阅读说明：本技术 图像处理设备、图像处理方法和存储介质 (Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and storage medium ) 是由 春名孝太 于 2019-06-27 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种图像处理设备、图像处理方法和存储介质。所述图像处理设备包括处理器,所述处理器能够设置用于输出与包括多个像素的图像传感器的第一区域相对应的图像数据的第一模式和用于输出与比所述第一区域小的第二区域相对应的图像数据的第二模式,并且选择至少包括第一大小、第二大小和第三大小的多个大小其中之一作为图像数据的输出大小。所述第二大小基于所述第一大小,并且在设置所述第一模式的情况下,包括所述第一大小、所述第二大小和所述第三大小作为所述处理器进行选择的大小的选项,并且在设置所述第二模式的情况下,包括所述第一大小和所述第三大小而不包括所述第二大小作为大小的选项。(The invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a storage medium. The image processing apparatus includes a processor capable of setting a first mode for outputting image data corresponding to a first area of an image sensor including a plurality of pixels and a second mode for outputting image data corresponding to a second area smaller than the first area, and selecting one of a plurality of sizes including at least a first size, a second size, and a third size as an output size of the image data. The second size is based on the first size, and in a case where the first mode is set, includes the first size, the second size, and the third size as options of sizes selected by the processor, and in a case where the second mode is set, includes the first size and the third size without including the second size as an option of sizes.)

1. An image processing apparatus comprising:

a processor capable of setting a first mode for outputting image data corresponding to a first area of an image sensor including a plurality of pixels and a second mode for outputting image data corresponding to a second area smaller than the first area, and selecting one of a plurality of sizes including at least a first size, a second size, and a third size as an output size of the image data,

wherein, in a case where the first mode is set, options of the first size, the second size, and the third size as sizes selected by the processor are included, and in a case where the second mode is set, options of the first size and the third size as sizes are included without including the second size,

in a case where the first mode is set, the image data output in a case where the second size is selected is image data obtained by reducing the number of pixels of the image data output in a case where the first size is selected by a first ratio, and the image data output in a case where the third size is selected is image data obtained by reducing the number of pixels of the image data output in a case where the second size is selected,

in a case where the second mode is set, the image data output in a case where the third size is selected is image data obtained by reducing the number of pixels of the image data output in a case where the first size is selected,

the number of pixels of the image data in the case where the second mode is set and the third size is selected is equal to the number of pixels of the image data in the case where the first mode is set and the third size is selected,

the number of pixels of the image data in a case where the second mode is set and the first size is selected is smaller than the number of pixels of the image data in a case where the first mode is set and the first size is selected,

a number of pixels obtained by setting the second mode by the first ratio decrease and selecting the number of pixels of the image data in the case of the first size is smaller than a predetermined number of pixels based on the number of pixels of the image data in the case of the third size, and

the number of pixels of the image data in the case where the second mode is set and the first size is selected is greater than or equal to the predetermined number of pixels.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,

the predetermined number of pixels is one of the following values: a value equal to the number of pixels of the image data when the third size is selected; a value obtained by multiplying the number of pixels of the image data in the case where the third size is selected by a value of 1 or more; and a value obtained by adding a value of 1 or more to the number of pixels of the image data when the third size is selected.

3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,

the plurality of sizes further includes a fourth size, an

In a case where the first mode is set, the image data output in a case where the fourth size is selected is reduced image data such that the number of pixels of the reduced image data is smaller than the number of pixels of the image data output in a case where the second size is selected and is larger than the number of pixels of the image data output in a case where the third size is selected.

4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3,

in the case where the first mode is changed to the second mode,

the processor selects the first size in the second mode if the second size is selected in the first mode, and

the processor selects the third size in the second mode if the fourth size is selected in the first mode.

5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,

the processor selects one of the first mode and the second mode according to a lens used for image capturing.

6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5,

the processor sets the second mode in a case where a part of effective pixels of the image sensor is not included in a region of an image circle of the lens for image capturing.

7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6,

the processor sets the first mode in a case where all effective pixels of the image sensor are included in a region of an image circle of the lens for image capturing.

8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:

the image sensor; and

a lens mount capable of mounting and dismounting the interchangeable lens.

9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8,

the processor sets the first mode in a case where image capturing is performed in a state in which an interchangeable lens for a full-size sensor is mounted, and sets the second mode in a case where image capturing is performed in a state in which an interchangeable lens for an APC-S sensor is mounted.

10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

a readout circuit for reading out image data from each of the plurality of pixels of the image sensor,

wherein the processor converts the size of the read image data based on the set mode which is one of the first mode and the second mode and based on the size selected from the plurality of sizes.

11. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8,

the processor has a readout circuit for reading out image data from each of the plurality of pixels of the image sensor within an area corresponding to a mode set as one of the first mode and the second mode, and

the processor converts the size of the read image data based on the size selected from the plurality of sizes.

12. An image processing method comprising:

in a case where a first mode for reading out image data corresponding to a first area of an image sensor including a plurality of pixels and a second mode for reading out image data corresponding to a second area smaller than the first area can be set, one of a plurality of sizes including at least a first size, a second size, and a third size is selected as an output size of the image data,

wherein, in a case where the first mode is set, the first size, the second size, and the third size are included as options of sizes for size selection, and in a case where the second mode is set, the first size and the third size are included without including the second size as an option of sizes,

in a case where the first mode is set, the image data output in a case where the second size is selected is image data obtained by reducing the number of pixels of the image data output in a case where the first size is selected by a first ratio, and the image data output in a case where the third size is selected is image data obtained by reducing the number of pixels of the image data output in a case where the second size is selected,

in a case where the second mode is set, the image data output in a case where the third size is selected is image data obtained by reducing the number of pixels of the image data output in a case where the first size is selected,

the number of pixels of the image data in the case where the second mode is set and the third size is selected is equal to the number of pixels of the image data in the case where the first mode is set and the third size is selected,

the number of pixels of the image data in a case where the second mode is set and the first size is selected is smaller than the number of pixels of the image data in a case where the first mode is set and the first size is selected,

a number of pixels obtained by setting the second mode by the first ratio decrease and selecting the number of pixels of the image data in the case of the first size is smaller than a predetermined number of pixels based on the number of pixels of the image data in the case of the third size, and

the number of pixels of the image data in the case where the second mode is set and the first size is selected is greater than or equal to the predetermined number of pixels.

13. A non-transitory storage medium readable by a computer, the storage medium storing a program executable by the computer, wherein the program includes program code for causing a computer to execute an image processing method comprising:

in a case where a first mode for reading out image data corresponding to a first area of an image sensor including a plurality of pixels and a second mode for reading out image data corresponding to a second area smaller than the first area can be set, one of a plurality of sizes including at least a first size, a second size, and a third size is selected as an output size of the image data,

wherein, in a case where the first mode is set, the first size, the second size, and the third size are included as options of sizes for size selection, and in a case where the second mode is set, the first size and the third size are included without including the second size as an option of sizes,

in a case where the first mode is set, the image data output in a case where the second size is selected is image data obtained by reducing the number of pixels of the image data output in a case where the first size is selected by a first ratio, and the image data output in a case where the third size is selected is image data obtained by reducing the number of pixels of the image data output in a case where the second size is selected,

in a case where the second mode is set, the image data output in a case where the third size is selected is image data obtained by reducing the number of pixels of the image data output in a case where the first size is selected,

the number of pixels of the image data in the case where the second mode is set and the third size is selected is equal to the number of pixels of the image data in the case where the first mode is set and the third size is selected,

the number of pixels of the image data in a case where the second mode is set and the first size is selected is smaller than the number of pixels of the image data in a case where the first mode is set and the first size is selected,

a number of pixels obtained by setting the second mode by the first ratio decrease and selecting the number of pixels of the image data in the case of the first size is smaller than a predetermined number of pixels based on the number of pixels of the image data in the case of the third size, and

the number of pixels of the image data in the case where the second mode is set and the first size is selected is greater than or equal to the predetermined number of pixels.

Technical Field

The invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a storage medium.

Background

Conventionally, in some types of digital cameras, there is a way in which the size of a still image can be selected from various recording sizes, among ways for storing a still image obtained by reading out signals from an image sensor such as a CCD sensor or a CMOS sensor and electrically converting these signals into digital data. In general, the maximum recording size (which will be referred to as "L size" hereinafter) coincides with the data size of an image obtained in a case where image data is read out from each pixel constituting the image sensor. Based on the L size as a reference, a recording size obtained by reducing the L size to 2/3 or 3/4 (which will be referred to as "M size" hereinafter) and a recording size obtained by halving the L size (which will be referred to as "S1 size" hereinafter) are provided as options. There is also a case where a minimum recording size (which will be referred to as "S2 size" hereinafter) that does not depend on the number of pixels in the image sensor can also be selected. The S2 size corresponds to 2400 × 1600 pixels, for example, and is commonly used standardly in web materials. Since the size of S2 is not dependent on the number of pixels in the image sensor, even if a still image is captured with various digital cameras, a still image of the same number of pixels can be obtained, and thus time and effort for editing the number of pixels later are saved. Note that the recording size may be selected not only on the digital camera body but also from a PC or a smartphone or the like that remotely controls the digital camera.

Japanese patent laid-open No. 2003-134368 describes a technique for enabling recording of image data with a resolution suitable for each recording medium in a digital camera capable of recording image data in a plurality of recording media. According to this technique, the same number of still images can be recorded in media having different recording capacities. Thus, it is extremely advantageous for the user to select a plurality of recording sizes.

Here, in the case where different lenses can be attached to the digital camera, the size of an image circle (image circle) on the image sensor may be different according to the lenses. In the case where the image circle is smaller than the image sensor, light cannot reach a region of the image sensor located outside the image circle, and the peripheral portion of the image becomes dark. In order to obtain an image whose peripheral portion is not dark, only the region included in the image circle needs to be cut out. In this case, since the number of effective pixels in the image sensor is limited by the size of the image circle, the angle of view of the read image becomes narrow, the number of pixels constituting the image also decreases, and thus the L size also becomes small. In this case, the size M and the size S1, which are the sizes obtained by reducing the size L serving as a reference, are also reduced similarly. However, the size of S2 does not depend on the number of pixels in the image sensor, and thus the M size and the S1 size may become smaller than the S2 size. Thus, there is a case where the size of S2, which is the minimum recording size, is not the minimum recording size, which may confuse the user.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances and enables a user to select an appropriate recording size regardless of a difference in viewing angle.

According to the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus comprising: a processor capable of setting a first mode for outputting image data corresponding to a first area of an image sensor including a plurality of pixels and a second mode for outputting image data corresponding to a second area smaller than the first area, and selecting one of a plurality of sizes including at least a first size, a second size, and a third size as an output size of the image data, wherein in a case where the first mode is set, options of sizes selected by the processor are included as the first size, the second size, and the third size, and in a case where the second mode is set, options of sizes selected as the second size are included without including the first size and the third size, and in a case where the first mode is set, the image data output in a case where the second size is selected is image data output by reducing the number of images output in a case where the first size is selected by a first ratio Image data obtained by reducing the number of pixels of image data output in a case where the second size is selected, image data output in a case where the third size is selected is image data obtained by reducing the number of pixels of image data output in a case where the first size is selected in a case where the second mode is set, the number of pixels of image data in a case where the second mode is set and the third size is selected is equal to the number of pixels of image data in a case where the first mode is set and the third size is selected, the number of pixels of image data in a case where the second mode is set and the first size is selected is smaller than the number of pixels of image data in a case where the first mode is set and the first size is selected, the number of pixels obtained by setting the second mode by the first ratio reduction and selecting the number of pixels of the image data in the case of the first size is smaller than a predetermined number of pixels based on the number of pixels of the image data in the case of the third size, and the number of pixels of the image data in the case of setting the second mode and selecting the first size is greater than or equal to the predetermined number of pixels.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided an image processing method comprising: in a case where a first mode for reading out image data corresponding to a first area of an image sensor including a plurality of pixels and a second mode for reading out image data corresponding to a second area smaller than the first area can be set, one of a plurality of sizes including at least a first size, a second size, and a third size is selected as an output size of the image data, wherein in a case where the first mode is set, options of sizes for which size selection is made are included as the first size, the second size, and the third size are included as options of sizes for which size selection is made, and in a case where the second mode is set, the first size and the third size are included without including the second size as an option of sizes, and in a case where the first mode is set, the image data output in a case where the second size is selected is image data output by reducing the number of pixels of the image data output in a case where the first size is selected by a first ratio, and the second size is set The obtained image data, and the image data output in a case where the third size is selected is image data obtained by reducing the number of pixels of the image data output in a case where the second size is selected, the image data output in a case where the third size is selected is image data obtained by reducing the number of pixels of the image data output in a case where the first size is selected in a case where the second mode is set, the number of pixels of the image data in a case where the second mode is set and the third size is selected is equal to the number of pixels of the image data in a case where the first mode is set and the third size is selected, the number of pixels of the image data in a case where the second mode is set and the first size is selected is smaller than the number of pixels of the image data in a case where the first mode is set and the first size is selected, the number of pixels obtained by setting the second mode by the first ratio reduction and selecting the number of pixels of the image data in the case of the first size is smaller than a predetermined number of pixels based on the number of pixels of the image data in the case of the third size, and the number of pixels of the image data in the case of setting the second mode and selecting the first size is greater than or equal to the predetermined number of pixels.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium storing a program executable by a computer, wherein the program includes program code for causing a computer to execute an image processing method including: in a case where a first mode for reading out image data corresponding to a first area of an image sensor including a plurality of pixels and a second mode for reading out image data corresponding to a second area smaller than the first area can be set, one of a plurality of sizes including at least a first size, a second size, and a third size is selected as an output size of the image data, wherein in a case where the first mode is set, options of sizes for which size selection is made are included as the first size, the second size, and the third size are included as options of sizes for which size selection is made, and in a case where the second mode is set, the first size and the third size are included without including the second size as an option of sizes, and in a case where the first mode is set, the image data output in a case where the second size is selected is image data output by reducing the number of pixels of the image data output in a case where the first size is selected by a first ratio, and the second size is set The obtained image data, and the image data output in a case where the third size is selected is image data obtained by reducing the number of pixels of the image data output in a case where the second size is selected, the image data output in a case where the third size is selected is image data obtained by reducing the number of pixels of the image data output in a case where the first size is selected in a case where the second mode is set, the number of pixels of the image data in a case where the second mode is set and the third size is selected is equal to the number of pixels of the image data in a case where the first mode is set and the third size is selected, the number of pixels of the image data in a case where the second mode is set and the first size is selected is smaller than the number of pixels of the image data in a case where the first mode is set and the first size is selected, the number of pixels obtained by setting the second mode by the first ratio reduction and selecting the number of pixels of the image data in the case of the first size is smaller than a predetermined number of pixels based on the number of pixels of the image data in the case of the third size, and the number of pixels of the image data in the case of setting the second mode and selecting the first size is greater than or equal to the predetermined number of pixels.

Further features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments (with reference to the attached drawings).

Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Fig. 1A to 1C show examples of the external appearance of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing a part of the functional structure of the digital camera according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 3A and 3B show an example of the recording size according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a flowchart of the record size setting process according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 5A to 5D illustrate a cutting mode setting menu and a recording size setting menu according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing the relationship between the image sensor and the image circle according to the second embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing a part of the functional structure of a digital camera according to the second embodiment.

Fig. 8 is a flowchart of a recording size change process according to the second embodiment.

Detailed Description

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First embodiment

Fig. 1A to 1C illustrate an example of the appearance of a digital camera serving as an image pickup apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1A is a front view, fig. 1B is a side view, and fig. 1C is a rear view. In fig. 1A to 1C, a camera body 101 includes a lens mount 102, an image sensor 103, a release button 104, an electronic viewfinder 105, a menu display button 106, a four-way button 107, a setting button 108 for selecting menu items, and a back LCD 109. Note that in the present embodiment, the image sensor 103 is a full-size sensor having an aspect ratio of 3:2, and includes 30M pixels. A removable interchangeable lens for a full-size sensor may be mounted to the lens mount 102.

Next, an image pickup operation of the digital camera having the above-described structure will be described. In a case where an interchangeable lens (not shown) is attached to the lens mount 102 and the release button 104 is pressed in a state where the camera body 101 is directed toward the object, the control microcomputer (not shown) controls the interchangeable lens attached via the lens mount 102 and focuses the object. Further, photometry is performed using an image formed on the image sensor 103, and a shutter speed, an aperture, and sensitivity are determined to obtain optimum luminance. Then, shooting is performed using these control values. The image signal read out from the image sensor 103 is processed into a digital image (image data) by an image processor 201 described later, and recorded in a medium such as an SD card or the like.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing a part of the functional configuration of the digital camera shown in fig. 1A to 1C. The image pickup unit 200 includes an image sensor 103. While shooting is being performed, an image signal read out from the image pickup unit 200 is transferred to a RAW data processing block 202 in an image processor 201. In the RAW data processing block 202, various corrections are made to the image data, digital gains are used to increase sensitivity, and/or white balance is adjusted. In the case where the cropping mode is set by the image cropping setting unit 205, processing to crop a part of the RAW image is performed.

Note that the cropping mode refers to a mode in which processing (cropping processing) to narrow the angle of view by cropping or cropping is performed, and can be set by the user using the image cropping setting unit 205. Although the clipping processing in the present embodiment is described as processing to read out image signals from all pixels in the image sensor 103 and extract a part of the image signals among the image signals, alternatively, control may be performed to read out image signals from pixels within a predetermined partial area among the pixels of the image sensor 103. In any case, due to the clipping processing, an image having a narrower angle of view than that of an image obtained with all pixels of the image sensor 103 is obtained. In an alternative case, the setting information from the image cropping setting unit 205 may be supplied to the image capturing unit 200 instead of the RAW data processing block 202.

In the following description, in the case of an L-sized image, regardless of whether or not a clipping process is performed, image signals are read out without thinning out or adding them from respective pixels in at least an area corresponding to the image in the image sensor 103.

The RAW image data processed by the RAW data processing block 202 is sent to the JPEG rendering block 203 and subjected to various image processing such as conversion into YUV format, noise reduction, color space conversion, JPEG compression, and the like. At this time, in the case where a record size other than the L size is set from the record size setting unit 206, the resizing process is performed. Finally, the image data converted into the JPEG format is stored in the recording medium by the recording circuit 204. The display device 207 includes the electronic viewfinder 105 and the rear LCD 109, and displays a live view image, a captured image, and menus for setting a recording size and a cropping mode. Note that the RAW data processing block 202, the JPEG development block 203, the image cropping setting unit 205, and the recording size setting unit 206 refer to some of the functions of a computer such as a CPU or the like represented as blocks. The processing of these blocks is performed as a result of a computer such as a CPU executing a processing program stored in a memory. Alternatively, some or all of these blocks may be configured as hardware using dedicated logic circuits and/or memory.

Fig. 3A and 3B show a list of recording sizes according to the present embodiment. Fig. 3A shows a list of recording sizes in the normal shooting mode (i.e., in the case of a mode other than the cropping mode). The L size is a size for recording data of 30M pixels that is the same as the number of pixels in the image sensor 103 (reduction rate is 1). The specific recording size is 6720 pixels in width by 4480 pixels in width. The M size is a size obtained by reducing the L size to about 2/3 (reduction ratio 2/3). The vertical width is 4480 ÷ 3 × 2 ═ 2986.666.. pixels in the case of simple calculation, but the number of pixels needs to be a multiple of 16 pixels due to the processing constraints of the JPEG rendering block 203. Thus, by rounding the above value down to a multiple of 16, the vertical width is 2976 pixels. Since the aspect ratio of the image is 3:2, the horizontal width is 2976 ÷ 2 × 3 ═ 4464 pixels. The vertical width of S1, which is a size obtained by halving the L size, is 4480 ÷ 2 ═ 2240 pixels (reduction rate ═ 1/2). Since the aspect ratio of the image is 3:2, the horizontal width is 2240 ÷ 2 × 3 ═ 3360 pixels. The S2 size, which is fixed regardless of the number of pixels, has a horizontal width of 2400 pixels and a vertical width of 1600 pixels.

Fig. 3B shows a list of recording sizes in the case where the cropping mode is set. In the present embodiment, the number of pixels of the L size of the image whose angle of view is changed by the clipping processing is 12M. In this case, as a specific recording size, the horizontal width of the L size is 4176 pixels and the vertical width thereof is 2784 pixels. The horizontal width of the M size, which is a size obtained by reducing the L size to about 2/3, is 1856 ÷ 2 × 3 ═ 2784 pixels and the vertical width thereof is 2784 ÷ 3 × 2 ═ 1856 pixels. The width of S1, which is a size obtained by halving the L size, is 1392 ÷ 2 × 3 ═ 2088 and the longitudinal width thereof is 2784 ÷ 2 ═ 1392. However, since the image size needs to be a multiple of 16, the horizontal width is 2080 obtained by rounding the above value down to a multiple of 16.

In this case, the size of S1 is smaller than the size of S2 in the normal photographing mode. In the first embodiment, a predetermined threshold value is set for the number of pixels, and in the case where the clipping mode is set, a size smaller than the threshold value cannot be selected. As an example, if the threshold is 1.5 times the number of pixels of the size S2, a size smaller than 2400 × 1600 × 1.5 — 5.76M cannot be selected. However, the method for determining the threshold is not limited thereto, and the threshold may be obtained by multiplying the number of pixels of the size of S2 by n (where n is an arbitrary value of 1 or more), or by adding a value of 1 or more to the number of pixels of the size of S2. Alternatively, the number of pixels itself of the size of S2 may be used as the threshold value. However, it is desirable that the value be 1 or more. In the present embodiment, although the threshold value is calculated based on the size of S2, alternatively, the threshold value may be calculated based on the size of L. Further, a predetermined number of pixels may be used as the threshold value.

In the case where the threshold is 5.76M as described above, the size of M is 2784 × 1856 — 5.17M, and thus becomes unsettable. The size of S1, in which the number of pixels is smaller than the number of pixels of the size M, also becomes unsettable. Thus, in the case where the clipping mode is set, only the L size and the S2 size having the number of pixels larger than the threshold are settable sizes.

In the above example, although the number of pixels of the L size when the clipping mode is set is 12M, this may not be the case, and the number of pixels may be selected from a predetermined number of plural pixels, or the user may specify an arbitrary number of pixels. Further, various methods for specifying the number of pixels are conceivable; for example, the number of pixels may be directly specified, or the ratio of the number of pixels to all the number of pixels in the image sensor may be specified, or a frame representing the region to be clipped may be displayed on the display device.

Next, the processing performed by the record size setting unit 206 will be described using fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing a record size setting process according to the first embodiment. Initially, it is determined whether or not the menu display button 106 is pressed (S401), and in the case where the menu display button 106 is pressed, in step S402, it is determined whether or not the cropping mode is set (or whether or not the angle of view is changed) by the image cropping setting unit 205. In a case where it is determined that the cropping mode is set, in step S403, the L size and the S2 size are set as the recording size options in the above example, and displayed on the display device 207. On the other hand, in the case where it is determined in step S402 that the cropping mode is not set, all the record sizes (L size, M size, S1 size, and S2 size) are set as the record size options in step S404 and are selectively displayed on the display device 207. The user can determine the recording size by selecting a desired recording size using the four-way button 107 and pressing the set button 108. It is judged whether or not the setting button 108 is pressed (S405), and in the case where the setting button 108 is pressed, in step S406, the recording size is changed to the selected recording size, and the recording size setting process ends.

Although the present embodiment has described the case where the record size option in the cropping mode is determined in advance as the L size and the S2 size in step S403, during the processing of S403, the record size may be calculated and the determination may be made using a threshold value.

Fig. 5A and 5B show examples of screens displayed in the case where the menu display button 106 is pressed in step S401. In a state where the clipping mode is not set, the menu shown in fig. 5A is displayed on the display device 207, and the user can select the clipping mode. Note that fig. 5A and 5B show the structure of a menu in which the clipping mode and the aspect ratio are set simultaneously. "FULL size" represents 3:2 as an aspect ratio of the image sensor 103, "x 1.6" represents a cropping mode, and 1:1, 4:3, and 16:9 are aspect ratios.

In the case where "FULL" is selected (i.e., the clipping mode is not set) as shown in fig. 5A, in step S404, the record size setting menu shown in fig. 5C is displayed on the display device 207. The user can select the recording size of JPEG from among L size, M size, S1 size, and S2 size. In the case where a RAW image can be stored, the settings may also be configured not to store a JPEG image.

On the other hand, in the case where "x 1.6" is selected (i.e., the cropping mode is set) as shown in fig. 5B, in step S403, the recording size setting menu shown in fig. 5D is displayed on the display device 207, and the user cannot select the M size and the S1 size. For example, the M size and the S1 size are displayed in a color or brightness different from those of the L size and the S2 size, or are not displayed, and thus the user is notified that the M size and the S1 size cannot be selected. Note that the number of pixels of the selected recording size is also displayed in fig. 5C and 5D. Thus, even if the number of pixels of the L size has changed as a result of narrowing the angle of view due to the cropping mode, the user can confirm the number of pixels to be recorded in the cropping mode.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the settable recording size is controlled according to the setting of the cropping mode, thereby providing a menu that the user can easily understand, and the user can select an appropriate recording size regardless of the difference in the maximum size of the image.

Second embodiment

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be explained. Note that the appearance of the digital camera according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the digital camera described with reference to fig. 1A to 1C in the first embodiment, and therefore, description thereof will be omitted. However, in the second embodiment, in addition to the interchangeable lens for the full-size sensor, the interchangeable lens for the APS-C size sensor may be attached to the lens mount 102 via an adapter.

Fig. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing the relationship between the image sensor 103 and the image circle according to the second embodiment. The image circle 601 shows an image circle formed when an interchangeable lens for a full-size sensor is mounted. The image circle 601 is formed outside the image sensor 103, and the light reaches the entire image sensor 103. On the other hand, an image circle 602 shows an image circle formed when an interchangeable lens for an APS-C sensor is mounted. Since the image circle 602 is formed inside the image sensor 103, light does not reach the entire image sensor 103 but reaches only a part of the image sensor 103. For this reason, in the case of shooting in the normal shooting mode, a still image in which the peripheral area is dark is obtained.

On the other hand, in the case where the imaging region 603 to be recorded in the cropping mode includes 12M pixels and is of a size of 4176 pixels in lateral width by 2784 pixels in vertical width as described in the first embodiment, the imaging region 603 is inside the imaging circle 602. Thus, in the case of shooting in the cropping mode, a still image in which light reaches the entire image sensor 103 is obtained. Therefore, in the case of mounting an interchangeable lens for an APS-C sensor, a still image in which light reaches the entire image sensor 103 can be obtained by automatically switching the shooting mode to the cropping mode.

Here, in the case where the M size or the S1 size is set when the shooting mode is automatically switched to the cropping mode, the image size also needs to be automatically switched as described in the first embodiment. Since the initial value of the recording size is usually L size, the L size can be set to the initial value when the shooting mode is automatically switched. However, if the user selects the S1 size or the S2 size, it is conceivable that the user can preferentially store the number of images rather than the resolution, and that the setting of the L size at the time of switching the photographing mode to the cropping mode is not in agreement with the user' S intention, which is highly likely. In the second embodiment, when the photographing mode is automatically switched to the cropping mode, the image size is automatically changed to an appropriate size.

Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing a part of the functional configuration of the digital camera according to the second embodiment, and shows a configuration in which a lens type determination unit 701 is added to the configuration shown in fig. 2. The functional structure of the digital camera according to the second embodiment is the same as that shown in fig. 2 except for the lens type determination unit 701, and the same units/blocks are assigned the same reference numerals, and thus description thereof is not made.

The lens type determination unit 701 acquires the size of an image circle of a lens attached to the lens mount 102, determines whether the attached lens is a lens to be photographed in a cut mode, and notifies the image cut setting unit 205 of the determination result. In the case where it is determined that the mounted shot is a shot to be shot in the cropping mode, the image cropping setting unit 205 sets the cropping mode, and notifies the setting result to the record size setting unit 206. Upon receiving a notification from the image cropping setting unit 205 that the cropping mode is set, the record size setting unit 206 performs record size change processing and sets a record size. Note that, also in the second embodiment, the record sizes in the normal shooting mode and the cropping mode are the record sizes shown in the tables of fig. 3A and 3B.

Fig. 8 is a flowchart of a recording size change process according to the second embodiment. Initially, in step S801, the current record size is acquired. Next, in step S802, it is determined whether the current recording size is an L size. If the current record size is the L size, the current record size is set to the next record size in step S803, and the record size change process ends. If the current record size is not the L size in step S802, it is determined whether the current record size is the M size in step S804. If the current recording size is the M size, the L size is set to the next recording size in step S805, and the recording size change process ends. If the current recording size is not the M size in step S804, it is determined whether the current recording size is the S1 size in step S806. If the current recording size is the size of S1, in step S807, the size of S2 is set to the next recording size, and the recording size change process ends. If the current recording size is not the S1 size in step S806, the S2 size as the current recording size is set to the next recording size in step S808, and the recording size change process ends.

By thus changing the recording size when the photographing mode is switched to the cropping mode in accordance with the recording size set when the interchangeable lens for the full-size sensor is mounted, the image size can be set in accordance with the user's intention. That is, in the case where the M size is set, the recording size is changed to the L size at the time of the cropping mode to give priority to the resolution, and in the case where the S1 size is set, the recording size is changed to the S2 size to give priority to the number of recordable images.

Note that the record size changing process may be performed not only when a lens is mounted but also when the user switches the shooting mode from the cropping mode. Further, control may be performed such that the image size set when the cropping mode is not set is stored, and when the cropping mode is released, the stored image size is set.

According to the second embodiment, even if the cropping mode is automatically set, an image can be recorded with an appropriate recording size.

Note that the first and second embodiments described above explain the following cases: the L-sized image is read out and then a resizing process is performed according to the set recording size (reduction rate) by the JPEG development block 203. However, according to the recording size (reduction rate), an image of the set recording size may be optionally read out without thinning out or adding the image signals from the pixels within the area corresponding to the angle of view set by the image cropping setting unit 205. In this case, the information from the recording size setting unit 206 may be supplied to the image capturing unit 200 instead of the JPEG development block 203.

Although the first embodiment and the second embodiment described above have described the example of the structure in which the recording size is selected by operating the digital camera, this may not be the case. The following structure may be optionally employed: the recording size is selected using an image processing apparatus such as a PC, a smart phone, or a portable tablet terminal, which can remotely control a digital camera by communicating with the digital camera.

OTHER EMBODIMENTS

The embodiments of the present invention can also be realized by a method in which software (programs) that perform the functions of the above-described embodiments are supplied to a system or an apparatus through a network or various storage media, and a computer or a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a Micro Processing Unit (MPU) of the system or the apparatus reads out and executes the methods of the programs.

While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.