Imaging apparatus

Abstract

An imaging apparatus for forming an optical image of a subject on a light-receiving surface of an imaging element via a photographing lens; the imaging apparatus comprising: a first focusing position detection device which extracts a particular portion of the subject based on image signals obtained from the imaging element and detects the focusing position of the photographing lens based on the size of the extracted particular portion;a second focusing position detection device which calculates focus evaluation values of the subject based on image signals obtained from the imaging element and detects the focusing position of the photographing lens based on the calculated focus evaluation values; anda setting device which sets any one of the first focusing position detection device and the second focusing position detection device as a device which detects the focusing position of the photographing lens.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view showing the appearance configuration of an imaging apparatus of this embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a back perspective view showing the appearance configuration of the imaging apparatus of this embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the imaging apparatus of this embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a method for calculating the subject distance;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the photographing procedure in the imaging apparatus of this embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the procedure for quickness priority AF processing;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the procedure for precision priority AF processing; and

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the procedure for performing focusing by performing the precision priority AF when focusing by the quickness priority AF is impossible.

Claims

1. An imaging apparatus for forming an optical image of a subject on a light-receiving surface of an imaging element via a photographing lens; the imaging apparatus comprising: a first focusing position detection device which extracts a particular portion of the subject based on image signals obtained from the imaging element and detects the focusing position of the photographing lens based on the size of the extracted particular portion;a second focusing position detection device which calculates focus evaluation values of the subject based on image signals obtained from the imaging element and detects the focusing position of the photographing lens based on the calculated focus evaluation values; anda setting device which sets any one of the first focusing position detection device and the second focusing position detection device as a device which detects the focusing position of the photographing lens.

2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a two-stage-stroke-type release button having half-pressing and full-pressing stages; wherein the setting device sets the second focusing position detection device as a focusing position detection device of the photographing lens when the release button is half pressed and sets the first focusing position detection device as the focusing position detection device of the photographing lens when the release button is fully pressed directly.

3. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a selection device which selects any one of a first focusing mode for detecting the focusing position of the photographing lens by the first focusing position detection device and a second focusing mode for detecting the focusing position of the photographing lens by the second focusing position detection device; wherein the setting device sets the first focusing position detection device as a focusing position detection device of the photographing lens when the first focusing mode is selected by the selection device and sets the second focusing position detection device as the focusing position detection device of the photographing lens when the second focusing mode is selected by the selection device.

4. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a photographing condition detection device which detects a photographing condition; wherein the setting device sets any one of the first focusing position detection device and the second focusing position detection device as a focusing position detection device of the photographing lens according to the result of the setting by the photographing condition setting device.

5. The imaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the photographing condition is the focal distance of the photographing lens; andthe setting device sets the first focusing position detection device as the focusing position detection device of the photographing lens when the focal distance of the photographing lens is below a specified focal distance set in advance and sets the second focusing position detection device as the focusing position detection device of the photographing lens when the focal distance of the photographing lens is equal to or above the specified focal distance.

6. The imaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the photographing condition is recording image quality; andthe setting device sets the first focusing position detection device as the focusing position detection device of the photographing lens when the recording image quality is below a specified image quality set in advance and sets the second focusing position detection device as the focusing position detection device of the photographing lens when the recording image quality is equal to or above the specified image quality.

7. The imaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the photographing condition is a motion picture recording mode or a still image recording mode; andthe setting device sets the first focusing position detection device as the focusing position detection device of the photographing lens when the recording mode is the motion picture recording mode and sets the second focusing position detection device as the focusing position detection device of the photographing lens when the recording mode is the still image recording mode.

8. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting device switches to and sets the first focusing position detection device as the focusing position detection device of the photographing lens if it is not possible to detect the focusing position of the photographing lens by the second focusing position detection device.

9. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the setting device switches to and sets the first focusing position detection device as the focusing position detection device of the photographing lens if it is not possible to detect the focusing position of the photographing lens by the second focusing position detection device.

10. The imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the setting device switches to and sets the first focusing position detection device as the focusing position detection device of the photographing lens if it is not possible to detect the focusing position of the photographing lens by the second focusing position detection device.

11. The imaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the setting device switches to and sets the first focusing position detection device as the focusing position detection device of the photographing lens if it is not possible to detect the focusing position of the photographing lens by the second focusing position detection device.

12. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting device switches to and sets the second focusing position detection device as the focusing position detection device of the photographing lens if it is not possible to detect the focusing position of the photographing lens by the first focusing position detection device.

13. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the setting device switches to and sets the second focusing position detection device as the focusing position detection device of the photographing lens if it is not possible to detect the focusing position of the photographing lens by the first focusing position detection device.

14. The imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the setting device switches to and sets the second focusing position detection device as the focusing position detection device of the photographing lens if it is not possible to detect the focusing position of the photographing lens by the first focusing position detection device.

15. The imaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the setting device switches to and sets the second focusing position detection device as the focusing position detection device of the photographing lens if it is not possible to detect the focusing position of the photographing lens by the first focusing position detection device.

16. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the particular portion is the face or the eyes of a subject.

17. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the particular portion is the face or the eyes of a subject.

18. The imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the particular portion is the face or the eyes of a subject.

19. The imaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the particular portion is the face or the eyes of a subject.