Camera and method of imaging

Abstract

A camera includes a photometry section, an exposure calculating section, and a correction calculating section. The photometry section obtains photometry values at a plurality of positions of a subject. The exposure calculating section obtains an exposure value when photographing based on the photometry values. The correction calculating section obtains a correction value for correction of the exposure value based on a highest value among photometry values belonging to a predetermined range out of the plurality of photometry values obtained by the photometry section.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The nature, principle, and utility of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like parts are designated by identical reference numbers, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic camera of an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a photographing mechanism of the electronic camera of this embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a graph showing an example of gradation characteristic data of this embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a photographing operation of the electronic camera of this embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing an example of a state that subjects in a photographic screen are grouped;

FIG. 6 is a graph of histograms showing a distribution of average luminance values of the respective groups in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view showing a scene (indoor photographing) in which the difference in luminance is relatively small in the photographic screen;

FIG. 8 is a view showing a luminance histogram of the scene in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a view showing a scene (photographing against light under fine weather) having a large difference in luminance in the photographic screen;

FIG. 10 is a view showing a luminance histogram of the scene in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a view showing an example of an image photographing the scene in FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a view showing an example of an image photographing the scene in FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a view showing a photographed image of photographing the scene in FIG. 9 based on the exposure correction value in which a gradation characteristic is changed; and

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the operation of the electronic camera when RAW image data is subjected to digital development processing.

Claims

1. A camera, comprising: a photometry section which obtains photometry values at a plurality of positions of a subject;an exposure calculating section which obtains an exposure value when photographing based on said photometry values; anda correction calculating section which obtains a correction value for correction of said exposure value based on a highest value among photometry values belonging to a predetermined range out of said plurality of photometry values obtained by said photometry section.

2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein said highest value is a highest value among photometry values equal to or smaller than a predetermined value out of said plurality of photometry values.

3. The camera according to claim 1, wherein said correction value is a value for correction of said exposure value to an under side.

4. The camera according to claim 1, wherein said correction calculating section obtains said correction value based on a difference between said exposure value obtained in said exposure calculating section and said highest value.

5. The camera according to claim 4, wherein said correction calculating section obtains a correction value for correction of said exposure value to a more under side as said difference is larger.

6. The camera according to claim 1, wherein said exposure calculating section detects a facial part of a person as said subject, and obtains said exposure value based on a photometry value corresponding to said facial part out of said plurality of photometry values obtained in said photometry section.

7. A camera, comprising: a photometry section which obtains photometry values at a plurality of positions of a subject;an exposure calculating section which obtains an exposure value when photographing based on said photometry values;a correction calculating section which obtains a correction value for correction of said exposure value based on a second highest photometry value excluding a highest value out of said plurality of photometry values obtained by said photometry section;an imaging section which images an image of said subject; anda control section which controls an exposure when photographing in said imaging section based on said correction value and said exposure value.

8. The camera according to claim 7, further comprising an image processing section which performs gradation conversion processing on an output from said imaging section.

9. The camera according to claim 8, wherein said image processing section changes a gradation characteristic in said gradation conversion processing based on a difference between said exposure value obtained in said exposure calculating section and said highest value.

10. The camera according to claim 9, wherein said image processing section uses a gradation characteristic in which an output gradation value changes more largely as said difference is larger in an area having a small gradation value.

11. The camera according to claim 8, wherein said correction calculating section obtains a correction value for correction of said exposure value to a more under side as said difference is larger.

12. A method of imaging, comprising the steps of: obtaining photometry values at a plurality of positions of a subject;obtaining an exposure value when photographing based on said photometry values;obtaining a correction value for correction of said exposure value based on a highest value among photometry values belonging to a predetermined range out of said plurality of photometry values; andcontrolling an exposure based on said correction value and imaging an image of said subject.

13. The method of imaging according to claim 12, wherein said highest value is a highest value among photometry values equal to or smaller than a predetermined value out of said plurality of photometry values.

14. The method of imaging according to claim 12, wherein said correction value is a value for correction of said exposure value to an under side.

15. The method of imaging according to claim 12, wherein in said step of obtaining said exposure value, a facial part of a person as said subject is detected, and said exposure value is obtained based on a photometry value corresponding to said facial part out of said plurality of photometry values.

16. The method of imaging according to claim 12, further comprising the step of performing gradation conversion processing on an image obtained in said step of imaging the image of said subject.

17. The method of imaging according to claim 16, wherein in said step of performing said gradation conversion processing, a gradation characteristic in said gradation conversion processing is changed based on a difference between said exposure value and said highest value.

18. The method of imaging according to claim 17, wherein in said step of performing said gradation conversion processing, a gradation characteristic in which an output gradation value changes more largely as said difference is larger in an area having a small gradation value is used.

19. The method of imaging according to claim 16, wherein in said step of obtaining said correction value, a correction value for correction of said exposure value to a more under side as said difference is larger is obtained.

20. A method of imaging, comprising the steps of: obtaining photometry values at a plurality of positions of a subject;obtaining an exposure value when photographing based on said photometry values;obtaining a correction value for correction of said exposure value based on a difference between said exposure value and a second highest photometry value excluding a highest value out of said plurality of photometry values; andcontrolling an exposure based on said correction value and imaging an image of said subject.

21. The method of imaging according to claim 20, wherein in said step of obtaining said correction value, a correction value for correction of said exposure value to a more under side as said difference is larger is obtained.