが、所定のスイッチからの応答があるまで画像表示される。
【００７４】
また、本実施形態のデジタルカメラ１において、ＩＳＯ８００以上の高感度が設定されると、電子ズームの機能の使用が不能であることを意味するメッセージが、所定のスイッチからの応答があるまで表示され、その後、高感度が設定されている間中、このことを意味するマークが表示される。
【００７５】
さらに、本実施形態のデジタルカメラ１において、‘マニュアル’モードから６種類の撮影モードのうちの‘マニュアル’モード以外のモードへのモード切り換えが行なわれたときは、感度は、常にＩＳＯ２００に設定される。
【００７６】
また、本実施形態のデジタルカメラ１では、‘マニュアル’モードにおいてＩＳＯ８００以上の高感度が設定され、その後、‘マニュアル’モード以外のモードが選択されると、感度はＩＳＯ２００に設定される。その後、再び、‘マニュアル’モードが選択されると、前回の‘マニュアル’モードにおける高感度設定の直前に選択されていた通常感度ＩＳＯ４００が設定される。
【００７７】
これにより、本実施形態のデジタルカメラ１では、高感度設定による、意図しない記録画像サイズの変更、電子ズーム機能の使用不能などを撮影前や撮影操作前に知ることができ、さらには、撮影モード間の設定感度値の引きずりなども防止されている。
【００７８】
【発明の効果】
以上説明したように、本発明のデジタルカメラによれば、記録可能な画像サイズの減縮による高感度化に起因する撮影ミスを防止することができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本実施形態であるデジタルカメラ１の正面図（ａ）、左側面図（ｂ）、背面図（ｃ）、上面図（ｄ）である。
【図２】本実施形態のデジタルカメラの内部ブロック図である。
【図３】本実施形態のデジタルカメラの、モードダイヤルの状態、および、液晶パネルに表示される画像を示す図である。
【図４】‘マニュアル’モードにおけるメニュー‘感度’においてＩＳＯ８００、あるいはＩＳＯ１６００が選択されたときに起動され、図２に示すＣＰＵによって実行されるルーチンのフローチャートである。
【図５】モードダイヤル２６が操作することにより撮影モードが切り換えられた時に起動されるルーチン‘モード切り換え処理’のフローチャートである。
【符号の説明】
１ デジタルカメラ
１１ カメラ筐体
１１ａ 電池蓋
１３ レンズ鏡胴
１３ａ 撮影レンズ
１４ フラッシュ受光窓
１５ セルフタイマランプ
１６ ファインダ対物窓
１７ 映像出力端子
１８ ＵＳＢ端子
１９ 外部電源端子
２０ 液晶パネル
２２ 液晶パネル起動スイッチ
２３ メインスイッチ
２４ 機能選択レバー
２５ ファインダ接眼窓
２６ 撮影モードダイヤル
２７ メニュー／ＯＫスイッチ
２８ 十字キー
２９ レリーズボタン
３０ フラッシュ装置起動ボタン
３１ フラッシュ装置
３２ 増幅器
３３ Ａ／Ｄ変換回路
３４ ＣＣＤ撮像素子
３５ ＳＤＲＡＭ
３６ 画像入力コントローラ
３７ 画像信号処理回路
３８ 圧縮処理回路
３９ ＣＰＵ
４０ 記録メディア
４１ メディアコントローラ
４２ ＶＲＡＭ
４３ 画像表示制御装置
４４ ビデオエンコーダ
４５ ＡＥ検出回路
４６ ＡＦ検出回路[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a digital camera that takes a picture by imaging a subject on a solid-state imaging device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Recently, a digital camera that takes a picture of a subject on a solid-state imaging device composed of a set of a plurality of unit light receiving elements arranged two-dimensionally and obtains image data representing the subject has been developed. These digital cameras are widely used in combination with downsizing and cost reduction, and in these digital cameras, exposure control according to the sensitivity set by selecting an ISO (International Organization for Standardization) value in the menu display, etc. Has been done.
[0003]
In these digital cameras, when the sensitivity setting is high sensitivity, a plurality of pieces of luminance information obtained by a plurality of unit light receiving elements constituting the solid-state imaging device are obtained by a predetermined number of adjacent unit light receiving elements. It is conceivable to realize high sensitivity by performing pixel mixing by integrating every predetermined number of luminance information into one luminance information. For example, in a digital camera in which a solid-state image sensor is composed of 6 million unit light-receiving elements, that is, a digital camera having a recordable image size of 6 megapixels, high-sensitivity imaging equivalent to ISO 800 is designated. The unit light receiving elements are integrated and regarded as one unit light receiving element, and the recordable image size is 1.5 megapixels.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since the correlation between the sensitivity setting and the recordable image size is not familiar to many users, a digital camera having a recordable image size of 6 megapixels is taken as an example. And if you want to record an image with an image size of 3 megapixels, if you set the high sensitivity setting, the recordable image size will be 1.5 megapixels, so you can shoot with the set recording image size (3 megapixels) As a result, there arises a problem that photography with a coarser image quality than intended is performed.
[0005]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a digital camera capable of preventing a photographing error due to high sensitivity by reducing a recordable image size.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a first digital camera of the present invention comprises:
A digital camera that takes a picture on a solid-state imaging device composed of a set of a plurality of unit light-receiving elements arranged two-dimensionally to obtain image data representing the subject, and has a set sensitivity. In digital cameras that perform exposure control according to
A sensitivity setting control to set the sensitivity,
An image size setting operator for setting the recording image size;
Acts when the sensitivity is set to a predetermined sensitivity by operating the sensitivity setting operator, and receives a plurality of luminance information obtained by a plurality of unit light receiving elements constituting the solid-state image sensor, by a predetermined number of adjacent unit light receiving units. Pixels that realize this predetermined high sensitivity by reducing the recordable image size to a predetermined high-sensitivity image size by pixel mixture that integrates every predetermined number of luminance information obtained by the element into one luminance information A mixing section;
A recording image size is set in accordance with the operation of the image size setting operator, and the recording is larger than the high sensitivity compatible image size until the predetermined high sensitivity is set by the operation of the sensitivity setting operator. An image size setting unit that changes the recorded image size to the high-sensitivity image size when the image size is set;
When the image size setting unit receives the predetermined high sensitivity setting by the operation of the sensitivity setting operator and the recorded image size is changed to the high sensitivity compatible image size, the high sensitivity compatible image of the recorded image size is changed. And a display unit for displaying that the size has been changed.
[0007]
In the first digital camera of the present invention, when a predetermined high sensitivity is set, the recordable image size is reduced to a high sensitivity compatible image size by pixel mixing. Therefore, before the predetermined high sensitivity is set. If the recorded image size set to is larger than this high-sensitivity image size, the recorded image size is changed to the high-sensitivity image size, and the current recorded image size is set to A display indicating that the value has been changed to a value lower than the expected value is displayed. Therefore, according to the first digital camera of the present invention, if there is a change in the recorded image size by setting a predetermined high sensitivity, this can be known before shooting, so that recording is possible. It is possible to prevent photographing errors caused by high sensitivity due to image size reduction.
[0008]
In order to achieve the above object, a second digital camera of the present invention comprises:
A digital camera that takes a picture on a solid-state imaging device composed of a set of a plurality of unit light-receiving elements arranged two-dimensionally to obtain image data representing the subject, and has a set sensitivity. In digital cameras that perform exposure control according to
A sensitivity setting control to set the sensitivity,
An image size setting operator for setting the recording image size;
Acts when the sensitivity is set to a predetermined sensitivity by the operation of the sensitivity setting operator, and a plurality of pieces of luminance information obtained by the plurality of unit light receiving elements constituting the solid-state imaging device are converted into a predetermined number of adjacent unit light receiving elements. Pixel mixture that realizes this predetermined high sensitivity by reducing the recordable image size to a predetermined high-sensitivity image size by integrating the predetermined luminance information obtained in step 1 into one luminance information. And
A recording image size is set in accordance with the operation of the image size setting operator, and the recording is larger than the high sensitivity compatible image size until the predetermined high sensitivity is set by the operation of the sensitivity setting operator. An image size setting unit that changes the recorded image size to the high-sensitivity image size when the image size is set;
And a display unit for displaying that the predetermined high sensitivity is set while the predetermined high sensitivity is set.
[0009]
In the second digital camera of the present invention, with the above configuration, a display indicating that the sensitivity is set to a predetermined high sensitivity is displayed until this setting is canceled. Therefore, according to the second digital camera of the present invention, it is always possible to be alerted that the current sensitivity setting is a predetermined high sensitivity, and it is possible to eliminate the misunderstanding about the recorded image size, so that recording is possible. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a photographing error caused by high sensitivity due to a reduction in image size.
[0010]
In order to achieve the above object, the third digital camera of the present invention provides:
A digital camera that takes a picture on a solid-state imaging device composed of a set of a plurality of unit light-receiving elements arranged two-dimensionally to obtain image data representing the subject, and has a set sensitivity. In digital cameras that perform exposure control according to
A sensitivity setting control to set the sensitivity,
An image size setting operator for setting the recording image size;
Acts when the sensitivity is set to a predetermined sensitivity by operating the sensitivity setting operator, and receives a plurality of luminance information obtained by a plurality of unit light receiving elements constituting the solid-state image sensor, by a predetermined number of adjacent unit light receiving units. Pixels that realize this predetermined high sensitivity by reducing the recordable image size to a predetermined high-sensitivity image size by pixel mixture that integrates every predetermined number of luminance information obtained by the element into one luminance information A mixing section;
A recording image size is set in accordance with the operation of the image size setting operator, and the recording is larger than the high sensitivity compatible image size until the predetermined high sensitivity is set by the operation of the sensitivity setting operator. An image size setting unit that changes the recorded image size to the high-sensitivity image size when the image size is set;
Electronic zoom calculation unit that realizes an electronic zoom function that can operate only when the recordable image size of the enlargement range is larger than the high-sensitivity image size and maximizes the high-sensitivity image size When,
The electronic zoom function cannot be used when the recorded image size is changed to the high-sensitivity image size in response to the predetermined high-sensitivity setting by the operation of the sensitivity setting operator by the image size setting unit. And a display unit for displaying the above.
[0011]
In the third digital camera of the present invention, the electronic zoom function is used when the image size determined by the enlargement range set on the solid-state imaging device is larger than the high-sensitivity image size in order to prevent deterioration in image quality. Can only be used for As a result, in the third digital camera of the present invention, when a predetermined high sensitivity is set, the image size that can be recorded on the solid-state image sensor and the set recorded image size are both highly sensitive. Since the image size is reached and the electronic zoom function cannot be used, a display indicating that the electronic zoom function cannot be used is displayed. Therefore, according to the third digital camera of the present invention, when a predetermined high sensitivity setting is performed, it is possible to perform recording while knowing that the electronic zoom function is disabled, and thus recording is possible. It is possible to prevent photographing errors caused by high sensitivity due to image size reduction.
[0012]
In order to achieve the above object, a fourth digital camera of the present invention provides:
A digital camera that takes a picture on a solid-state imaging device composed of a set of a plurality of unit light-receiving elements arranged two-dimensionally to obtain image data representing the subject, and has a set sensitivity. In a digital camera that performs exposure control according to a program diagram corresponding to a selected shooting mode and selecting a shooting mode from a plurality of shooting modes with different program diagrams.
A sensitivity setting control to set the sensitivity,
An image size setting operator for setting the recording image size;
A shooting mode selection operator for selecting a shooting mode;
Acts when a predetermined high-sensitivity compatible shooting mode is selected by the operation of the shooting mode selection operator and is set to a predetermined sensitivity by the operation of the sensitivity setting operator, and a plurality of components constituting the solid-state imaging device A plurality of luminance information obtained by the unit light receiving elements is integrated for each predetermined number of pieces of luminance information obtained by the adjacent predetermined number of unit light receiving elements, and can be recorded by pixel mixing into one luminance information. A pixel mixing unit that reduces the size to a predetermined high-sensitivity image size and realizes the predetermined high sensitivity;
When the sensitivity is set according to the operation of the shooting mode selection operator, and when another shooting mode is selected from the high sensitivity compatible shooting mode selected so far by the operation of the shooting mode selection operator. And a sensitivity setting unit for returning the sensitivity to a predetermined initial sensitivity.
[0013]
In the fourth digital camera of the present invention, the above configuration prevents the predetermined high sensitivity set in the high sensitivity shooting mode from being erroneously dragged to a mode other than the high sensitivity shooting mode. Therefore, according to the fourth digital camera of the present invention, it is avoided that the sensitivity that is always used except in the high-sensitivity shooting mode is changed unintentionally. It is possible to prevent photographing errors caused by high sensitivity.
[0014]
Here, the sensitivity setting unit of the fourth digital camera of the present invention is configured to perform the predetermined setting from a predetermined normal sensitivity set up to that time by operating the sensitivity setting operator when in the high-sensitivity shooting mode. The sensitivity is changed to the initial sensitivity when another shooting mode is selected from the previously selected high-sensitivity shooting mode by operating the shooting mode selection operator. It is preferable that the sensitivity is set to the normal sensitivity when the high-sensitivity shooting mode is selected again by operating the shooting mode selection operator.
[0015]
This is convenient when there is normal sensitivity that is always used in the high-sensitivity shooting mode.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, common embodiments of the first, second, third, and fourth digital cameras of the present invention will be described.
[0017]
FIG. 1 is a front view (a), a left side view (b), a rear view (c), and a top view (d) of a digital camera 1 of the present embodiment.
[0018]
In the front view shown in FIG. 1A, the camera casing 11, the lens barrel 13 incorporating the photographing lens 13a, the finder objective window 16, the flash light receiving window 14, and the time until photographing when using the self-timer function are shown. A self-timer lamp 15 whose flashing speed changes and a photographing mode dial 26 for switching between six kinds of photographing modes described later are shown. The flash light receiving window 14 is a window for guiding the flash light to a flash light receiving sensor that detects the amount of flash light reflected and returned by the subject when the flash is emitted. The digital camera 1 is provided with a real image type zoom finder.
[0019]
In the left side view shown in FIG. 1 (b), in addition to the lens barrel 13 also shown in FIG. 1 (a), a video output terminal 17 for outputting photographed image data to a projector or the like, this image data is shown. A USB terminal 18, an external power supply terminal 19, and a battery cover 11 a to which a Universal Serial Bus (USB) cable used when transmitting to a personal computer or the like is connected are shown.
[0020]
In the rear view shown in FIG. 1 (c), a liquid crystal panel 20 for displaying an image, a liquid crystal panel start button 22 for turning on / off the image display by the liquid crystal panel, a viewfinder eyepiece window 25, the photographing mode dial 26 described above, A cross key 28 used to select a variation and zoom, a menu image to be displayed on the liquid crystal panel, a menu / OK switch 27 used to determine the menu, and a pop-up flash device to pop up on the top of the camera housing A flash device start button 30 and a main switch 23 that are operated when the user uses the flash device are shown.
[0021]
Further, in the rear view shown in FIG. 1C, the digital camera 1 is operated to determine which one of the “shooting / recording function” and the “image data playback function” is selected. The function selection lever 24 is also shown. When the function selection lever 24 is moved upward, the “shooting / recording function” is selected, and when the function selection lever 24 is moved downward, the “image data reproduction function” is selected. Selected.
[0022]
In the top view shown in FIG. 1D, a pop-up flash device 31 and a release button 29 are shown in addition to the lens barrel 13 also shown in FIG.
[0023]
The digital camera 1 of the present embodiment is a digital still camera with a built-in zoom lens that employs a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor as a solid-state image sensor, as will be described in detail later. The zoom function performs optical zoom and electronic zoom. Used together. In the digital camera 1, when the main switch 23 is turned on, a lens cover (not shown) that covers the lens is opened and the lens barrel 13 is extended to a predetermined position. When the main switch 23 is turned off, the lens barrel 13 that has been extended is retracted inside the camera, and the photographing lens 13a is covered with the lens cover.
[0024]
FIG. 2 is an internal block diagram of the digital camera of the present embodiment. The digital camera 1 includes a flash device 31, an I / O port controller that receives signals from various switches and the USB terminal 18, a flash light receiving sensor, a motor that is driven to perform optical zoom and focusing, A motor driver or the like for controlling the motor is provided, but the illustration here is omitted because it is not related to the present invention.
[0025]
In FIG. 2, a CPU 39 that controls the entire digital camera 1, and a charge coupled device (CCD) image sensor 34 that forms an object through the imaging lens 13 a according to an instruction from the CPU 39, drive the CCD image sensor 34. A timing generator 12a that outputs an image signal representing a subject image, an amplifier 32 that amplifies the output image signal, and an A / D conversion circuit 33 that converts the image signal amplified by the amplifier 32 into digital image data. It is shown.
[0026]
2 shows an SDRAM 35 as a memory, an image input controller 36 for storing digital image data in the SDRAM 35, an image signal processing circuit 37 for processing the digital image data stored in the SDRAM 35 so as to be compressible, and compression. The compression processing circuit 38 that compresses the digital image data processed as possible, the media controller 41 that records the compressed digital image data converted into the file format by the CPU 39 on the recording medium 40, and the pre-compression transferred from the SDRAM 35 The VRAM 42 for storing the digital image data, the video encoder 44 for creating a video signal by adding a synchronization signal to the uncompressed digital image data stored in the VRAM 42, and the video signal generated by the video encoder 44 as a digital signal Image display control unit 43 that amplifies and converts the Luo analog signals are also shown. An image is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 20 under the control of the image display control device 43.
[0027]
Further, FIG. 2 shows an AF detection circuit 46 that performs focusing by detecting the contrast of an image based on the image signal output from the CCD image sensor 34, and an image signal output from the CCD image sensor 34. In addition to the AE detection circuit 45 for detecting luminance information from the image, the function selection lever 24, the main switch 23, the cross key 28 used for the zoom operation, the release button 29, and the mode dial 26 are also shown in FIG. ing.
[0028]
The mode dial 26 is one of a total of six types of modes, namely, “portrait shooting” mode, “manual” mode, “sport” mode, “AUTO (auto)” mode, “landscape shooting” mode, and “night view shooting” mode. This dial is operated when selecting either of them, and in the 'Manual' mode and the 'AUTO (Auto)' mode, exposure control is performed according to the set sensitivity or the default sensitivity. Exposure control is performed according to different program diagrams in the “portrait shooting” mode, the “sports” mode, the “landscape shooting” mode, and the “night scene shooting” mode. The zoom function of the digital camera 1 is performed by a combination of optical zoom and electronic zoom. When the key to which the “Δ” mark is attached of the cross key 28 shown in FIG. The zoom is made to the wide-angle (WIDE) side by pressing the key to which the “▽” mark is attached. Assuming that the zoom position is currently adjusted to a predetermined zoom position within the optical zoom range, if you keep pressing the '△' mark, zoom-in by extending the lens barrel will be performed until the optical zoom-up limit is reached. Once the optical zoom-up limit has been exceeded, the CPU 39 detects the level of depression of the key, and this time electronic zoom-up is performed. In this electronic zoom-up, the level of pressing is detected and the enlargement range on the CCD image sensor 34 is determined by calculation.
[0029]
Hereinafter, the operation of the digital camera 1 will be described.
[0030]
The digital camera 1 is provided with a “photographing / recording function” and an “image data reproduction function”. Regarding the photographing function of the photographing / recording function, analog image data output from the CCD image sensor 34 is A. The digital image data converted into digital image data by the / D conversion circuit 33 and stored in the SDRAM 35 and then processed by the image signal processing circuit 37 is reprocessed by the video encoder 44 or the like via the VRAM 42, An image is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 20. In this way, the image sent from the CCD image pickup device 31 is displayed on the liquid crystal panel as a through image. Note that one of the recording functions and the “image data reproduction function” are irrelevant to the present invention and will not be described.
[0031]
Here, a table showing the ISO sensitivity that can be set with respect to the settable recording image size of the digital camera 1 of the present embodiment is shown below. Note that the recordable image size at normal sensitivity of the digital camera 1 is 6 megapixels.
[0032]
Table 1 shows that the printable image sizes that can be set are 6 megapixel (6M), 3 megapixel (3M), 1 megapixel (1M), and 0.4 megapixel (VGA standard). ISO sensitivity is shown. For ISO 800 and 1600, which have high sensitivity, the recording image size is limited to 1 megapixel.
[0033]
[Table 1]

[0034]
This is because, in the digital camera 1 of the present embodiment, a plurality of pieces of luminance information obtained by a plurality of unit light receiving elements constituting the solid-state imaging device are divided into four pieces of luminance information obtained by four adjacent unit light receiving elements. This is because high sensitivity is realized by pixel mixing that is integrated into one luminance information. Therefore, if the original recordable image size of 6 megapixels is reduced by a factor of 4 and the set recorded image size exceeds 1.5 megapixels, shooting is possible only at 1.5 megapixels. This is because it is not performed. In this embodiment, 1 megapixel is used instead of the 1.5 megapixel as a recordable image size as a result of pixel mixing, and this 1 megapixel corresponds to the high-sensitivity image size according to the present invention. To do. For this reason, when the set recording image size is 1M, high sensitivity setting is possible. Originally, high sensitivity should be able to be set even when the recording image size is set to 0.4 megapixel (VGA standard), but this is not possible here.
[0035]
A table showing the ISO sensitivity that can be set for the settable shooting modes of the digital camera 1 of the present embodiment is shown below.
[0036]
Table 2 shows ISO sensitivity that can be set in each of the shooting modes that can be set, ie, “auto” mode, “manual” mode, “person” mode, “sport” mode, “landscape” mode, and “night view” mode. In the “Manual” mode, all ISO sensitivities (100 to 1600) can be selected. In modes other than the “Manual” mode, only the ISO sensitivity 200 can be selected. Has been.
[0037]
[Table 2]

[0038]
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state of a mode dial and an image displayed on the liquid crystal panel of the digital camera of the present embodiment.
[0039]
The mode dial is set to the “manual” mode at the upper left end of FIG. 3, and the mode dial is set to the “auto” mode near the lower left of FIG. The situation is shown.
[0040]
FIGS. 3A to 3H show how the image displayed on the liquid crystal panel 20 is changed by the operation of the menu / OK button 27 and the mode dial 26 shown in FIG. Yes.
[0041]
1 is pressed and the function selection lever 24 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is used to select the “shooting / recording” function. Then, as shown in the upper left side of FIG. The operation of the digital camera 1 will be described while explaining the case where “Manual” is selected in FIG.
[0042]
First, since the “manual” mode is selected with the mode dial 26, the through image shown in FIG. 3A is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 20.
[0043]
On the right side of the upper end of FIG. 3A, “3M” indicating that this image is recorded with a recording image size of 3 megapixels is displayed. On the left side of the upper end of FIG. The manual mode mark is displayed. This 3 megapixel is the default of a menu “pixel size” described later.
[0044]
When the menu / OK button 27 shown in FIG. 1 is pressed, the image shown in FIG. 3B is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 20.
[0045]
FIG. 3B shows a state in which a plurality of menus that can be selected in the “manual” mode are displayed. Here, the menu “sensitivity” is selected by default, and in order to show this, the display “sensitivity” shown in the middle left of FIG. 3B is lit up, and the upper end of FIG. 'Sensitivity' is also displayed on the left side. In addition, a display “pixel size” for selecting the menu “pixel size” is shown in the upper right of the display “sensitivity” shown in FIG. 3. In the menu “pixel size”, the recorded image size is displayed. Setting is possible. The menus other than these are irrelevant to the present invention and will not be described. However, these menus are selected by operating the cross key 28 shown in FIG. The determination is made by pressing the menu / OK button 27.
[0046]
FIG. 3C shows the ISO sensitivity (100, 200, 400, 800) that can be set in the digital camera 1 by pressing (deciding) the menu / OK button 27 while the default menu “sensitivity” is lit up. 1600), the image display on the liquid crystal panel 20 when the ISO sensitivity 400 is selected is shown.
[0047]
FIG. 3D shows an image displayed on the liquid crystal panel when the light-up is moved from the ISO sensitivity 400 to the ISO sensitivity 800 in order to select the ISO sensitivity 800 that is a high sensitivity. This movement is performed by operating the cross key 28 shown in FIG. The meaning of the display '800' and the display '(1M)' on the right side of the display '1600' will be described later.
[0048]
FIG. 3 (e) shows a message indicating that the recordable image size has been reduced from 3 megapixels (see FIG. 3 (a)) to 1 megapixel due to pixel mixing by the selection of the ISO sensitivity 800. The state where the pixel → (1M) ′ is displayed on the liquid crystal panel is shown, so that the 3 megapixels which is the default selected recording image size is changed to 1 megapixel by this high sensitivity setting. . This message display is continued until the menu / OK button 27 shown in FIG. 1 is pressed.
[0049]
FIG. 3F shows an image displayed on the liquid crystal panel 20 after the menu / OK button 27 is pressed in response to the message shown in FIG.
[0050]
Here, the electronic zoom function of the digital camera 1 will be described using the table shown below.
[0051]
Table 3 shows combinations of selectable recording image sizes and ISO sensitivities that can use the electronic zoom function of the digital camera 1.
[0052]
[Table 3]

[0053]
As shown in Table 3, in this digital camera 1, when ISO sensitivity 800, 1600 is selected, the electronic zoom function is disabled for all recorded image sizes, and even if the ISO sensitivity is less than 800, When the 6 megapixel recording image size is selected, the electronic zoom function is disabled.
[0054]
This is because the electronic zoom function of the digital camera 1 operates only when the image size determined by the enlargement range set on the solid-state imaging device is larger than 1 megapixel in order to prevent deterioration of the image quality. This is because when the ISO sensitivity of 800 or more is selected, the recordable image size on the solid-state imaging device is reduced to 1 megapixel, and the already selected recorded image size is 6 megabytes. In the case of pixels or 3 megapixels, the recorded image size is changed to 1 megapixel. Therefore, when the high sensitivity setting is performed, the recordable image size and the recorded image size become the same size, so that the electronic zoom function cannot be used. Even when the ISO sensitivity is less than 800 and the selected recorded image data is 6 megapixels, the electronic zoom cannot be used for the same reason. In addition, when the selected recorded image data is 0.4 megapixel (VGA standard), when the ISO sensitivity is 800 or more, the recorded image size is 1 megapixel as described above. Since it is changed, the electronic zoom function cannot be used. Further, when the ISO sensitivity is less than 800 and the selected recorded image data is 3 megapixels or 1 megapixel, the expanded range is selected from 6 megapixels of the entire solid-state imaging device. When the electronic zoom up to the pixel size of the image data is possible, the ISO sensitivity is less than 800, and the selected recorded image data is 0.4 megapixel, the entire solid-state imaging device starts from 6 megapixel. Electronic zoom up to 1 megapixel is possible.
[0055]
Hereinafter, the description will be continued by returning to FIG.
[0056]
When the display of the message “pixel → (1M)” shown in FIG. 3E is terminated by pressing the menu / OK button 27, the selected ISO sensitivity shown in FIG. The message “Electronic zoom cannot be performed” indicating that the electronic zoom function cannot be used is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 20.
[0057]
The message shown in FIG. 3F can also be terminated by pressing the menu / OK button 27.
[0058]
When the message shown in FIG. 3 (f) is terminated with the menu / OK button 27, the display 'ISO' indicating that the selected ISO sensitivity is high is the display '1M indicating the current recorded image size. Is displayed near the center of the upper end in FIG. Further, a mark representing the “manual” mode, which is the current selection mode, is displayed on the upper left side of FIG.
[0059]
When the mode dial 26 is set to “AUTO” as shown in the vicinity of the lower left part of FIG. 3, as shown in FIG. 3 (h), the display displayed in FIG. ISO 'is omitted. This is because the shooting mode is switched from the “manual” mode to the “AUTO” mode, so the sensitivity is set to the default ISO sensitivity 200 as shown in Table 2.
[0060]
Here, when the mode dial is switched from the “AUTO” mode to the “manual” mode again, the sensitivity is set to ISO 400 which is the normal sensitivity selected immediately before the high sensitivity setting in the previous “manual” mode. Will be.
[0061]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a routine that is started when ISO 800 or ISO 1600 is selected in the menu “sensitivity” in the “manual” mode and executed by the CPU shown in FIG.
[0062]
In step 1 of the routine “high sensitivity setting process” shown in FIG. 4, it is determined whether or not the recorded image size before the high sensitivity of ISO 800 or higher is 1 megapixel.
[0063]
If it is determined in step S1 that it is not 1 megapixel, the process proceeds to step S2, and a message “pixel → (1M)” is displayed, which means that the recorded image size has been changed to 1 megapixel. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S3 and waits for the menu / OK button 27 to be pressed.
[0064]
If the menu / OK button 27 is not pressed in step S3, the process returns to step S1, and if pressed, the process proceeds to step S4.
[0065]
If it is determined in step S1 that the pixel size is 1 megapixel, the process proceeds to step S4, and a message “Electronic zoom cannot be performed” indicating that the electronic function cannot be used is displayed. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S5 and waits for the menu / OK button 27 to be pressed.
[0066]
In step S5, if the menu / OK button 27 is not pressed, the process returns to step S1, and if pressed, the process proceeds to step S6.
[0067]
In step S6, “ISO” indicating that the current sensitivity setting is high sensitivity is displayed. Then, it progresses to step S7 and it is determined whether the present sensitivity is still more than ISO800.
[0068]
If it is determined in step S7 that the sensitivity is ISO 800 or higher, step S6 is repeated. If it is determined in step S7 that the sensitivity is less than ISO 800, this routine is terminated.
[0069]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a routine “mode switching process” started when the shooting mode is switched by operating the mode dial 26.
[0070]
In step S11 of this routine “mode switching process”, it is determined whether or not the mode switching is switching from a mode other than the “manual” mode among the six types of photographing modes to a manual mode.
[0071]
In step S11, the mode is not switching from a mode other than the “manual” mode to the manual mode, that is, mode switching between modes other than the “manual” mode, or a mode other than the “manual” mode to the mode other than the “manual” mode. If it is determined that the switch is to, the process proceeds to step S13, and ISO200 (see Table 2), which is the default sensitivity, is set.
[0072]
If it is determined in step S11 that the mode is switched from a mode other than the “manual” mode to the manual mode, the process proceeds to step S12, and the normal sensitivity selected immediately before the high sensitivity setting in the previous “manual” mode is performed. ISO 400 (see FIG. 3C) is set.
[0073]
As described above, in the digital camera 1 of the present embodiment, when a high sensitivity of ISO 800 or higher is set, the recorded image size set before the high sensitivity setting exceeds 1 megapixel. The recorded image size is changed to 1 megapixel, and a message indicating the change is displayed until there is a response from a predetermined switch.
[0074]
In the digital camera 1 of the present embodiment, when a high sensitivity of ISO 800 or higher is set, a message indicating that the electronic zoom function cannot be used is displayed until a response from a predetermined switch is received. After that, while the high sensitivity is set, a mark indicating this is displayed.
[0075]
Furthermore, in the digital camera 1 of the present embodiment, when the mode is switched from the “manual” mode to a mode other than the “manual” mode among the six types of shooting modes, the sensitivity is always set to ISO200. The
[0076]
Further, in the digital camera 1 of the present embodiment, a high sensitivity of ISO 800 or higher is set in the “manual” mode, and when a mode other than the “manual” mode is selected thereafter, the sensitivity is set to ISO 200. Thereafter, when the “manual” mode is selected again, the normal sensitivity ISO 400 selected immediately before the high sensitivity setting in the previous “manual” mode is set.
[0077]
Thereby, in the digital camera 1 of the present embodiment, it is possible to know an unintended change in the recorded image size due to the high sensitivity setting, the inability to use the electronic zoom function, etc. before shooting or before shooting operation. Drag between the set sensitivity values is also prevented.
[0078]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the digital camera of the present invention, it is possible to prevent a photographing error due to high sensitivity due to reduction of the recordable image size.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view (a), a left side view (b), a rear view (c), and a top view (d) of a digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 2 is an internal block diagram of the digital camera of the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state of a mode dial and an image displayed on a liquid crystal panel of the digital camera of the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a routine that is started when ISO 800 or ISO 1600 is selected in the menu “sensitivity” in the “manual” mode and executed by the CPU shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a routine “mode switching process” that is started when a photographing mode is switched by operating a mode dial 26;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Digital camera 11 Camera housing 11a Battery cover 13 Lens barrel 13a Shooting lens 14 Flash light-receiving window 15 Self-timer lamp 16 Viewfinder objective window 17 Video output terminal 18 USB terminal 19 External power supply terminal 20 Liquid crystal panel 22 Liquid crystal panel start switch 23 Main Switch 24 Function selection lever 25 Finder eyepiece window 26 Shooting mode dial 27 Menu / OK switch 28 Four-way key 29 Release button 30 Flash device start button 31 Flash device 32 Amplifier 33 A / D conversion circuit 34 CCD image sensor 35 SDRAM
36 Image Input Controller 37 Image Signal Processing Circuit 38 Compression Processing Circuit 39 CPU
40 Recording media 41 Media controller 42 VRAM
43 Image display controller 44 Video encoder 45 AE detection circuit 46 AF detection circuit

Claims (3)

A digital camera for photographing a subject to form an image on a solid-state imaging device composed of a set of a plurality of unit light-receiving elements arranged two-dimensionally to obtain image data representing the subject, with a set sensitivity In digital cameras that perform exposure control according to
A sensitivity setting control to set the sensitivity,
An image size setting operator for setting the recording image size;
Acts when a predetermined sensitivity is set by operation of the sensitivity setting operator, and a plurality of luminance information obtained by a plurality of unit light receiving elements constituting the solid-state imaging device is converted into a predetermined number of adjacent unit light receiving units. Pixel that realizes the predetermined high sensitivity by reducing the recordable image size to a predetermined high-sensitivity image size by pixel mixture that integrates every predetermined number of luminance information obtained by the element into one luminance information A mixing section;
A recording image size is set according to the operation of the image size setting operator, and the recording is larger than the high sensitivity compatible image size until receiving the predetermined high sensitivity setting by the operation of the sensitivity setting operator. An image size setting unit that changes the recorded image size to the high-sensitivity image size when the image size is set;
When the image size setting unit receives the predetermined high sensitivity setting by the operation of the sensitivity setting operator and the recorded image size is changed to the high sensitivity compatible image size, the high sensitivity compatible image of the recorded image size A digital camera comprising a display unit for displaying that the size has been changed. A digital camera for photographing a subject to form an image on a solid-state imaging device composed of a set of a plurality of unit light-receiving elements arranged two-dimensionally to obtain image data representing the subject, with a set sensitivity In digital cameras that perform exposure control according to
A sensitivity setting control to set the sensitivity,
An image size setting operator for setting the recording image size;
A plurality of pieces of luminance information obtained by a plurality of unit light receiving elements constituting the solid-state imaging device are actuated when a predetermined sensitivity is set by operation of a sensitivity setting operation element, and a predetermined number of adjacent unit light receiving elements Pixel mixture that realizes the predetermined high sensitivity by reducing the recordable image size to a predetermined high-sensitivity image size by combining the predetermined number of luminance information obtained in step 1 into one luminance information And
A recording image size is set according to the operation of the image size setting operator, and the recording is larger than the high sensitivity compatible image size until receiving the predetermined high sensitivity setting by the operation of the sensitivity setting operator. An image size setting unit that changes the recorded image size to the high-sensitivity image size when the image size is set;
A digital camera comprising: a display unit for displaying that the predetermined high sensitivity is set while the predetermined high sensitivity is set. A digital camera for photographing a subject to form an image on a solid-state imaging device composed of a set of a plurality of unit light-receiving elements arranged two-dimensionally to obtain image data representing the subject, with a set sensitivity In digital cameras that perform exposure control according to
A sensitivity setting control to set the sensitivity,
An image size setting operator for setting the recording image size;
Acts when a predetermined sensitivity is set by operation of the sensitivity setting operator, and a plurality of luminance information obtained by a plurality of unit light receiving elements constituting the solid-state imaging device is converted into a predetermined number of adjacent unit light receiving units. Pixel that realizes the predetermined high sensitivity by reducing the recordable image size to a predetermined high-sensitivity image size by pixel mixture that integrates every predetermined number of luminance information obtained by the element into one luminance information A mixing section;
A recording image size is set according to the operation of the image size setting operator, and the recording is larger than the high sensitivity compatible image size until receiving the predetermined high sensitivity setting by the operation of the sensitivity setting operator. An image size setting unit that changes the recorded image size to the high-sensitivity image size when the image size is set;
Electronic zoom operation unit range image size recordable in the expanding to realize an electronic zoom function to maximize the larger the sensitive corresponding image size only be operable when greater than the high-sensitivity corresponding image size When,
When the image size setting unit receives the predetermined high sensitivity setting by the operation of the sensitivity setting operator and the recorded image size is changed to the high sensitivity compatible image size, the electronic zoom function cannot be used. A digital camera comprising a display unit for displaying the information.

Images