JP2011049661A - Information processing apparatus, image pickup apparatus and program - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to improve the operability when remote live view shooting is possible from the personal computer side, and to improve the efficiency of shooting work.
A digital single-lens reflex camera 101 capable of performing live view shooting that displays an image formed on an image sensor 7 in real time, and an image formed on the image sensor 7 of the camera 101 are sequentially received and a monitor device 104 is provided. Is connected to a personal computer 103 capable of performing remote Live View shooting that is displayed in real time, and in synchronization with the start operation of Live View shooting with the camera 101, remote Live View shooting with the personal computer 103 is started. Or the remote live view shooting on the personal computer 103 can be set in synchronization with the end operation of the live view shooting on the camera 101.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an imaging apparatus, and a program capable of performing control related to imaging while confirming an image captured by the imaging apparatus.

  Conventionally, in a photo studio, a real-time image (live view image) formed on an image sensor is displayed on a rear monitor device or an external monitor device, and composition confirmation and focus adjustment can be performed while checking the live view image. The camera is in use.

  Further, there is a camera that transfers a live view image from a digital camera to a personal computer and displays it on a large screen of a monitor connected to the personal computer. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a studio photographing system in which a digital single-lens reflex camera and a personal computer are connected, and the personal computer can designate the degree of sharpness applied to a live view image as a digital camera.

JP 2008-193594 A

  In a live view shooting mode in which shooting is performed while checking a live view image as disclosed in the above-described prior art (Patent Document 1), operations related to shooting can be performed from either the camera side or the personal computer side. .

  When operating from the camera side, by switching to the live view shooting mode by pressing the live view start button, etc., the live view image is displayed on the rear monitor device of the camera, etc., and the subject can be checked or enlarged. The focus can be confirmed.

  On the other hand, when an operation is performed from the personal computer side, a command to switch from the personal computer to the remote live view shooting mode is notified to the camera by clicking a live view start button on the operation screen with a mouse operation. When the camera receives a command for the remote live view shooting mode, the camera switches to the live view shooting mode and sequentially transmits the live view image to the personal computer. The personal computer displays live view images sequentially received from the camera on the monitor screen, enabling remote shooting operations such as changing parameters related to shooting and shooting instructions while checking the live view image in real time. .

  As described above, since either the camera-side operation or the personal computer-side operation is possible, the camera needs to be in the live view shooting state as long as either one issues a command for the live view shooting state.

  However, in the case of a digital single-lens reflex camera, since the mirror is raised in the live view shooting state, it is generally impossible to check the subject with the optical viewfinder. Therefore, the optical viewfinder cannot be viewed on the camera side while the remote live view shooting mode is set by the operation on the personal computer side. Many studio photographers are accustomed to confirming the subject with the optical viewfinder, and there is a large amount of information that can be confirmed with the optical viewfinder.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to improve the operability when remote live view shooting is possible from the personal computer side and to improve the efficiency of shooting work. To do.

  An information processing apparatus according to the present invention is an information processing apparatus connected to an imaging apparatus capable of performing live view shooting that displays an image formed on an imaging element, and the image formed on the imaging element from the imaging apparatus Control means for executing remote live view shooting that sequentially receives and displays on the display device, and starts remote live view shooting in synchronization with a start operation of live view shooting in the imaging device, or the imaging device The remote live view shooting can be set to be finished in synchronization with the live view shooting end operation at.

  According to the present invention, to improve the operability of the case from the information processing apparatus is capable of remote Live View shooting, it is possible to improve the efficiency of imaging operation. Thereby, for example, it is possible to flexibly cope with a use case corresponding to a user application in studio photography.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the remote imaging | photography system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of a personal computer. Is a diagram for explaining a digital camera, a block diagram, (b) is an external view of the back side of the digital camera shown a the schematic configuration of a digital camera (a). It is a figure for demonstrating the example of a screen of the monitor apparatus connected to the personal computer, (a) is a figure which shows the example of operation and display screen of remote live view imaging | photography, (b) is an example of the environment setting screen of an application FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the processing operation which a personal computer performs in this embodiment.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a system capable of executing remote photographing according to the present embodiment. 1 includes a digital single-lens reflex camera (hereinafter referred to as a digital camera) 101, a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) 103 that is an information processing device, and a monitor device 104 that is a display device. The digital camera 101 and the PC 103 are connected by a known USB (Universal Serial Bus) code 107, and various signals including image data can be transmitted and received. In this example, the digital camera 101 is installed on the upper part of the photographing stand (tripod) 109. The PC 103 has a function of remotely setting the shooting conditions of the digital camera 101 and capturing a shot image.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the PC 103. 201 is a CPU. Reference numeral 202 denotes an internal memory. A display 203 including a graphic controller may be connected to the external monitor device 104 or may have a built-in monitor. Reference numeral 204 denotes a keyboard, and 205 denotes a mouse. Reference numeral 206 denotes a communication port through which communication with the digital camera 101 is possible. Reference numeral 207 denotes a disk memory such as a hard disk (HD). Here, it is described that a disk memory, not necessarily the media disc shape and may be a storage device that can handle the disk similarly as in the flash memory. Reference numeral 208 denotes a power source in the PC 103. The monitor device 104 is connected to the PC 103 and displays various screens including a shooting parameter operation screen and a live view image display screen. Such an application program of the remote photographing system is stored in the HD 207 and is activated by a trigger such as a user operation or camera device detection and executed by the CPU 201.

  FIG. 3A is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the digital camera 101. Reference numerals 1 and 3 denote photographic lenses, which are illustrated here with two lenses for convenience of explanation, but are actually composed of a larger number of lenses. A diaphragm 2 adjusts the amount of light that has passed through the taking lenses 1 and 3. Reference numeral 4 denotes a main mirror, which is set to an inclined state or a retracted state with respect to the photographing optical path according to the observation state of the subject image by the finder system. A sub-mirror 5 reflects the light beam that has passed through the main mirror 4 toward the focus detection lens system 11 and the line sensor 12 located below the camera housing.

  Reference numeral 6 denotes a shutter. Reference numeral 7 denotes an image sensor, which is configured as a CCD image sensor or a CMOS image sensor. Reference numeral 8 denotes a liquid crystal display unit which is built in the finder and displays a focus plate and a distance measurement frame mark, etc., which are arranged on the planned image planes of the photographing lenses 1 and 3. A pentaprism 9 is a finder optical path changing prism. Reference numeral 10 denotes an eyepiece lens, through which the photographer can observe the subject. Reference numeral 11 denotes a focus detection lens. A line sensor 12 performs focus detection.

  Reference numeral 13 denotes a focus adjustment circuit which is disposed in the photographing lenses 1 and 3 and performs focus adjustment. Reference numeral 28 denotes an A / D conversion circuit, which performs A / D conversion on the photometry circuit arranged at the upper part of the finder optical path system and its output. Reference numeral 14 denotes an aperture driving circuit, which is disposed in the photographing lenses 1 and 3 and drives the aperture 2. A mirror driving circuit 15 drives the main mirror 4. Reference numeral 16 denotes a line sensor drive circuit, which drives the line sensor 12. Reference numeral 17 denotes a shutter drive circuit that drives the shutter 6. Reference numeral 18 denotes an image sensor driving circuit that drives the image sensor 7. Reference numeral 19 denotes an A / D conversion circuit that converts an analog shooting signal output from the image sensor 7 into a digital shooting signal. Reference numeral 20 denotes a signal processing circuit, which performs signal processing on the digital photographing signal.

  A RAM 21 temporarily stores digital image signals and the like. A ROM 22 stores a control program for controlling the digital camera 101 and the like. A compact flash (registered trademark) (CF) 23 is a recording medium for finally recording a digital image signal. Reference numeral 24 denotes a CPU, which is a central processing unit that controls each part of the digital camera 101. Reference numeral 25 denotes a liquid crystal display (LCD), which displays a captured image corresponding to the captured digital image signal.

  Reference numeral 26 denotes a switch input unit for operating various buttons such as a release switch (hereinafter referred to as a release SW), various function buttons 31 to 33, dials 34 and 38, and a power switch, which are operated by a shutter button 37 shown in FIG. Perform input linked to. The switch input unit 26 sends a corresponding signal to the CPU 24 when the photographer operates the corresponding button. The release SW is composed of a switch having at least two or more contacts. For example, the release SW has a structure in which the state is switched in two stages according to the amount of pressing. When the release SW is pressed halfway, the first contact (SW1) is selected, and when the release SW is pressed to the end, the second contact (SW2) is selected. When SW1 is selected, shooting preparation operations such as AF (autofocus) and AE (automatic exposure) are performed, and when SW2 is selected, shooting operations and digital image signal creation operations and recording operations are performed.

  Reference numeral 27 denotes an I / O port, which enables connection between the digital camera 101 and the PC 103 via the USB code 107. As a result, the digital camera 101 can be controlled by the PC 103.

  FIG. 3B is an external view of the back side of the digital camera 101. On the upper surface of the housing of the digital camera 101, function buttons 31 to 33 for function selection, a selection main dial 34, a shutter button 37, and the like are arranged. In addition, a selection sub-dial 38, a live view start / end button 42, and a liquid crystal display unit 25 for confirming a captured image and displaying a function menu are disposed on the rear surface of the casing. Further, a video output terminal 41 for outputting a display image of the liquid crystal display unit 25 is disposed on the side surface of the housing. In addition, an imaging lens, an image output terminal, and the like are disposed on the front surface (not shown) of the housing. Branching to each mode and execution of functions in accordance with the operation of various buttons such as the release SW operated by the shutter button 37, the various function buttons 31 to 33, the dials 34 and 38, and the power switch are performed as follows. Is called. That is, a state signal sent from the switch input unit 26 to the CPU 24 is discriminated, and a mode determination module (configured by a program in this embodiment) branches to a mode processing circuit or program corresponding to the state signal.

  Next, a photographing operation by the remote photographing system according to the present embodiment will be described. In the digital camera 101, as in the case of the film camera, in addition to the conventional focus confirmation in which the image formed on the focus plate is confirmed with the viewfinder, the image formed on the image sensor 7 is confirmed in real time on the liquid crystal display unit 25. There are shooting methods for checking composition and focusing. This shooting method is called live view shooting.

  When performing live view shooting with the digital camera 101, the live view start / end button 42 is pressed to switch to the live view shooting mode, and the digital camera 101 displays the image formed by the image sensor 7 in a liquid crystal display section in real time. 25. As a result, the photographer can adjust the angle by moving the digital camera 101 based on the situation in which the composition and color of the entire image are viewed. At this time, the main mirror 4 is set in the retracted state and the shutter 6 is opened in order to project an image on the image sensor 7. That is, the finder optical path is blocked and the subject cannot be confirmed with the finder.

  Further, the image displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 25 of the digital camera 101 can be enlarged and the position to be enlarged can be moved. Focusing in Live View shooting, carried out by auto focus and manual focus while the portion you want to focus on checking the display image together to enlarge the liquid crystal display unit 25.

  On the other hand, live view shooting can be performed not only by shooting with the digital camera 101 alone, but also by remote operation from the PC 103 connected to the digital camera 101 with the USB cord 107. In this case, the digital camera 101 sequentially transmits an image formed on the image sensor 7 to the PC 103, and the PC 103 displays the sequentially received image on the monitor device 104 in real time. This shooting method is called remote live view shooting. In the case of remote live view shooting, an image (live view image) formed on the image sensor 7 can be displayed on the monitor device 104, and composition confirmation and focusing can be performed while performing fine confirmation on a larger screen.

  FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating an example of a remote live view shooting operation and display screen using the PC 103. In FIG. 4A, a remote live view screen 401 is a user interface screen displayed by an application program (control program) used for remote live view shooting on the PC 103. In the present embodiment, a case where the remote live view screen 401 is displayed on the monitor device 104 connected to the PC 103 will be described as an example.

  The remote live view screen 401 is provided with an image display unit 402 for displaying an image formed on the image sensor 7. The PC 103 updates the image acquired from the digital camera 101 as needed, thereby displaying the captured image live on the monitor device 104. As a result, the photographer can check the composition and color of the entire image.

  In addition, an enlargement frame 403 is provided in the image display unit 402 of the remote live view screen 401. An enlarged frame 403 can indicate an area to be enlarged and displayed in the image. Further, the position of the enlargement frame 403 can be changed by moving the enlargement frame 403 by dragging the mouse 205 or the like. The enlargement frame 403 also serves as a point when the digital camera 101 autofocuses the subject. By double-clicking the image display unit 402 with the mouse 205 or clicking the enlarge button 404, the image to be displayed in the enlarged image such as the same pixel size can be switched.

  The remote live view screen 401 is provided with an autofocus button 405 for instructing focus control by remote operation and manual focus buttons 406 to 409 for instructing focus by manual operation. The manual focus button 406 is a coarse drive button that instructs rough drive in the near direction. The manual focus button 407 is a fine drive button for instructing fine drive in the near direction. The manual focus button 408 is a fine drive button for instructing fine drive in the far direction. The manual focus button 409 is a coarse drive button that instructs coarse drive in the far direction.

  When the autofocus button 405 is pressed, focus adjustment is automatically performed so that the focus is in the vicinity of the center of the enlargement frame 403. The manual focus buttons 406 to 409 are provided for the purpose of performing fine adjustment after focus adjustment with the autofocus button 405, and the focus fine adjustment can be performed by a specified amount by pressing each button.

  When composition confirmation or focusing is completed, a shooting execution button (not shown) is pressed with the mouse 205. As a result, the PC 103 notifies the digital camera 101 of a shooting execution instruction, receives the shot image, loads it into the HD 207, and displays the image to perform remote shooting. For example, this is a very effective photographing method for photographing a still life subject.

  By the way, when there is a problem in composition, angle, etc., it is not always possible to cover it by remote operation from the PC 103. When it is desired to change the layout of the subject and the shooting angle, the adjustment work is generally performed using the operation on the camera side together. In this case, the adjustment can be performed by pressing the live view start / end button 42 of the digital camera 101 and displaying the image formed on the image sensor 7 on the liquid crystal display unit 25.

  However, when the remote live view shooting is performed, the live view shooting state is always continued in the digital camera 101 (that is, the main mirror 4 is set in the retracted state), so the subject confirmation by the finder is not performed. Can not.

  If the live view shooting state is canceled in response to the live view shooting end operation of the digital camera 101, the remote live view shooting state suddenly ends when another person confirms the live view image on the PC 103. If you are in trouble,

  Therefore, it is possible to display the environment setting screen of the application on the monitor device 104 and set in advance the settings for starting and ending remote live view shooting in synchronization with the start and end of live view shooting by camera operation. It is said. FIG. 4B shows an example of the application environment setting screen 410. Thereby, it is possible to cope with a desirable shooting environment according to the use of the user. When the live view start 411 is set, the remote live view shooting is started simultaneously with the start of the live view shooting by the camera operation. Also, when the live view end 412 is set, the remote live view shooting is ended simultaneously with the end of the live view shooting by the camera operation.

  FIG. 5 shows processing operations executed by the PC 103 in response to an event from the digital camera 101 in this embodiment. This processing operation is realized by executing an application program (control program) used in remote live view shooting on the PC 103. The digital camera 101 has a function of notifying the PC 103 that a live view shooting start operation and end operation have been performed.

  In step S501, it is determined whether or not live view shooting has been started by camera operation based on a notification from the digital camera 101. If it is determined in step S501 that live view shooting has started, the process advances to step S502 to determine whether or not the live view start 411 of the environment setting screen 410 is set. If the live view start 411 is not set, or if the camera is already in the remote live view shooting state, no determination is made. If the live view start 411 is set, the process advances to step S503 to perform remote live view shooting start processing. Remote Live View shooting start process, performs the notification of starting Remote Live View shooting to the digital camera 101 displays the remote live view screen (see Figure 4 (a)).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S501 that live view shooting has not been started, the process proceeds to step S504, and whether or not it has been detected by camera operation that live view shooting has been completed is detected by the digital camera 101. judge. If it is determined that the live view shooting has ended, the process advances to step S505 to determine whether or not the live view end 412 of the environment setting screen 410 is set. If the end of live view 412 is not set or the remote live view shooting state is not already set, No determination is made. If the live view end 412 has been set, the process advances to step S506 to perform remote live view shooting end processing. Remote Live View shooting end processing, performs notification of remote live view imaging end to the digital camera 101, closing the remote live view screen (see Figure 4 (a)).

  For example, if the live view start 411 and the live view end 412 are both set, when the live view start / end button 42 is pressed by an operation on the camera side to start live view shooting, remote live view shooting is performed. Also starts automatically. Therefore, the photographer can check the image without having to perform a start operation again on the PC 103 side. Also, when the live view shooting is ended by pressing the live view start / end button 42 by an operation on the camera side, the remote live view shooting is automatically ended. Therefore, the digital camera 101 exit the live view photographing state, returns the main mirror 4 in an inclined state, so that it is subject confirmation in the viewfinder. Thereby, it becomes possible to flexibly cope with a use case of studio photography according to the user's application.

  Although the present invention has been described in detail based on preferred embodiments thereof, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments, and various forms within the scope of the present invention are also included in the present invention. included. A part of the above-described embodiments may be appropriately combined.

  The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to be executed.

  101: a digital camera, 103: personal computer, 104: monitoring unit, 4: main mirror, 7: imaging device, 24: CPU, 25: liquid crystal display unit, 201: CPU

Claims (7)

An information processing apparatus connected to an imaging apparatus capable of performing live view shooting for displaying an image formed on an imaging element,
Control means for executing remote live view shooting for sequentially receiving images formed on the image sensor from the imaging device and displaying them on a display device,
An information processing apparatus characterized in that a setting for starting remote live view shooting can be performed in synchronization with a start operation of live view shooting in the imaging apparatus. An information processing apparatus connected to an imaging apparatus capable of performing live view shooting for displaying an image formed on an imaging element,
Control means for executing remote live view shooting for sequentially receiving images formed on the image sensor from the imaging device and displaying them on a display device,
An information processing apparatus characterized in that a setting for ending remote live view shooting can be performed in synchronization with an operation for ending live view shooting in the imaging apparatus. An imaging apparatus capable of performing live view shooting that displays an image formed on an imaging element,
Connection means for connecting to an information processing apparatus capable of performing remote live view shooting for sequentially receiving images formed on the image sensor and displaying them on a display device;
An imaging apparatus comprising: notification means for notifying the information processing apparatus that a live view shooting start operation and end operation have been performed.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the viewfinder optical path is blocked in a live view shooting state. A program for controlling a computer connected to an imaging apparatus capable of performing live view imaging for displaying an image formed on an imaging element,
Causing the computer to function as control means for executing remote live view shooting for sequentially receiving images formed on the image sensor from the imaging device and displaying them on a display device;
A program enabling setting for starting remote live view shooting in synchronization with a start operation of live view shooting in the imaging apparatus. A program for controlling a computer connected to an imaging apparatus capable of performing live view imaging for displaying an image formed on an imaging element,
Causing the computer to function as control means for executing remote live view shooting for sequentially receiving images formed on the image sensor from the imaging device and displaying them on a display device;
A program which enables setting for ending remote live view shooting in synchronization with a live view shooting end operation on the imaging apparatus. A program for controlling an imaging apparatus capable of performing live view shooting that displays an image formed on an imaging element,
Connection means for connecting to an information processing apparatus capable of performing remote live view shooting for sequentially receiving images formed on the image sensor and displaying them on a display device;
A program for causing a computer to function as notifying means for notifying the information processing apparatus that a live view shooting start operation and end operation have been performed.

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