Digital camera

• US 7,511,757 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2007
• Issued: 03/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Ueda, Hiroshi, Ootsuka, Michihiko, Mokunaka, Kaoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho; Tuan V
• Application Number:
  US11/764,946
• Publication Number:
  US 20070291321A1
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• Field of Search: 348335-344, 34833311-33312, 348/360
• US Class Current: 348/335
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/632 for displaying or modifying preview images prior to image capturing, e.g. variety of image resolutions or capturing parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/633 for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/667 Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/673 based on contrast or high frequency components of image signals, e.g. hill climbing method

Abstract

A digital camera of the present invention includes a CMOS sensor that captures a subject image formed by an interchangeable lens to generate image data, a liquid crystal monitor that displays the generated image data, and a microcomputer having a live view mode that controls so that the generated image data is displayed as a moving image in real time on the liquid crystal monitor, and a burst mode that generates a plurality of image data with a single image pickup operation, wherein the microcomputer controls so that, in a live view mode, every time image data is generated in a burst mode, the generated image data is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor. Consequently, the generated image data is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor every time image data is generated in the burst mode, whereby the ease of use can be enhanced.

Claims

1. A digital camera having a movable mirror provided so as to enter or retract with respect to an optical path of an image pickup optical system for purpose of guiding a subject image to an optical viewfinder, comprising:

an image pickup element that captures the subject image formed by the image pickup optical system to generate image data when the movable mirror retracts from the optical path of the image pickup optical system;

a display portion that displays the generated image data or image data obtained by subjecting the generated image data to predetermined processing; and

a control portion having a live view mode controlling so that the generated image data or the image data obtained by subjecting the generated image data to predetermined processing is displayed as a moving image in real time on the display portion, and a burst mode generating a plurality of image data with a single image pickup operation,

wherein, in the live view mode, the control portion controls so that the generated image data or the image data obtained by subjecting the generated image data to predetermined processing is displayed on the display portion every time image data is generated in the burst mode.

2. The digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising a review switching portion switching whether or not the generated image data or the image data obtained by subjecting the generated image data to predetermined processing is displayed after image pickup,

wherein, irrespective of setting of the review switching portion, in the live view mode, the control portion controls so that the generated image data or the image data obtained by subjecting the generated image data to predetermined processing is displayed on the display portion every time image data is generated in the burst mode.

3. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein, in the live view mode, the control portion controls so that the movable mirror retracts from the optical path of the image pickup optical system while image data is being generated in the burst mode.

4. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein, in the live view mode, the control portion controls so that the movable mirror enters the optical path of the image pickup optical system, whereby an autofocus operation is performed with respect to the image pickup optical system, every time before image data is generated in the burst mode.

5. The digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising a viewfinder switching portion switching between a use of the optical viewfinder and a use of the live view mode,

wherein, in a case where the viewfinder switching portion is set to the use of the optical viewfinder, the control portion controls so that the generated image data or the image data obtained by subjecting the generated image data to predetermined processing is not displayed on the display portion, even if image data is generated in the burst mode.

6. The digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising a viewfinder switching portion switching between a use of the optical viewfinder and a use of the live view mode,

wherein, in a case where the viewfinder switching portion is set to the use of the optical viewfinder, when final image data is generated in the burst mode, the control portion controls so that the final image data or image data obtained by subjecting the final image data to predetermined processing is displayed on the display portion, and

in a case where the viewfinder switching portion is set to the use of the live view mode, the control portion controls so that the generated image data or the image data obtained by subjecting the generated image data to predetermined processing is displayed on the display portion, every time image data is generated in the burst mode.