JP4942010B2 - Camera with digital zoom function - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a camera with a digital zoom function capable of displaying the degree of image quality of a recorded image when taking an image.

  Conventionally, there has been a camera with a digital zoom function provided with a digital zoom function (electronic zoom function) instead of or in addition to the optical zoom function. The image enlarging process by the digital zoom function is different from the process of obtaining an enlarged optical image such as the optical zoom function, and after the optical image is converted into an electrical signal by an image sensor such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device). A part of the image is cut out and enlarged.

  Therefore, when the digital zoom function is used, only a part of the pixels of the image sensor is effectively used. Therefore, as the zoom magnification is increased, the number of pixels of the image decreases and the image quality decreases. Will deteriorate.

Conventionally, when a digital zoom function is used, there has been a camera with a digital zoom function in which a zoom magnification by the digital zoom function is displayed on a display screen such as an LCD (liquid crystal display) that functions as a viewfinder. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1). For this reason, in this camera with a digital zoom function, the user can check the zoom magnification of the digital zoom function.
JP-A-5-260353

  However, in the camera with a digital zoom function as in Patent Document 1, even if the zoom magnification of the digital zoom function can be confirmed, the user can quantitatively and intuitively recognize the image quality of the image to be captured. There was a problem that could not be done.

  For example, in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, the zoom magnification of the digital zoom is displayed when the digital zoom function is operating. However, a user who uses the digital zoom function camera for the first time takes an image only by displaying the zoom magnification. The quality of the recorded image cannot be recognized quantitatively and intuitively. Experience with digital zoom many times, and based on that experience, the image quality can be recognized to some extent from the digital zoom zoom magnification display, but based on experience, the image quality cannot be recognized quantitatively and intuitively. .

  Further, in the case of a camera with a digital zoom function that has a file size setting function that can arbitrarily set the file size of the recorded image by changing the compression rate at the time of creating the image file, this compression rate is increased ( The image quality of the recorded image is also degraded by reducing the file size. In other words, the image quality of the recorded image changes according to the file size and the digital zoom magnification. Therefore, since the degree of image quality changes depending on the file size even with the same digital zoom magnification, even if the digital zoom magnification is displayed as in Patent Document 1, it is difficult to recognize the image quality quantitatively and intuitively. .

  Accordingly, in view of the above problems, the present invention provides a camera with a digital zoom function that can quantitatively and intuitively recognize the quality of an image to be captured and recorded. It is what.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention
Imaging means;
Digital zoom processing means for performing digital zoom processing on an image to be captured;
Image recording means for recording an image;
An image quality degree setting unit that sets a file size of an image that is stored when the digital zoom process is not performed and is stored in the image recording unit;
When the file size set by the image quality level setting unit is changed while the digital zoom process is being performed, the image recording unit uses the changed file size and the zoom magnification of the digital zoom process to the image recording unit. Image quality degree calculating means for calculating the file size of the recorded image;
Image quality level display means for displaying information indicating the calculated file size ;
Is provided.

In addition, the camera with a digital zoom function according to the present invention is
The image quality level display means may display the file size calculated by the image quality level calculation means as one of a plurality of preset classes.

In addition, the camera with a digital zoom function according to the present invention is
The image quality degree calculating means calculates the file size when the digital zoom process is performed as a ratio to the file size of the image stored when the digital zoom process is not performed,
The image quality level display means may display the ratio calculated by the image quality level calculation means.

In addition, the camera with a digital zoom function according to the present invention is
When the digital zoom processing is performed, may be adapted to include a larger area range display means for indicating an area range to be enlarged by digital zoom processing on the image that will be captured by the imaging means.

  In the camera with a digital zoom function according to the present invention, the image quality level display means displays the image quality level of the recorded image when the digital zoom process is performed, and the image quality level of the recorded image when the digital zoom process is not performed. The display may be performed in a mode different from the mode.

  Further, in the camera with a digital zoom function according to the present invention, the image quality level display means indicates the image quality level of the recorded image when the digital zoom process is performed, and the image quality level of the recorded image when the digital zoom process is not performed. It may be displayed in a different color or size.

  In the camera with a digital zoom function according to the present invention, the image quality level display means sets the image quality level of the recorded image when the digital zoom process is performed to a position different from the image quality level when the digital zoom process is not performed. It may be displayed.

  Further, in the camera with a digital zoom function according to the present invention, the image quality level display means displays the image quality level when the digital zoom process is not performed together with the image quality level of the recorded image when the digital zoom process is performed. It may be like this.

In addition, the camera with a digital zoom function according to the present invention is
The image quality level calculation means calculates the image quality level when the digital zoom process is performed as a ratio to the image quality level when the digital zoom process is not performed,
The image quality level display means may display the image quality level of the recorded image as a ratio to the image quality level when the digital zoom process is not performed.

In addition, the camera with a digital zoom function according to the present invention is
An image quality level setting means for setting the image quality level when the digital zoom processing is not performed;
The image quality level display means may display the image quality level set by the image quality level setting means as the image quality level when the digital zoom process is not performed.

In addition, the camera with a digital zoom function according to the present invention is
A magnification calculating means for calculating a zoom magnification of the digital zoom processing;
A magnification display means for displaying the calculated zoom magnification may be provided.

  The digital zoom function-equipped camera according to the present invention further includes an enlarged area range display unit that indicates an area range that is enlarged by the digital zoom process with respect to an image captured by the imaging unit when the digital zoom process is performed. It may be like this.

  According to such a camera with a digital zoom function of the present invention, it is possible to quantitatively and intuitively recognize how much the image quality of an image to be captured and recorded is.

Embodiments of a camera with a digital zoom function according to the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.
FIGS. 1 to 4 are diagrams which are referred to for describing the camera 2 with a digital zoom function according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The camera 2 with a digital zoom function according to the present embodiment has a zoom function, and this zoom function includes an optical zoom function and a digital zoom function, as in the conventional camera with a digital zoom function.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a camera 2 with a digital zoom function according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the camera 2 with a digital zoom function includes an image pickup means 4, an operation means 6, an image recording means 8, a display means 10, and a control means 12 for controlling them.

  The control unit 12 includes an image processing unit 14 and an image quality degree calculation unit 16, and the image processing unit 14 includes a zoom processing unit 15 including an optical zoom processing unit 18 and a digital zoom processing unit 20. .

  Although not shown, the image pickup means 4 has an image pickup device such as a CCD as in a conventional general camera with a digital zoom function. Further, under the control of the optical zoom processing means 18, the imaging means 4 performs an optical zoom process for changing the optical zoom magnification by moving the position of a lens (not shown).

  The operation means 6 includes a shutter switch 6a, a zoom switch 6b, a digital zoom setting switch 6c, and the like. The zoom switch 6b is used when the zoom function of the zoom processing unit 15 is activated, and the zoom processing unit 15 performs zoom processing according to the zoom magnification set by the zoom switch 6b. The digital zoom setting switch 6c is configured to be able to set the stop of the digital zoom function by the digital zoom processing means 20 of the zoom processing means 15 and the restriction of the digital zoom magnification.

  When the zoom operation is performed by the zoom switch 6b, the zoom processing unit 15 only applies the optical zoom processing unit 18 when the zoom magnification set by the zoom switch 6b is less than or equal to the maximum zoom magnification of the optical zoom function. To start optical zoom processing. When the digital zoom is permitted by the digital zoom setting switch 6c and the zoom magnification of the zoom switch 6b is larger than the maximum zoom magnification of the optical zoom function, the digital zoom processing means 20 is activated to perform digital zoom processing. This digital zoom processing is performed by cutting out and enlarging a part of an image of an electrical signal obtained by digitally processing an image output from the image pickup means 4 with a CCD or the like.

  Further, the image processing means 14 has an image conversion means 17, and the image conversion means 17 is an image in a format that allows the image data obtained through the imaging means 4 and the zoom processing means 15 to be viewed on a PC (personal computer) or the like. Convert to file.

  The image recording means 8 writes and records the image processed by the image processing means 14 in a storage device such as a built-in memory or a memory card. When the digital zoom processing by the digital zoom processing unit 20 is not performed, the image recording unit 8 records one captured image with the number of pixels of 5M (mega) pixels, and the digital zoom processing is performed. In such a case, an enlarged image is recorded by cutting out a part of the image in accordance with the digital zoom magnification.

  Further, the image quality level calculation means 16 calculates the image quality level of a recorded image that is digital zoom processed by the digital zoom processing means 20 and recorded in the image recording means 8. The image quality degree in the present embodiment is the total number of pixels or the number of vertical and horizontal pixels of an image, and is calculated based on the digital zoom magnification. For example, when the total number of pixels set during non-digital zoom is set to 5M (mega) and the digital zoom magnification is doubled, the image quality (total number of pixels) of the image recorded during this digital zoom is 1.25M ( = 5M / 2/2). This image quality degree is displayed by the number of pixels of the recorded image recorded in the image recording means 8.

  Further, the display means 10 functions as a finder during imaging by the imaging means 4 as in a conventional general camera with a digital zoom function. The display unit 10 also serves as an image quality level display unit and an enlarged region range display unit.

  In other words, the display means 10 displays the image quality level calculated by the image quality level calculation means 16 as the image quality level display means when the digital zoom processing means 20 is performing the digital zoom process.

  In addition, when the digital zoom process is being performed, the display unit 10 functions as an enlarged region range display unit, and is enlarged by the digital zoom process and recorded in the recording unit 8 as an enlarged area range display unit. A frame 22 (see FIG. 4) indicating the boundary between the range to be displayed and the range other than the range to be enlarged is displayed.

  Next, the processing operation of the control unit 12 when displaying the image quality level on the display unit 10 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.

  After the imaging unit 4 is activated, the control unit 12 determines whether or not the digital zoom setting switch 6c of the operation unit 6 is turned on (step S101). When the digital zoom setting switch 6c is OFF, that is, when digital zoom by the digital zoom processing unit 20 is prohibited (NO in step S101), the control unit 12 displays the image quality level of the recorded image on the display unit 10. The processing operation is not performed.

  When the digital zoom setting switch 6c is turned on, that is, when digital zoom by the digital zoom processing unit 20 is permitted (YES in step S101), the control unit 12 includes the digital zoom processing unit 20 of the image processing unit 14. Is actually performing digital zoom processing (step S102).

  When the digital zoom processing unit 20 does not actually perform the digital zoom process (NO in step S102), the control unit 12 does not perform the processing operation for displaying the image quality level of the recorded image on the display unit 10. ing.

  When the digital zoom processing unit 20 is actually performing the digital zoom process (YES in step S102), the control unit 12 causes the image quality level calculation unit 16 to calculate the image quality level (step S103). Is displayed on the display means 10 (step S104).

  3 and 4 are diagrams showing a state in which the automobile as the subject is displayed on the display means 10 functioning as a viewfinder. When the digital zoom processing means 20 does not perform digital zoom processing as in the case of NO in step S101 and NO in step S102, the display means 10 of the camera 2 with a digital zoom function has an image quality as shown in FIG. The degree is not displayed.

  When the digital zoom processing means 20 is performing digital zoom processing (YES in step S102 in FIG. 2), the display means 10 operates as an image quality degree display means as shown in FIG. The image quality level at the time of digital zoom such as “3M (mega)” is displayed at the corner of the screen.

  When the digital zoom process is being performed, the display unit 10 performs an operation as an enlarged region range display unit, and the image captured by the imaging unit 4 is enlarged by the digital zoom process and recorded in the recording unit 8. A frame 22 indicating the boundary between the range to be displayed and the range other than the range to be enlarged is displayed.

  According to the digital zoom function-equipped camera 2 according to the present embodiment as described above, the display unit 10 displays the degree of image quality of the recorded image recorded in the image recording unit 8 during the digital zoom. The image quality of an image actually captured and recorded can be recognized quantitatively and intuitively.

  Next, a camera 30 with a digital zoom function according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The same parts as those of the camera 2 with the digital zoom function according to the first embodiment will be described with the same reference numerals, and overlapping description of the same configuration will be omitted.

  The camera 30 with a digital zoom function according to the present embodiment is provided with a magnification calculation means 32 in the control means 12 in addition to the camera 2 with a digital zoom function according to the first embodiment. The magnification calculator 32 calculates the magnification of the optical zoom by the optical zoom processor 18 and the magnification of the digital zoom by the digital zoom processor 20.

  Similarly to the first embodiment, the display unit 10 also serves as an image degree display unit, and a magnification display unit that displays the magnifications of the optical zoom and the digital zoom calculated by the magnification calculation unit 32. Also serves.

  Further, the control means 12 is configured to perform substantially the same processing operation as the flowchart for the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2, but the digital zoom processing means 20 does not perform the digital zoom processing (FIG. 2). In step S101, step S101 and step S102), the control unit 12 causes the display unit 10 to operate as a magnification display unit, and as shown in FIG. Only the zoom magnification is displayed.

  When the digital zoom processing unit 20 is performing digital zoom processing (YES in step S102), the control unit 12 causes the display unit 10 to display an image enlarged by the digital zoom processing, as shown in FIG. It is like that.

  In addition, the control unit 12 causes the display unit 10 to operate as a magnification display unit and an image quality level display unit, and displays the zoom magnification and the image quality level in the upper right corner view. In FIG. 7, the zoom magnification is displayed in the form of multiplication of optical zoom and digital zoom.

  According to the digital zoom function-equipped camera 30 according to the present embodiment, since the image quality degree is displayed in the display means 10 as in the first embodiment, the image is captured. It is possible to recognize quantitatively and intuitively how much the image quality of the recorded image is.

  Further, since the respective magnifications of the optical zoom and the digital zoom are displayed on the display means 10, it is attempted to take an image while comparing the magnifications of the optical zoom and the digital zoom and the image quality degree. The composition of the image can be determined.

  Next, a camera 40 with a digital zoom function according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 8, in the camera 40 with a digital zoom function according to the present embodiment, the operation means 6 adds an image quality setting switch 6d to the camera 2 with the digital zoom function according to the first embodiment. In addition, the control means 12 additionally has an image quality level setting means 42.

The image quality setting switch 6d is an operation for changing the image compression rate when the image conversion unit 17 creates (converts) the image file recorded by the image recording unit 8 and arbitrarily selects the file size of the image file. Means. When the file size of the image file is changed, the image quality level of the recorded image also changes. Therefore, the image quality level of the recorded image can be arbitrarily selected by the image quality setting switch 6d. Then, the image quality level setting means 42 sets the file size of the image file according to the image quality level (file size) set by the image quality setting switch 6d. The image conversion means 17 sets the image compression rate of the image file according to the file size set by the image quality level setting means 42 and performs image compression processing. The image file compressed by the image conversion means 17 is converted into an image. Recorded in the recording means 8.

  In this manner, the image quality setting switch 6d and the image quality level setting means 42 can arbitrarily change the image quality level (file size) of the recorded image recorded in the image recording means 8.

  That is, the control unit 12 initially records the captured image on the image recording unit 8 with the number of pixels of 5M pixels when the digital zoom processing unit 20 does not perform the digital zoom processing. The image quality level (file size) can be changed by the image quality level setting means 42 based on the operation of the image quality setting switch 6d.

  For example, the image quality level (file size) of the image recorded in the image recording means 8 when such digital zoom processing is not performed may be changed from the original 5M pixel image quality level (file size). it can.

  As in the first embodiment, when the digital zoom function is in operation, the image quality level of the recorded image changes depending on the digital zoom magnification. Therefore, in the camera 40 with the digital zoom function in the present embodiment, The image quality level of the recorded image changes in accordance with the file size selected by the image quality setting switch 6d and the digital zoom magnification.

  The image quality level calculation means 16 calculates the image quality level of the recorded image not only according to the digital zoom magnification but also according to the image quality level (file size) set by the image quality setting switch 6d.

  Next, the processing operation and the like of the control means 12 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. The control means 12 performs substantially the same processing operations as the steps S101 to S104 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 2 according to the first embodiment in each of the steps S201 to S204.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the control means 12 determines whether or not the image quality degree setting means 42 has changed the image quality level when the digital zoom processing means 20 does not perform the digital zoom process in step S200 immediately before step S201. That is, the current image quality level is confirmed.

  Further, when the digital zoom processing unit 20 does not perform the digital zoom processing (NO in step S201 and NO in step S202 in FIG. 9), the control unit 12 causes the display unit 10 to perform an operation as the image quality level display unit. Thus, as shown in FIG. 10, the image quality level confirmed in step S200 is displayed in the upper right corner (step S205 in FIG. 9).

  When the digital zoom processing unit 20 is performing digital zoom processing (YES in step S202), the control unit 12 causes the display unit 10 to display an image enlarged by the digital zoom processing, as shown in FIG. It is like that.

  Further, the control means 12 causes the display means 10 to operate as the image quality degree display means so that the image quality degree calculated by the image quality degree calculation means 16 in step S203 is displayed at the upper right corner. (Step S204).

  Further, the control means 12 displays the image quality level (in FIG. 10) displayed when the digital zoom process for displaying the character of the image quality level (in FIG. 11, “3M”) displayed in step S204 is not performed. , “4M”), the color, size, font, display position, and the like are different.

  According to the digital zoom function-equipped camera 40 according to the present embodiment as described above, the image quality degree is displayed in the display means 10 as in the first and second embodiments. It is possible to recognize quantitatively and intuitively how much the image quality of an image to be captured and recorded is.

  Further, the characters of the image quality displayed in the display means 10 can be made to have different colors, sizes, fonts, display positions, etc. depending on whether the digital zoom processing means 20 is performing digital zoom processing. Therefore, it is possible to immediately recognize whether the digital zoom process is being performed.

  Next, a camera 50 with a digital zoom function according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the digital zoom function-equipped camera 50 according to the present embodiment has a circuit configuration similar to that of the digital zoom function-equipped camera 40 according to the third embodiment.

  Further, the control unit 12 of the digital zoom function-equipped camera 50 according to the present embodiment is configured to perform the same processing operation in steps other than step S204 in the flowchart shown in FIG.

  Then, the control means 12 displays only the image quality degree calculated by the image quality degree calculation means 16 in the display means 10 as in the third embodiment in step S204 of the flowchart shown in FIG. Instead, the character of the image quality level when the digital zoom process is not performed and the character of the image quality level of the recorded image at the time of the digital zoom process calculated by the image quality level calculation unit 16 are respectively displayed in the upper right corner in the display unit 10. Are arranged in the vertical direction so that their colors, sizes, and fonts are different from each other.

  Therefore, for example, in the case where the image quality level setting means 42 shown in FIG. 8 is not changed with respect to the image quality level when the digital zoom processing is not performed, and is left as 5 M pixels, FIG. In step S205, a character having an image quality level of “5M” is displayed in the upper right corner of the display means 10 as shown in FIG.

  If, for example, the image quality level calculation means 16 calculates the image quality level as “3M” in step S203 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 9, the digital zoom process is not performed in the next step S204 as shown in FIG. The character of “5M” image quality degree and the character of “3M” image quality degree calculated by the image quality degree calculation means 16 are arranged in the upper right corner in the display means 10 in the vertical direction, and their color and size In addition, the characters are displayed so that the fonts are different from each other.

  According to the digital zoom function-equipped camera 50 according to the present embodiment as described above, since the image quality degree is displayed in the display means 10 as in the first to third embodiments, It is possible to recognize quantitatively and intuitively how much the image quality of an image to be captured and recorded is.

  In addition, when the digital zoom processing means 20 is performing digital zoom processing, it is different from the characters of the image quality degree displayed when the digital zoom processing is not performed in the color, size, font, and display position. Since characters of image quality level are displayed, it is possible to immediately recognize whether or not digital zoom processing is being performed.

  In addition, since these characters with the image quality level are displayed side by side in the vertical direction, it is easy to compare, so that it is easier to understand how much the image quality of the image captured and recorded deteriorates. Be able to.

  Next, a camera 60 with a digital zoom function according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In the cameras 2, 30, 40, 50 with digital zoom function according to the first to fourth embodiments, the display means 10 also serves as image quality degree display means. However, the camera with digital zoom function according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 14, 60 includes image quality degree display means 62 that is separate from the display means 10.

  As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the image quality level display means 62 includes a plurality of LEDs (light emitting diodes). Each of the plurality of LEDs of the image quality degree display means 62 corresponds to the image quality degrees (number of pixels) of “5M”, “4M”, and “3M” pixels, and the control means 12 records in the image recording means 8. The image quality degree of the image to be displayed is displayed by emitting any one of the plurality of LEDs of the image quality degree display means 62 in accordance with, for example, a value obtained by rounding off.

  For example, in the case where the image quality level setting means 42 shown in FIG. 8 is not changed with respect to the image quality level when the digital zoom process is not performed and is left at 5 M pixels, the steps in FIG. 9 are performed. In S205, as shown in FIG. 15, the control unit 12 causes the LED corresponding to the image quality level of “5M” on the image quality level display unit 62 to emit light.

  Further, instead of the processing operation of step S204 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 9, the control means 12 calculates the image quality degree of “5M” when the digital zoom process is not performed as shown in FIG. 16, and the image quality degree in step S203. The LEDs of the image quality level display means 62 corresponding to the image quality levels of “3M” calculated by the means 16 are made to emit light in different colors.

  According to the digital zoom function-equipped camera 50 according to the present embodiment as described above, the image quality level display means 62 emits and displays any one of the LEDs corresponding to the image quality level. It is possible to recognize quantitatively and intuitively how much the quality of the image to be displayed is.

  Similarly to the fourth embodiment, the image quality level display means 62 corresponding to the image quality level of the image subjected to the digital zoom process by the digital zoom process unit 20 and the image quality level when the digital zoom process is not performed. Since the LED is made to emit light for display, it is easy to compare them, so that it can be made easier to understand how much the image quality of the image captured and recorded deteriorates. It has become.

  Next, a camera 70 with a digital zoom function according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the camera 70 with a digital zoom function according to the present embodiment has a circuit configuration similar to that of the camera 40 with a digital zoom function according to the third embodiment.

  In addition, the control unit 12 of the digital zoom function-equipped camera 70 according to the present embodiment performs the same processing in other steps except the steps S203 and S204 in the flowchart according to the third embodiment shown in FIG. The operation is to be performed.

  Then, the control unit 12 calculates the image quality level when the digital zoom process is performed as a ratio with respect to the image quality level when the digital zoom process is not performed, instead of the processing operation of step S203. It is supposed to be.

  Further, instead of the processing operation of step S204, the control unit 12 displays the image quality level when the digital zoom process is not performed and the new image quality level calculated by the image quality level calculation unit 16 as a ratio of the image quality level. As shown in FIG. 17, the display means 10 is arranged in the upper right corner in the vertical direction so that the color, size, and font are displayed differently.

  According to the digital zoom function-equipped camera 50 according to the present embodiment as described above, the image quality degree is displayed in the display means 10 as in the first to fourth embodiments. It is possible to recognize quantitatively and intuitively how much the image quality of an image to be captured and recorded is.

  Similarly to the fourth embodiment, when the digital zoom processing means 20 is performing digital zoom processing, the character of the image quality level displayed when the digital zoom processing is not performed is its color and size. Since characters having different image quality levels with different fonts and display positions are displayed, it is possible to immediately recognize whether or not digital zoom processing is being performed.

  When the digital zoom process is performed, the image quality level at this time is calculated and displayed as a ratio to the image quality level when the digital zoom process is not performed. However, it is possible to make it easier to understand how much.

  Next, a camera 70 with a digital zoom function according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  The digital zoom function-equipped camera 80 according to the present embodiment is configured in the same manner as the digital zoom function-equipped camera 70 according to the sixth embodiment and performs almost the same processing operation. As shown in FIG. 18, the degree of image quality is displayed in the form of an indicator.

  According to the digital zoom function-equipped camera 80 according to the present embodiment, the image quality level is displayed on the display means 10 as in the first to fourth and sixth embodiments. Therefore, it is possible to recognize quantitatively and intuitively how much the image quality of the image captured and recorded is.

  Further, when the digital zoom process is performed, the image quality level at this time is calculated as a ratio to the image quality level when the digital zoom process is not performed, and this is displayed in the form of an indicator. Thus, it is possible to make it easier to understand the quality of the image recorded.

  In the first to seventh embodiments, the number of pixels is used as the image quality level. However, a pixel other than the number of pixels may be used as the image quality level.

  In the first to fifth embodiments, the image quality level calculation means 16 calculates the total number of pixels as the image quality level, but the horizontal and vertical directions of the image. Each of the number of pixels in the direction may be calculated. In such a case, the image quality degree can be displayed on the display means 10 in the form of multiplication such as “512 × 384”.

  In the first to seventh embodiments, the image quality level calculation means 16 calculates the number of pixels and the like as the image quality level. You may come to calculate as corresponding to either.

  For example, four grades such as SF (super fine), F (fine), N (normal), and L (low) are set as such grades, and the image quality degree calculation means 16 responds to the number of pixels of the image. Thus, it may be calculated as corresponding to any grade. In such a case, grades such as SF, F, N, and L may be displayed in the display means 10 as the image quality degree.

  Specifically, the image quality level calculation means 16 calculates the image quality level according to the file size (set image quality) selected by the image quality setting switch 6d and the digital zoom magnification, as in the image quality level table shown in FIG. A grade corresponding to the degree of image quality is displayed in the display means 10. The image quality degree table shown in FIG. 19 can be stored in, for example, a storage unit (not shown) connected to the control unit 12 in a circuit.

  In the first to seventh embodiments, each of the cameras with digital zoom function 2, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 has an optical zoom function. The optical zoom function may not be provided. In such a case, in the second embodiment, the magnification calculation unit 32 does not calculate the magnification of the optical zoom, and the display unit 10 as the magnification display unit calculates the magnification of the optical zoom. Needless to say, they are not displayed.

  In the second to seventh embodiments, when the digital zoom processing unit 20 performs the digital zoom process, the display unit 10 displays an image enlarged by the digital zoom process. As in the first embodiment, the display unit 10 may also serve as an enlarged region range display unit.

  In other words, the image before being enlarged by the digital zoom process is displayed on the display unit 10, the range enlarged by the digital zoom process and recorded in the recording unit 8, and the range enlarged and recorded in the recording unit 8. A frame 22 indicating the boundary with the other range may be displayed.

  Further, the display means 10 (enlarged area range display means), instead of displaying such a frame 22, for example, a range enlarged by digital zoom processing and recorded in the recording means 8, and this enlarged and recorded means 8 The brightness of the range other than the range recorded in the above may be made different.

  Although the description of the examples according to the present invention is finished above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, the present invention can be applied to a camera with a digital zoom function such as a digital video camera in addition to a digital still camera.

It is a block diagram which shows the circuit structure of the camera 2 with a digital zoom function which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of the control means 12 in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a rear view which shows the camera 2 with a digital zoom function concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is a figure which shows the state in which the digital zoom process is not performed. It is a rear view which shows the camera 2 with a digital zoom function concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is a figure which shows the state in which the digital zoom process is performed. It is a block diagram which shows the circuit structure of the camera 30 with a digital zoom function which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a rear view which shows the camera 30 with a digital zoom function which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is a figure which shows the state in which the digital zoom process is not performed. It is a rear view which shows the camera 30 with a digital zoom function which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is a figure which shows the state in which the digital zoom process is performed. It is a block diagram which shows the circuit structure of the cameras 40, 50, 70, and 80 with a digital zoom function based on 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of the control means 12 in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a rear view which shows the camera 40 with a digital zoom function which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is a figure which shows the state in which the digital zoom process is not performed. It is a rear view which shows the camera 40 with a digital zoom function which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is a figure which shows the state in which the digital zoom process is performed. It is a rear view which shows the camera 50 with a digital zoom function which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is a figure which shows the state in which the digital zoom process is not performed. It is a rear view which shows the camera 50 with a digital zoom function which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is a figure which shows the state in which the digital zoom process is performed. It is a block diagram which shows the circuit structure of the camera 60 with a digital zoom function which concerns on the 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is a rear view which shows the camera 60 with a digital zoom function which concerns on the 5th Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is a figure which shows the state in which the digital zoom process is not performed. It is a rear view which shows the camera 60 with a digital zoom function which concerns on the 5th Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is a figure which shows the state in which the digital zoom process is performed. It is a rear view which shows the camera 70 with a digital zoom function which concerns on the 6th Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is a figure which shows the state in which the digital zoom process is performed. It is a rear view which shows the camera 80 with a digital zoom function which concerns on the 7th Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is a figure which shows the state in which the digital zoom process is performed. In an embodiment different from the first to seventh embodiments in the present invention, it is a diagram showing an image quality degree table used when the image quality degree calculation means 16 calculates the image quality degree.

Explanation of symbols

2 camera with digital zoom function 4 imaging means 6 operation means 6a shutter switch 6b zoom switch 6c digital zoom setting switch 6d image quality setting switch 8 image recording means 10 display means 12 control means 14 image processing means 15 zoom processing means 16 image quality degree calculation means 17 image Conversion means 18 Optical zoom processing means 20 Camera with digital zoom function 22 Frame 30 Camera with digital zoom function 32 Magnification calculation means 40 Camera with digital zoom function 42 Image quality degree setting means 50, 60 Camera with digital zoom function 62 Image quality degree display means 70, 80 Digital zoom function With camera

Claims (4)

Imaging means;
Digital zoom processing means for performing digital zoom processing on an image to be captured;
Image recording means for recording an image;
An image quality degree setting unit that sets a file size of an image that is stored when the digital zoom process is not performed and is stored in the image recording unit;
When the file size set by the image quality level setting unit is changed while the digital zoom process is being performed, the image recording unit uses the changed file size and the zoom magnification of the digital zoom process to the image recording unit. Image quality degree calculating means for calculating the file size of the recorded image;
Image quality level display means for displaying information indicating the calculated file size ;
A camera with a digital zoom function. 2. The camera with a digital zoom function according to claim 1, wherein the image quality level display means displays the file size calculated by the image quality level calculation means as one of a plurality of preset classes. The image quality degree calculating means calculates the file size when the digital zoom process is performed as a ratio to the file size of the image stored when the digital zoom process is not performed,
2. The camera with a digital zoom function according to claim 1, wherein the image quality level display means displays the ratio calculated by the image quality level calculation means.   4. An enlarged area range display means for indicating an area range to be enlarged by digital zoom processing on an image picked up by the image pickup means when the digital zoom processing is being performed. A camera with a digital zoom function described in any one of the above.

Images