Digital camera system, image storage apparatus, and digital camera

• US 20050146621A1
• Filed: 09/10/2002
• Published: 07/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nikon Corporation, Nikon Technologies Inc. (Nikon Corporation)
• Inventors: Ohta, Tadashi, Ohmura, Akira, Tanaka, Masahide
• Application Number:
  US10/488,874
• Publication Number:
  US 20050146621A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/211.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00132 in a digital photofinishing system, i.e. a system where digital photographic images undergo typical photofinishing processing, e.g. printing ordering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00137 Transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00151 with selective access
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00167 Processing or editing H04N1/00196 - H04N1/00201 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00172 directly from a still digital camera or from a storage medium mounted in a still digital camera H04N1/0018 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00196 Creation of a photo-montage, e.g. photoalbum H04N1/0019 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2166 for mass storage, e.g. in document filing systems information retrieval G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2187 with image input from a plurality of different locations or from a non-central location, e.g. from one or more users
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2195 with temporary storage before final recording or on play-back, e.g. in a frame buffer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32122 in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/145 Handheld terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/001 Sharing resources, e.g. processing power or memory, with a connected apparatus or enhancing the capability of the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/325 Modified version of the image, e.g. part of the image, image reduced in size or resolution, thumbnail or screennail
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3288 Storage of two or more complete document pages or image frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q

Abstract

A digital camera system includes: a digital camera 1 that wirelessly transmits raw data from an image capturing unit 11 and information of the image capturing unit 11; and a server center 2 that receives them via Internet and executes interpolation, white balance adjustment, edge emphasis, subsampling and compression with them. The digital camera 1 generates thumbnail images or small size reproduction images by subsampling the identical raw data and stores them in relation to the raw data which have been transmitted. The digital camera 1 is constituted as a portable telephone integrated digital camera, and the transmission of image and the storage and the display of post-subsampling data are achieved by utilizing the standard functions of the portable telephone.

Claims

1. A digital camera system comprising:

a digital camera having an image capturing unit, a temporary storage unit in which digital image signals provided by the image capturing unit are stored and a communication unit that wirelessly transmits the digital image signals at the temporary storage unit without compressing the digital image signals; and

an image storage apparatus having a communication unit that receives the digital image signals, a compression unit that compresses the received digital image signals and a first storage unit in which the compressed image signals are stored.

2. A digital camera system according to claim 1, wherein:

the communication unit at the image storage apparatus receives the digital image signals via the Internet.

3. A digital camera system according to claim 2, wherein:

the digital image signals transmitted from the digital camera to the image storage apparatus are raw data output by the image capturing unit.

4. A digital camera system according to claim 3, wherein:

the image storage apparatus includes an interpolation unit that generates digital image signals corresponding to different colors by interpolating the raw data having been received.

5. A digital camera system according to claim 4, wherein:

the image storage apparatus includes an identification unit that identifies the digital camera and the interpolation unit executes interpolation appropriate to the identified digital camera.

6. A digital camera system according to claim 4, wherein:

the image storage apparatus executes interpolation appropriate to the digital camera based upon information transmitted from the digital camera.

7. A digital camera system according to claim 4, wherein:

the image storage apparatus includes a white balance adjustment unit.

8. A digital camera system according to claim 7, wherein:

the digital camera includes an operating unit;

a color balance is set for a digital image through an operation of the operating unit; and

the color balance having been set is communicated to the white balance adjustment unit at the image storage apparatus via the communication unit of the digital camera.

9. A digital camera system according to claim 4, wherein:

the image storage apparatus includes an edge emphasis unit.

10. A digital camera system according to claim 9, wherein:

the digital camera includes an operating unit;

a level of edge emphasis to be emphasized in a digital image is set through an operation of the operating unit; and

the edge emphasis level having been set is communicated to the edge emphasis unit at the image storage apparatus via the communication unit of the digital camera.

11. A digital camera system according to claim 4, wherein:

the image storage apparatus includes an image subsampling unit.

12. A digital camera system according to claim 11, wherein:

the digital camera includes an operating unit;

an image size of a digital image is set through an operation of the operating unit; and

information indicating the image size having been set is communicated to the image subsampling unit at the image storage apparatus via the communication unit of the digital camera.

13. A digital camera system according to claim 1, wherein:

the digital camera includes an operating unit;

an compression rate is set for a digital image through an operation of the operating unit; and

information indicating the compression rate having been set is communicated to the compression unit at the image storage apparatus via the communication unit of the digital camera.

14. A digital camera system according to claim 1, wherein:

the temporary storage unit is a nonvolatile memory.

15. A digital camera system according to claim 1, wherein:

in the temporary storage unit an area corresponding to digital image signals having been transmitted is assigned as an available storage area.

16. A digital camera system according to claim 1, wherein:

the digital camera includes a subsampling unit that subsamples digital image signals identical to the digital image signals stored in the temporary storage unit; and

a post-subsampling data storage unit in which post-subsampling digital image signals are stored in relation to the digital signals stored in the temporary storage unit.

17. A digital camera system according to claim 16, wherein:

the digital camera includes a display unit at which digital image signals stored in the post-subsampling data storage unit are displayed.

18. A digital camera system according to claim 17, wherein:

a specification signal specifying digital image signals in the post-subsampling data storage unit which are brought up on display at the display unit is transmitted to the image storage apparatus.

19. A digital camera system according to claim 18, wherein:

the image storage apparatus deletes corresponding compressed image signals from the first storage unit based upon the specification signal.

20. A digital camera system according to claim 18, wherein:

the image storage apparatus outputs corresponding compressed image signals in the first storage unit for an image print based upon the specification signal.

21. A digital camera system according to claim 20, wherein:

the image storage apparatus includes a second storage unit in which the received digital image signals are stored in an uncompressed state in relation to the compressed image signals, and outputs the digital image signals in the second storage unit for an image print in an image size specified by the specification signal.

22. A digital camera system according to claim 1, wherein:

the image storage apparatus includes a second storage unit in which the received digital image signals are stored in an uncompressed state in relation to the compressed image signals.

23. A digital camera system according to claim 1, wherein:

the image storage apparatus includes a subsampling unit that subsamples the received digital image signals and a second storage unit in which post-subsampling digital image signals are stored in relation to the digital image signals stored in the temporary storage unit.

24. A digital camera system according to claim 1, wherein:

the digital camera includes an instruction signal output unit that outputs an instruction signal to be transmitted to the image storage apparatus; and

the image storage apparatus outputs the post-subsampling digital image signals from the second storage unit in response to the instruction signal and transmits the post-subsampling digital image signals to the digital camera.

25. A digital camera system comprising:

a digital camera having an image capturing unit, a temporary storage unit in which raw data provided by the image capturing unit are stored and a communication unit that wirelessly transmits the raw data at the temporary storage unit; and

an image storage apparatus having a communication unit that receives the raw data and an interpolation unit that generates digital image signals corresponding to different colors by interpolating the received raw data.

26. A digital camera system according to claim 25, wherein:

the image storage apparatus includes an image subsampling unit.

27. A digital camera system comprising:

a digital camera having an image capturing unit, a temporary storage unit in which raw data provided by the image capturing unit are stored and a communication unit that wirelessly transmits the raw data at the temporary storage unit; and

an image storage apparatus having a communication unit that receives the raw data and an image subsampling unit that creates a post-subsampling image based upon the received raw data.

28. An image storage apparatus, comprising:

a communication unit that receives uncompressed digital image signals from a digital camera via a communication line;

a compression unit that compresses the received digital image signals; and

a first storage unit in which the compressed image signals are stored.

29. An image storage apparatus according to claim 28, wherein:

the uncompressed digital image signals are raw data output from an image capturing unit of the digital camera.

30. An image storage apparatus according to claim 29, further comprising:

an interpolation unit that generates digital image signals corresponding to different colors by interpolating the received raw data.

31. An image storage apparatus according to claim 30, wherein:

the interpolation unit receives information needed to execute interpolation from the digital camera.

32. An image storage apparatus according to claim 28 further comprising:

a white balance adjustment unit.

33. An image storage apparatus according to claim 32, wherein color balance specification information needed to execute white balance adjustment is received from the digital camera.

34. An image storage apparatus according to claim 28 further comprising:

an edge emphasis unit.

35. An image storage apparatus according to claim 34, wherein specification information specifying a level of edge emphasis to be achieved is received from the digital camera.

36. An image storage apparatus according to claim 28, further comprising:

a subsampling unit that subsamples image data.

37. An image storage apparatus according to claim 36, wherein image size specification information needed to subsample the image is received from the digital camera.

38. An image storage apparatus according to claim 28, wherein compression rate specification information needed to compress the image is received from the digital camera.

39. An image storage apparatus according to claim 28, wherein compressed image signals is deleted from the first storage unit based upon an instruction issued at the digital camera.

40. An image storage apparatus according to claim 28, wherein compressed image signals in the storage unit are outputted for an image print as specified at the digital camera.

41. An image storage apparatus according to claim 40, further comprising:

a second storage unit in which the uncompressed digital image signals from the digital camera are stored without undergoing compression in relation to the compressed image signals; and

the digital image signals in the second storage unit are output for an image print in an image size matching a specification issued at the digital camera.

42. An image storage apparatus comprising:

a storage unit in which uncompressed digital image data are stored; and

an output unit that outputs uncompressed digital image data in the storage unit for an image print in an image size matching a specification issued from the outside.

43. An image storage apparatus according to claim 42, wherein:

the output unit outputs data achieving the image size matching the specification for an image print after compressing the data at a compression rate matching the specification.

44. An image storage apparatus according to claim 42, wherein:

the uncompressed digital image data are raw data.

45. An image storage apparatus comprising:

a communication unit that receives raw data output by an image capturing unit of a digital camera via a communication line;

an interpolation unit that generates digital image signals corresponding to different colors by interpolating the received raw data; and

a storage unit in which the digital image signals resulting from the interpolation are stored.

46. An image storage apparatus comprising:

a communication unit that receives raw data output by an image capturing unit of a digital camera via a communication line;

an image subsampling unit that subsamples digital image signals generated based upon the received raw data; and

a storage unit in which post-subsampling digital image signals are stored.

47. An image storage apparatus comprising:

a storage unit in which digital image data with a large image size and digital image data with a small image size corresponding to a single image are stored;

an output unit that outputs the digital image data with the small image size in conformance to a specification issued from the outside; and

an output unit that outputs the digital image data with a large image size for an image print in conformance to a specification issued from the outside upon receiving the digital image data with the small image size output thereto.

48. An image storage apparatus comprising:

a communication unit that receives digital image signals with a large image size from a digital camera via a communication line;

an image conversion unit that generates digital image signals with a small image size corresponding to an image constituted with the received digital image signals by using the received digital signals;

a storage unit in which the digital image signals with the large image size and the digital image signals with the small image size are both stored in relation to each other; and

an output unit that outputs either the digital image data with the small image size or digital image data with the small image size by automatically identifying a contact from the outside.

49. A digital camera comprising:

an image capturing unit;

a temporary storage unit in which digital image signals provided by the image capturing unit are stored; and

a communication unit that wirelessly transmits the digital image signals at the temporary storage unit without compressing the digital image signals to a specific image apparatus.

50. A digital camera according to claim 49, wherein:

the communication unit transmits the digital image signals to the image storage apparatus via the Internet.

51. A digital camera according to claim 49, further comprising:

a shutter release unit, wherein;

the communication unit transmits the digital image signal to the image storage apparatus in response to an operation of the shutter release unit.

52. A digital camera according to claim 49, wherein:

the digital image signals transmitted from the digital camera to the image storage apparatus is raw data output by the image capturing unit.

53. A digital camera according to claim 52, wherein:

the communication unit transmits information needed to interpolate the raw data to the image storage apparatus.

54. A digital camera according to claim 49, further comprising:

an operating unit, wherein;

a color balance is set for a digital image through an operation of the operating unit; and

the color balance having been set is communicated to the image storage apparatus via the communication unit.

55. A digital camera according to claim 49, further comprising:

an operating unit, wherein;

a level of edge emphasis to be achieved in a digital image is set through an operation of the operation unit; and

the edge emphasis level having been set is communicated to the image storage apparatus via the communication unit.

56. A digital camera according to claim 49, further comprising:

an operating unit, wherein;

an image size for a digital image is set through an operation of the operating unit; and

the image size having been set is communicated to the image storage apparatus via the communication unit.

57. A digital camera according to claim 49, further comprising:

an operating unit, wherein;

a compression rate is set for a digital image through an operation of the operating unit; and

the compression rate having been set is communicated to the image storage apparatus via the communication unit.

58. A digital camera according to claim 49, further comprising:

an operating unit, wherein;

digital image signals having been processed at the image storage apparatus are received through an operation of the operating unit.

59. A digital camera according to claim 58, wherein:

the received digital image signals achieve a smaller image size than the digital image signals having been transmitted.

60. A digital camera according to claim 49, further comprising:

a subsampling unit that subsamples digital image signals identical to the digital image signals stored in the temporary storage unit; and

a post-subsampling data storage unit in which post-subsampling digital image signals are stored in relation to the digital signals stored in the temporary storage unit.

61. A digital camera system according to claim 60, further comprising:

a display unit at which digital image signals at the post-subsampling data storage unit are displayed.

62. A digital camera system according to claim 61, further comprising:

an operating unit, wherein;

a delete signal instructing that image signals corresponding to digital image signals in the post-subsampling data storage unit which are brought up on display at the display unit are to be deleted is transmitted to the image storage apparatus through an operation of the operating unit.

63. A digital camera system according to claim 61, further comprising:

an operating unit, wherein;

an instruction signal instructing that image signals corresponding to the digital image signals in the post-subsampling data storage unit which are brought up on display at the display unit are to be output for printing is transmitted to the image storage apparatus through an operation of the operating unit.

64. A digital camera according to claim 61, further comprising:

an operating unit, wherein;

an instruction signal instructing that image signals corresponding to the digital image signals in the post-subsampling data storage unit which are brought up on display at the display unit are to be received is transmitted to the image storage apparatus through an operation of the operating unit.

65. A digital camera comprising:

an image capturing unit;

a communication unit that transmits digital image signals generated based upon image capturing signals from the image capturing unit to a specific image storage apparatus;

a subsampling unit that subsamples digital image signals identical to the digital image signals transmitted to the image storage apparatus;

a post-subsampling data storage unit in which post-subsampling digital image signals resulting from subsampling are stored in relation to the digital signals transmitted to the image storage apparatus;

an operating unit;

a delete unit that deletes the post-subsampling data in the post-subsampling data storage unit in response to an operation of the operating unit; and

a transmission unit that transmits a delete signal in response to which the corresponding digital image signals at the image storage apparatus is to be deleted are transmitted to the image storage apparatus via the communication unit through an operation of the operating unit.

66. A portable telephone integrated digital camera, comprising:

a telephone transceiver unit;

a communication unit that wirelessly transmits and receives transmission/reception signals;

an image capturing unit;

a temporary storage unit in which digital image signals provided by the image capturing unit are stored; and

a transmission unit that transmits the digital image signals in the temporary storage unit without compressing the digital image signals to an external image storage apparatus via a the communication unit.

67. A portable telephone integrated digital camera, comprising:

a telephone transceiver unit;

a communication unit that wirelessly transmits a signal originating from the telephone transceiver unit and receives an incoming signal at the telephone transceiver unit;

an image capturing unit;

a transmission unit that transmits digital image signals generated based upon the digital image signals provided by the image capturing unit to the outside via the communication unit; and

a forced activation unit that forcibly activates an image capturing operation at the image capturing unit and a transmission by the transmission unit.

68. A portable telephone integrated digital camera according to claim 67, wherein:

the forced activation unit is started up in response to an external signal received via the communication unit.

69. A portable telephone integrated digital camera according to claim 67, further comprising:

an operating unit that is not operated to start up an image capturing operation by the image capturing unit or a transmission by the transmission unit, wherein;

the forced activation unit is started up in response to an operation of the operating unit.

70. A portable telephone integrated digital camera according to claim 69, wherein:

the forced activation unit is switched from a non-functional state to a functional state in response to an external signal received via the communication unit.

71. A portable telephone integrated digital camera, comprising:

a telephone transceiver unit;

a communication unit that wirelessly transmits and receives transmission/reception signals;

an image capturing unit;

a transmission unit that transmits digital image signals generated based upon image-capturing signals provided by the image capturing unit to the outside via the communication unit;

a switching unit that selects either a talk mode for having a telephone conversation and a send mode for executing a transmission; and

a transmission halting unit that halts a transmission executed by the transmission unit if the switching unit switches to the talk mode during the transmission of the digital image signals.

72. A portable telephone integrated digital camera according to claim 71, further comprising:

a display unit, wherein;

if a telephone talk signal originating from outside arrives while transmitting a digital image, the send mode is sustained and the arrival of the telephone talk signal is indicated at the display unit.

73. A portable telephone integrated digital camera comprising:

a first body having an image capturing lens disposed thereat;

a second body having disposed thereat a vertical display unit at which an image captured through the image capturing lens and text characters can be displayed; and

a connecting portion that allows the first body and the second body to be folded into a first state in which the image capturing lens and the display unit are concealed inside and also allows the first body and the second body to be folded along opposite directions from each other into a second state in which the image capturing lens and the display unit are set back-to-back.

74. A portable telephone integrated digital camera according to claim 73, wherein:

the text character display at the display unit is rotated by 90°

to achieve a horizontal display in the second state.

75. A digital camera back that can be mounted in place of a rear lid of a silver halide camera, comprising:

an image sensor that detects a subject image formed through a photographic lens of the silver halide camera;

a temporary storage unit in which digital image signals output by the image sensor are temporarily stored;

a wireless transmission control unit that implements control to wirelessly transmit the digital image signals in the temporary storage unit to a specific image storage apparatus without compressing the digital image signals; and

a signal exchange unit that exchanges digital signals with the silver halide camera.

76. A digital camera back according to claim 75, further comprising:

a wireless communication unit that transmits the digital signals to the specific image storage apparatus, wherein;

the digital image signals in the temporary storage unit are wirelessly transmitted without undergoing compression under control implemented by the wireless transmission control unit at the wireless communication unit.

77. A digital camera back according to claim 75, further comprising:

a transfer unit that transfers the digital signals to a portable telephone, wherein;

the digital image signals in the temporary storage unit are wirelessly transmitted to the specific image storage apparatus via the portable telephone, under control implemented by the wireless transmission control unit.

78. A digital camera back according to claim 77, wherein:

the transfer unit is a short-range radio communication device.

79. A digital camera back according to claim 77, wherein:

the transfer unit is an infrared communication device.

80. A digital camera back according to claim 77, wherein:

the transfer unit is a cable connected to the portable telephone.

81. A digital camera back according to claim 77, wherein:

the portable telephone connects with the specific image storage apparatus via the Internet.

82. A digital camera back according to claim 75, wherein:

the wireless transmission control unit responds to a shutter release signal from the silver halide camera which is communicated by the signal exchange unit.

83. A digital camera back according to claim 75, wherein:

the digital image signals that are wirelessly transmitted are raw data output by the image sensor.

84. A digital camera back according to claim 83, wherein:

the wireless transmission control unit transmits information needed to interpolate the raw data together with the raw data to the image storage apparatus.

85. A digital camera back according to claim 75, further comprising:

an operating unit, wherein;

color balance information is set for a digital image through an operation of the operating unit; and

the color balance information having been set is wirelessly transmitted to the image storage apparatus together with the digital image signals under control implemented by the wireless transmission control unit.

86. A digital camera back according to claim 75, further comprising:

an operating unit wherein;

edge emphasis level information is set through an operation of the operating unit; and

the edge emphasis level information having been set is wirelessly transmitted to the image storage apparatus together with the digital image signals under control implemented by the wireless transmission control unit.

87. A digital camera back according to claim 75, further comprising:

an operating unit wherein;

an image size is set for a digital image through an operation of the operating unit; and

information indicating the image size having been set is wirelessly transmitted to the image storage apparatus together with the digital image signals under control implemented by the wireless transmission control unit.

88. A digital camera back according to claim 75, further comprising:

an operating unit, wherein;

compression rate information is set for a digital image through an operation of the operating unit; and

the compression rate information having been set is wirelessly transmitted to the image storage apparatus together with the digital image signals under control implemented by the wireless transmission control unit.

89. A digital camera back according to claim 75, wherein:

information indicating a color temperature of a subject originating from the silver halide camera and communicated via the signal exchange unit is wirelessly transmitted to the image storage apparatus together with the digital image signals under control implemented by the wireless transmission control unit.

90. A digital camera back according to claim 75, wherein:

information needed to for universal image file creation is wirelessly transmitted the image storage apparatus together with the digital image signals under control implemented by the wireless transmission control unit.

91. A digital camera back according to claim 75, further comprising:

an operating unit, wherein;

digital image signals having been processed at the image storage apparatus are received through an operation of the operating unit.

92. A digital camera back according to claim 91, wherein:

the digital image signals that are received achieve a smaller image size than the digital image signals having been transmitted.

93. A digital camera back according to claim 75, further comprising:

a subsampling unit that subsamples digital image signals identical to the digital image signals stored in the temporary storage unit; and

a post-subsampling data storage unit in which post-subsampling digital image signals are stored in relation to the digital signals stored in the temporary storage unit.

94. A digital camera back according to claim 93, further comprising:

a display unit at which digital image signals in the post-subsampling data storage unit are displayed.

95. A digital camera back according to claim 94, further comprising:

an operating unit wherein;

the wireless transmission control unit implements control so as to transmit to the image storage apparatus a delete signal instructing that image signals indicated through an operation of the operating unit among the digital image signals in the post-subsampling the storage which are brought up on display at the display unit be deleted.

96. A digital camera back according to claim 94, further comprising:

an operating unit wherein;

the wireless transmission control unit implements control so as to transmit to the image storage apparatus an instruction signal instructing that image signals indicated through an operation of the operating unit among the digital image signals in the post-subsampling data storage unit which are brought up on display at the display unit be output for printing.

97. A digital camera back according to claim 94, further comprising:

an operating unit wherein;

the wireless transmission control unit implements control so as to transmit to the image storage apparatus a request signal requesting digital image signals indicated through an operation of the operating unit among the digital image signals in the post-subsampling data storage unit which are brought up on display at the display unit be output for printing

98. A digital camera back that can be mounted in place of a rear lid of a silver halide camera, comprising:

an image sensor that detects a subject image formed through a photographic lens of the silver halide camera;

a temporary storage unit in which raw data output by the image sensor are temporarily stored;

an output control unit that implements control to output raw data in the temporary storage unit and information needed to interpolate the raw data to a specific image storage apparatus; and

a signal exchange unit that exchanges digital signals with the silver halide camera.

99. A digital camera back that can be mounted in place of a rear lid of a silver halide camera, comprising:

an image sensor that detects a subject image formed through a photographic lens of the silver halide camera;

a temporary storage unit in which raw data output by the image sensor are temporarily stored;

an output control unit that implements control to output raw data in the temporary storage unit and file information needed for universal image file creation to a specific image storage apparatus; and

a signal exchange unit that exchanges digital signals with the silver halide camera.

100. An image storage apparatus comprising:

a communication unit that receives raw data output by an image capturing unit of a digital camera and file information needed for universal image file creation via a public communication line;

a universal image file creation unit that creates a universal image file based upon the raw data and the file information having been received; and

a storage unit in which the universal image file is stored.

101. A digital camera back that can be mounted in place of a rear lid of a silver halide camera, comprising:

an image sensor that detects a subject image formed through a photographic lens of the silver halide camera;

a temporary storage unit in which raw data output by the image sensor are temporarily stored;

a signal exchange unit that exchanges digital signals with the silver halide camera; and

an output control unit that implements control to output to a specific image storage apparatus raw data in the temporary storage unit and information related to a subject color temperature originating from the silver halide camera and communicated by the signal exchange unit.

102. An image storage apparatus comprising:

a communication unit that receives raw data output by an image capturing unit of a digital camera and information related to a color temperature of a subject via a public communication line;

an image creation unit that generates digital image signals having undergone a white balance adjustment based upon the raw data and the information related to the subject color temperature having been received; and

a storage unit in which the digital image signals are stored.

103. A digital camera back that can be mounted in place of a rear lid of a silver halide camera, comprising:

a signal exchange unit that exchanges digital signals with the silver halide camera;

an image sensor that detects a subject image formed through a photographic lens of the silver halide camera;

a transmission control unit that implements control to transmit digital image signals output by the image sensor to an image storage apparatus;

a subsampling unit that subsamples digital image signals identical to the digital image signals transmitted to the image storage apparatus;

a post-subsampling data storage unit in which post-subsampling digital image signals are stored in relation to the digital signals transmitted to the image storage apparatus; and

an operating unit operated to delete a post-subsampling data in the post-subsampling storage unit, wherein;

the wireless transmission control unit implements control to transmit to the image storage apparatus a delete signal instructing that corresponding image signals indicated through an operation of the operating unit be deleted.

104. A digital camera comprising:

an image capturing unit;

a temporary storage unit in which raw data output by the image capturing unit are temporarily stored; and

a wireless transmission control unit that implements control to wirelessly transmit to a specific image storage apparatus the raw data in the temporary storage unit and file information needed for universal image file creation.

105. A digital camera comprising:

an image capturing unit;

a temporary storage unit in which raw data output by the image capturing unit are temporarily stored;

a measurement unit that obtains through measurement information related to a subject color temperature; and

a wireless transmission control unit that implements control to wirelessly transmit to a specific image storage apparatus the raw data in the temporary storage unit and the information related to the subject color temperature.

106. A digital camera system comprising:

a digital camera having an image-capturing unit, a storage unit in which raw data provided by the image-capturing unit are stored and an output unit that outputs raw data from the storage unit; and

an image storage apparatus having an input unit to which the raw data are input, an interpolation unit that generates digital image signals by interpolating the input raw data, a compression unit that compresses the digital image signals provided by the interpolation unit and a storage unit in which the compressed image signals are stored.

107. A digital camera system according to claim 106, wherein:

the input unit of the image storage apparatus includes a digital signal communication unit which is connected to the output unit of the digital camera.

108. A digital camera system according to claim 106 or claim 107, wherein:

the image storage apparatus includes a plurality of interpolation units and an identification unit that identifies the digital camera and executes interpolation by engaging an interpolation unit matching the identified digital camera.

109. A digital camera system according to any of claims 106 through 108, wherein:

the image storage apparatus includes a plurality of interpolation units and executes interpolation by selecting a matching interpolation unit based upon information input from the digital camera.

110. A digital camera system according to any of claims 106 through 109, wherein:

the image storage apparatus includes a white balance adjustment unit.

111. A digital camera system according to any of claims 106 through 110, wherein:

the image storage apparatus includes an edge emphasis unit.

112. A digital camera system according to any of claims 106 through 111, wherein:

the image storage apparatus includes an image subsampling unit.

113. A digital camera system according to any of claims 106 through 112, wherein:

an area of the storage unit corresponding to the raw data output from the output unit is assigned as available storage area.

114. A digital camera system according to any of claims 106 through 113, wherein:

the image storage apparatus includes a second storage unit in which the digital image signals provided by the interpolation unit are stored without undergoing compression in relation to the compressed image signals.

115. An image storage apparatus comprising:

an input unit to which raw data provided by an image capturing unit of a digital camera are input;

an interpolation unit that generates digital image signals by interpolating the input raw data;

a compression unit that compresses the digital image signals provided by the interpolation unit; and

a storage unit that stores compressed image signals.

116. An image storage apparatus according to claim 115, wherein:

the input unit is a loading unit at which a storage medium having stored therein raw data is loaded.

117. An image storage apparatus according to claim 115 or claim 116, further comprising:

a display unit at which the digital image signals are displayed; and

an instruction unit that issues an instruction as to whether or not compressed image signals corresponding to the digital image signals on display are to be stored, wherein;

the storage unit stores compressed image signals for which the instruction is issued by the instruction unit.

118. An image storage apparatus according to any of claims 115 through 117, comprising:

a plurality of interpolation units; and

an identification unit that identifies the digital camera, wherein

interpolation is executed by engaging an interpolation unit matching the identified digital camera.

119. An image storage apparatus according to any of claims 115 through 118, comprising:

a plurality of interpolation units, wherein

interpolation is executed by selecting a matching interpolation unit based upon information input from the digital camera.

120. An image storage apparatus according to claim 118 or claim 119, wherein:

the storage unit stores the compressed image signals regardless of which of the plurality of interpolation units is engaged to execute the interpolation.

121. An image storage apparatus according to any of claims 115 through 120, further comprising:

a white balance adjustment unit.

122. An image storage apparatus according to any of claims 115 through 121 further comprising:

an edge emphasis unit.

123. An image storage apparatus according to any of claims 115 through 122, further comprising:

an image subsampling unit.

124. An image storage apparatus according to any of claims 115 through 123, further comprising:

a second storage unit in which the digital image signals provided by the interpolation unit are stored without undergoing compression in relation to the compressed image signals.

125. An image storage apparatus according to any of claims 115 through 124, wherein:

information needed to execute interpolation is input from the digital camera to the interpolation unit.

126. A program that enables a computer to achieve a function according to any of claims 115 through 125.

127. A digital camera comprising:

an image-capturing unit;

a storage unit in which raw data provided by the image-capturing unit are stored in a volume corresponding to a plurality of images; and

an output unit that outputs the raw data in the storage unit and information needed to interpolate the raw data to a specific image storage apparatus.

129. A digital camera according to claims 127 or 128, wherein:

an area of the storage unit corresponding to the raw data output from the output unit is assigned as available storage area.

128. A digital camera comprising:

an image-capturing unit;

a storage unit in which raw data provided by the image-capturing unit are stored in a volume corresponding to a plurality of images; and

an output unit that outputs the raw data in the storage unit and information needed for universal image file creation to a specific image storage apparatus.

130. A digital camera back that can be mounted in place of a rear lid of a silver halide camera, comprising:

an image sensor that detects a subject image formed through a photographic lens of the silver halide camera;

a storage unit in which raw data provided by the image sensor are stored in a volume corresponding to a plurality of images;

an output unit that outputs raw data to a specific image storage apparatus from the storage unit; and

a signal exchange unit that exchanges digital signals with the silver halide camera.

131. A digital camera back according to claim 130, wherein:

the output unit outputs information needed to interpolate the raw data together with the raw data to the outside.

132. A digital camera back according to claim 130 or claim 131, wherein:

the output unit outputs information related to a subject color temperature originating from the silver halide camera and communicated by the signal exchange unit together with the raw data to the outside.

133. A digital camera back according to any of claims 130 through 132, wherein:

information needed for universal image file creation is output together with the raw data to the outside.

134. A digital camera system comprising:

a digital camera having an image capturing unit, a storage unit in which raw data provided by the image capturing unit are stored and an output unit that outputs raw data from the storage unit; and

a program that enables a computer to which the raw data are input to achieve an interpolation function for generating digital image signals by interpolating the raw data, a compression function for compressing the digital image signals generated through the interpolation function and a storage control function for controlling storage of the compressed image signals obtained through the compression function.

135. A digital camera system comprising:

a digital camera having an image capturing unit, a storage unit in which raw data provided by the image capturing unit are stored and an output unit that outputs raw data from the storage unit; and

a storage medium having stored therein a computer program that achieves an interpolation function for generating digital image signals by interpolating the raw data, a compression function for compressing the digital image signals generated through the interpolation function and a storage control function for controlling storage of the compressed image signals obtained through the compression function.

136. A digital camera comprising:

an image capturing unit;

a loading unit at which a detachable storage medium is loaded; and

a storage control unit that implements control to store raw data provided by the image capturing unit into the storage medium via the loading unit.

137. A digital camera according to claim 136, wherein:

the storage control unit implements control to store information needed to interpolate the raw data together with the raw data into the storage medium.

138. A digital camera according to claim 136 or claim 137, wherein:

the storage control unit implements control to store information needed for universal image file creation together with the raw data into the storage medium.

139. A digital camera back that can be mounted in place of a rear lid of a silver halide camera, comprising:

an image sensor that detects a subject image formed through a photographic lens of the silver halide camera;

a loading unit at which a detachable storage medium is loaded;

a storage control unit that implements control to store raw data output from the image sensor into the storage medium via the loading unit; and

a signal exchange unit that exchanges digital signals with the silver halide camera.

140. A digital camera back according to claim 139, wherein:

the storage control unit implements control to store information needed to interpolate the raw data together with the raw data into the storage medium.

141. A digital camera back according to claim 139 or claim 140, wherein:

the storage control unit implements control to store information needed for universal image file creation together with the raw data into the storage medium.

142. A digital camera back according to any of claims 139 through 141, wherein:

the storage control unit implements control to store information related to a subject color temperature originating from the silver halide camera and communicated by the signal exchange unit together with the raw data into the storage medium.

143. A digital camera system comprising;

a digital camera having an image capturing unit, a loading unit at which a detachable storage medium is loaded and a storage control unit that implements control to store raw data provided by the image capturing unit into the storage medium via the loading unit; and

a program that enables a computer to which the raw data are input to achieve an interpolation function for generating digital image signals by interpolating the raw data.

144. A digital camera system comprising:

a digital camera having an image capturing unit, a loading unit at which a detachable storage medium is loaded and a storage control unit that implements control to store raw data provided by the image capturing unit into the storage medium via the loading unit; and

a storage medium having stored therein a computer program that achieves an interpolation function for generating digital image signals by interpolating the raw data.

145. An image storage apparatus comprising:

a plurality of image input management units;

an image input execution unit that executes an image input by engaging a matching image input management unit based upon information input thereto; and

a storage unit that stores an input image regardless of which of the plurality of image input management units is engaged to execute the image input.

146. An image storage apparatus comprising:

an input unit to which raw data provided by an image capturing unit of a digital camera are input;

an interpolation unit that generates digital image signals by interpolating the input raw data;

a display unit at which the digital image signals are displayed;

an instruction unit that issues an instruction as to whether or not digital image signals on display are to be stored;

a compression unit that compresses the digital image signals provided by the interpolation unit for which the instruction has been issued by the instruction unit; and

a storage unit that stores the compressed image signals.

147. An image storage apparatus comprising:

an input unit to which an encrypted image is input;

a decryption unit that decrypts the input image by using a matching decryption algorithm based upon information input thereto; and

a storage unit that stores the decrypted image.

148. An image storage apparatus according to claim 147, wherein:

the decryption unit identifies a digital camera based upon a signal input thereto and decrypts the input image by using a decryption algorithm matching the identified digital camera.

149. A digital camera comprising:

an image-capturing unit;

an encryption unit that encrypts image data provided by the image capturing unit; and

an output unit that outputs the encrypted image data together with an identification signal to be used to identify the digital camera.

150. A digital camera comprising:

an image-capturing unit;

a loading unit at which a detachable storage medium is loaded;

a storage control unit that implements control to store first image data which are based upon an output from the image capturing unit into the detachable storage medium loaded at the loading unit;

an image display unit;

an internal storage unit in which second image data for display at the image display unit are stored based upon the output from the image capturing unit; and

a reproduction control unit that implements control to reproduce the second image data stored in the internal storage unit at the image display unit, wherein;

the internal storage unit holds second image data corresponding to first image data stored in a detachable storage medium which has been removed from the loading unit.

151. A digital camera according to claim 150, wherein:

the image capturing unit outputs image information with an information volume exceeding the display capability of the image display unit;

the first image data achieve an information volume exceeding the display capability of the image display unit; and

the second image data achieve an information volume corresponding to the display capability of the image display unit.

152. A digital camera according to claim 150 or claim 151, wherein:

thumbnail image data are stored in the detachable storage medium and the internal storage unit respectively in correspondence to the first image data and the second image data.

153. A digital camera according to any of claims 150 through 152, wherein:

the first image data are raw data output by the image capturing unit.

177. A program that achieves a function according to any of claims 150 through 176.

154. A digital camera comprising:

an image-capturing unit;

an output unit that outputs to the outside image data obtained based upon an output from the image-capturing unit;

an image display unit;

a display data creation unit that creates display data to be used for display at the image display unit in correspondence to all image data output to the outside;

a storage unit in which the display data are stored; and

a reproduction control unit that implements control to reproduce the display data stored in the storage unit at the image display unit, wherein;

the storage unit holds display data corresponding to all the image data output to the outside.

155. A digital camera according to claim 154, wherein:

the output unit outputs thumbnail image data in correspondence to the image data output to the outside; and

the storage unit stores thumbnail image data in correspondence to the display data.

156. A digital camera according to claim 154 or claim 155, further comprising:

a loading unit at which a detachable storage medium is loaded, wherein;

the output unit includes a storage control unit that implements control to store the image data into the detachable storage medium loaded at the loading unit; and

identification information to be used to identify the detachable storage medium into which the image data are stored, is stored in relation to the display data in the storage unit.

157. A digital camera comprising:

an image-capturing unit;

a loading unit at which a detachable storage medium is loaded;

a storage control unit that implements control to store image data which are based upon an output from the image capturing unit into the detachable storage medium loaded at the loading unit; and

an internal storage unit in which identification information to be used to identify the detachable storage medium having stored therein the image data is stored, wherein;

the identification information is continuously held after the detachable storage medium is unloaded from the loading unit.

158. A digital camera comprising:

an image-capturing unit;

a loading unit at which a detachable storage medium is loaded;

a storage control unit that implements control to store first image data which are based upon an output from the image capturing unit into the detachable storage medium loaded at the loading unit;

an image display unit;

an internal storage unit in which second image data for display at the image display unit are stored based upon the output from the image capturing unit; and

a reproduction control unit that implements control to reproduce the second image data stored in the internal storage unit at the image display unit, wherein;

information to be used to identify the detachable storage medium having stored therein the first image data corresponding to the second image data is stored in relation to the second image data in the internal storage unit.

159. An image reproduction apparatus comprising:

a loading unit at which a detachable storage medium is loaded;

an image display unit;

a reproduction control unit that implements control to reproduce at the image display unit image data stored in a detachable storage medium loaded at the loading unit; and

an internal storage unit in which information as to the image data used for reproduction and identification information used to be to identify the detachable storage medium having stored therein the image data are stored in relation to each other, wherein;

the internal storage unit holds the information as to the image data used for reproduction and the identification information even after the detachable storage medium is removed from the loading unit.

160. A digital camera comprising:

an image reproduction apparatus according to claim 159.

161. A digital camera comprising:

an image-capturing unit;

an output unit that outputs to the outside image data obtained based upon an output from the image-capturing unit;

an image display unit;

a display data creation unit that creates display data to be displayed at the image display unit in correspondence to image data output to the outside;

a storage unit in which the display data are stored; and

a reproduction control unit that determines whether reproduction of the display data stored in the storage unit at the image display unit is to be permitted or prohibited.

162. A digital camera according to claim 161, wherein:

the storage unit stores condition information in correspondence to individual sets of display data; and

the reproduction control unit enables reproduction of display data matching specific condition information.

163. A digital camera according to claim 161 or claim 162, further comprising:

a loading unit at which a detachable storage medium is loaded, wherein;

the output unit includes a storage control unit that implements control to store the image data into a detachable storage medium loaded at the loading unit.

164. A digital camera according to any of claims 161 through 163, wherein:

the output unit includes a communication unit that transmits the image data to the outside through wireless communication.

165. A digital camera according to any of claims 161 through 164, wherein:

the output unit transmits the image data to the outside through wired communication.

166. A digital camera comprising:

an image-capturing unit;

a loading unit at which a detachable storage medium is loaded;

a storage control unit that implements control to store first image data which are based upon an output from the image capturing unit into a detachable storage medium loaded at the loading unit;

an image display unit;

an internal storage unit in which second image data for display at the image display unit are stored based upon the output from the image capturing unit; and

a reproduction control unit that permits the second image data to be reproduced at the image display unit when corresponding image data are present in a detachable storage medium loaded at the loading unit.

167. A digital camera according to claim 166, wherein:

the reproduction control unit permits reproduction of the second image data matching specific condition information even when the corresponding image data are not present in the detachable storage medium loaded at the loading unit.

168. A digital camera comprising:

an image-capturing unit;

an output unit that outputs to the outside raw data provided by the image-capturing unit;

an image display unit;

a display data creation unit that creates display data to be used for display at the image display unit based upon the raw data;

a storage unit in which the display data are stored; and

a reproduction control unit that implements control to reproduce the display data stored in the storage unit at the image display unit, wherein;

the storage unit holds display data corresponding to the raw data output to the outside.

169. A digital camera according to claim 168, further comprising:

a loading unit at which a detachable storage medium is loaded, wherein;

the output unit includes a storage control unit that implements control to store the raw data into a detachable storage medium loaded at the loading unit.

170. A digital camera according to claim 168 or claim 169, wherein:

the output unit includes a communication unit that transmits the raw data to the outside through wireless communication.

171. A digital camera according to claim 168 or claim 169, wherein:

the output unit transmits the raw data to the outside through wired communication.

172. A digital camera comprising:

an image capturing unit;

a loading unit at which a detachable storage medium is loaded;

a storage control unit that implements control to store raw data provided by the image capturing unit into a detachable storage medium loaded at the loading unit;

an image display unit;

an internal storage unit in which display data for display at the image display unit are stored based upon an output from the image capturing unit;

a reproduction control unit that implements control to reproduce the display data stored in the internal storage unit at the image display unit; and

a decision-making unit that makes a decision as to whether or not there are raw data corresponding to the reproduced display data.

173. A digital camera according to claim 172, wherein:

results of the decision made by the decision-making unit are displayed in relation to a reproduction of the display image.

174. An image reproduction apparatus comprising:

a loading unit at which a detachable storage medium is loaded;

an image display unit;

a display data creation unit that creates display data for display at the image display unit based upon raw data which are provided from an image capturing unit of a digital camera and are stored in the detachable storage medium loaded at the loading unit; and

a reproduction control unit that implements control to reproduce the display data at the image display unit.

175. An image reproduction apparatus according to claim 174, further comprising;

an internal storage unit in which the display data and identification information used to identify a detachable storage medium having stored therein corresponding raw data are stored in relation to each other.

176. A digital camera, comprising:

an image reproduction apparatus according to claim 174 or claim 175.

178. A digital camera comprising:

an image capturing unit;

a storage unit in which raw data provided by the image capturing unit are stored;

a holding unit in which a processing program to be used to process the raw data is held; and

an output unit that outputs the raw data from the storage unit and the processing program from the holding unit.

179. A digital camera according to claim 178, further comprising:

a recording unit that records a recipient to which the processing program has been output, wherein;

the output unit does not output the processing program to the recipients recorded at the recording unit.

180. A digital camera according to claim 178 or claim 179, further comprising:

a lossless compression unit that compresses the raw data with lossless, wherein;

the output unit outputs raw data having been compressed with lossless by the lossless compression unit.

188. A digital camera according to any of claims 178 through 187, wherein:

the processing program includes an interpolation program for generating digital image signals by interpolating the raw data.

189. A digital camera according to any of claims 178 through 188, wherein:

the processing program includes a decompression program for decompressing data having undergone lossless compression.

190. A digital camera according to any of claims 178 through 189, wherein:

the processing program includes a digital image file creation program.

191. A digital camera according to claim 190, wherein:

the digital image file creation program provides image data as digital data to a file creation program that creates a digital data file by attaching file information to the digital data and also provides management information related to an image originating from the digital camera as the file information to the file creation program.

181. A digital camera comprising:

an image capturing unit;

a loading unit at which a detachable storage medium is loaded;

a holding unit that holds a processing program to be used to process the raw data; and

a storage control unit that implements control to store the raw data from the image capturing unit and the processing program from the holding unit into the storage medium via the loading unit.

182. A digital camera according to claim 181, further comprising:

a decision-making unit that makes a decision as to whether or not the processing program has been stored into the storage medium, wherein;

the storage control unit implements control so that the processing program is not stored into a storage medium having already stored therein the processing program based upon the decision made by the decision-making unit.

183. A digital camera according to claim 181 or claim 182, further comprising:

a lossless compression unit that compresses the raw data with lossless, wherein;

the storage control unit implements control to store raw data having been compressed with lossless by the reversible compression unit into the storage medium.

184. A digital camera comprising:

an image capturing unit;

a storage unit in which raw data provided by the image capturing unit are stored; and

a file creation unit that creates a file containing both the raw data from the storage unit and a processing program to be used to process the raw data.

185. A digital camera according to claim 184, wherein:

the file creation unit creates the file so that the processing program is automatically executed when the file is opened.

186. A digital camera according to claim 184 or claim 185, further comprising:

an output unit that outputs the file.

187. A digital camera according to any of claims 184 through 186, further comprising:

a loading unit at which a detachable storage medium is loaded; and

a storage control unit that implements control to store the file into the storage medium via the loading unit.

192. A digital image file creation apparatus comprising:

an input unit to which image data and image management information are input from a digital camera;

a file creation unit that creates a digital data file by attaching file information to the digital data; and

a data providing unit that provides the image data input via the input unit to the file creation unit as digital data and provides the management information as file information to the file creation unit.

193. A digital image file creation apparatus according to claim 192, wherein:

the management information includes photographing date information indicating the date on which the image data were photographed;

the file information includes file creation date information; and

the data providing unit provides the photographing date information to the file creation unit as the file creation date information.

194. A digital image file creation apparatus according to claim 192 or claim 193, wherein:

the management information includes photographer information indicating a photographer who photographed the image data;

the file information includes file creator information; and

the data providing unit provides the photographer information to the file creation unit as the file creator information.

195. A digital image file creation apparatus according to any of claims 192 through 194, wherein:

the management information includes title information indicating a title of the image data

the file information includes file name information; and

the data providing unit provides the title information to the file creation unit as the file name information.

196. A digital image file creation apparatus according to any of claims 192 through 195, wherein:

the image data are raw data provided by an image capturing unit of the digital camera;

a processing program to be used to process the raw data is input from the digital camera to the input unit; and

the data providing unit processes the raw data by using the processing program and provides the processed raw data to the file creation unit.

197. A program that enables a computer to achieve a function according to any of claims 192 through 196.

198. A digital camera comprising:

an image-capturing unit;

an output unit that outputs to the outside image data obtained based upon an output from the image-capturing unit;

an image display unit;

a display data creation unit that creates display data for display at the image display unit in correspondence to image data output to the outside;

an operating unit; and

a processing unit that reflects an operation executed at the operating unit on the display data displayed at the display unit on corresponding image data output to the outside.

199. A digital camera according to claim 198, further comprising:

a storage unit in which the display data are stored even after the image data are output to the outside.

200. The digital camera according to claim 198 or claim 199, wherein:

the processing unit processes image data to be output to the outside in correspondence to an operation at the operating unit performed with regard to the display data displayed at the display unit.

201. A digital camera according to claim 198 or claim 199, wherein:

the processing unit outputs to the outside information needed to process the image data in correspondence to an operation of the operating unit performed with regard to the display data displayed at the display units in relation to the image data via the output unit.

202. A digital camera according to any of claims 198 through 201, wherein:

the operation at the operating unit is an edit operation on the image data.

203. A digital camera according to the any of claims 198 through 202, wherein:

through the operation at the operating unit, an instruction for recording the image data is issued.

204. A digital camera according to any of claims 198 through 203, wherein:

the image data output to the outside are raw data provided by the image capturing unit.

205. A digital camera according to any of claims 198 through 204, wherein:

the output unit is a loading unit at which a detachable storage medium is loaded; and

the image data are output to the outside as the image data are stored into the detachable storage medium loaded at the loading unit.

206. A digital camera according to any of claims 198 through 205, wherein:

the display data creation unit modifies the display data based upon an operation at the operating unit performed with regard to the display data displayed at the display unit.

228. A program that achieves a function according to any of claims 198 through 227.

207. A digital camera comprising:

an image-capturing unit;

an output unit that outputs to the outside image data obtained based upon an output from the image-capturing unit;

an instruction unit that issues an instruction with regard to image data to be output to the outside;

an image display unit; and

a display data creation unit that creates display data for display at the image display unit while preventing any degradation of the image quality attributable to the instruction issued through the instruction unit with regard to the image data output to the outside.

208. A digital camera according to claim 207, wherein:

the display data creation unit creates the display data by reducing the number of pixels constituting the image data.

209. A digital camera according to claim 208, wherein:

if the instruction issued by the instruction unit indicates a reduction in the number of pixels constituting the image data, the display data creation unit creates the display data from the image data by lowering an extent to which the number of pixels constituting the image data is reduced.

210. A digital camera according to claim 209, wherein:

the instruction issued by the instruction unit indicates that only a portion of an image area corresponding to the image data is to be used.

211. A digital camera according to claim 210, wherein:

the instruction indicating that a portion of the image area corresponding to the image data is to be used is issued by the instruction unit to achieve a simulated telephoto effect by cutting out a portion of the image and enlarging the portion.

212. A digital camera according to claim 210, wherein:

the instruction indicating that a portion of the image area corresponding to the image data is to be used is issued by the instruction unit to trim a portion of the image.

213. A digital camera according to claim 209, wherein:

the instruction issued by the instruction unit indicates that the image data are to be recorded outside with a smaller number of recording pixels.

214. A digital camera according to any of claims 207 through 213, wherein:

the image data output to the outside are raw data provided by the image capturing unit.

215. A digital camera according to any of claims 207 through 214, wherein:

the output unit is a loading unit at which a detachable storage medium is loaded; and

the image data are output to the outside as the image data are stored into the detachable storage medium loaded at the loading unit.

216. A digital image reproduction apparatus, comprising:

a storage unit in which image data are stored;

an image display unit;

a display data creation unit that creates display data for display at the image display unit in correspondence to the image data in the storage unit;

an operating unit; and

a processing unit that reflects an operation at the operating unit performed with regard to the display data displayed at the display unit in the data stored in the storage unit.

217. The digital image reproduction apparatus according to claim 216, wherein:

the processing unit processes the image data in the storage unit in correspondence to an operation at the operating unit performed with regard to the display data displayed at the display unit.

218. A digital image reproduction apparatus according to claim 216, wherein:

the processing unit stores into the storage unit information needed to process the image data in correspondence to an operation at the operating unit performed with regard to the display data displayed at the display unit in relation to the image data.

219. A digital image reproduction apparatus according to any of claims 216 through 218, wherein:

the operation at the operating unit is an edit operation on the image data.

220. A digital image reproduction apparatus according to any of claims 216 through 219, further comprising:

a loading unit, wherein;

the storage unit is a detachable storage medium loaded at the loading unit.

221. A digital image reproduction apparatus according to any of claims 216 through 220, wherein:

the display data creation unit modifies the display data in conformance to an operation at the operating unit performed with regard to the display data displayed at the display unit.

222. A digital image reproduction apparatus comprising:

a storage unit in which image data are stored;

an instruction unit that issues an instruction with regard to image data in the storage unit;

an image display unit; and

a display data creation unit that creates display data for display at the image display unit based upon the image data while preventing any degradation of image quality attributable to the instruction issued through the instruction unit.

223. A digital image reproduction apparatus according to claim 222, wherein:

the display data creation unit creates the display data by reducing the number of pixels constituting the image data.

224. A digital image reproduction apparatus according to claim 223, wherein:

if the instruction issued by the instruction unit indicates a reduction in the number of pixels constituting the image data, the display data creation unit creates the display data from the image data by lowering an extent to which the number of pixels constituting the image data is reduced.

225. A digital image reproduction apparatus according to claim 224, wherein:

the instruction issued by the instruction unit indicates that only a portion of an entire image area corresponding to the image data is to be used.

226. A digital image reproduction apparatus according to claim 224, wherein:

the instruction issued by the instruction unit indicates that the image data are to be recorded with a smaller number of recording pixels.

227. A digital image reproduction apparatus according to any of claims 222 through 226, further comprising:

a loading unit, wherein;

the storage unit is a detachable storage medium loaded at the loading unit.