Photographing apparatus and photographing method

Abstract

An image of a subject is focused on an image pickup device through a zoom lens and a diaphragm. The image focused on the image pickup device is photoelectrically converted into an electric signal. The electric signal as a picture signal is supplied to an amplifying circuit. The amplifying circuit amplifies the supplied picture signal. The amplified picture signal is digitized by an A/D converter. The digitized picture signal is supplied to a signal processing circuit. The signal processing circuit performs a clamping process, a color signal process, a luminance signal process, and other processes for such as a contour compensation, a defect compensation, and a white balance compensation. A camera CPU controls the zoom lens through a lens driving circuit, controls the image pickup device through a timing generating circuit, and controls an auxiliary lighting portion 7. A signal received from an operating portion is supplied to the camera CPU.

1 . A photographing apparatus, comprising: 
 auxiliary lighting means for lighting a subject;    photographing means for photographing the subject;    a zoom lens portion for varying the amount of light entered into the photographing means corresponding to a focal distance of the zoom lens portion; and    amplifying means for amplifying a picture signal which is output from the photographing means with an amplification factor which has been set,    wherein when the subject is photographed with the auxiliary lighting means, a setting of the amplification factor of the amplifying means is changed corresponding to the focal distance.    
     
     
         2 . The photographing apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , 
 wherein the zoom lens portion is replaceable.    
     
     
         3 . The photographing apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 photometry means for measuring brightness of the subject,    wherein when the brightness measured by the photometry means is higher than a predetermined value, a setting of the amplification factor is not changed.    
     
     
         4 . The photographing apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 distance measuring means for measuring a distance to the subject,    wherein when the distance measured by the distance measuring means is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value, a setting of the amplification factor is not changed.    
     
     
         5 . The photographing apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 photometry means for measuring brightness of the subject; and    distance measuring means for measuring a distance to the subject,    wherein when the brightness measured by the photometry means is higher than a predetermined value and when the distance measured by the distance measuring means is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value, a setting of the amplification factor is not performed.    
     
     
         6 . The photographing apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , 
 wherein an upper limit of the amplification factor is set.    
     
     
         7 . A photographing method, comprising the steps of: 
 causing lighting means to light a subject;    causing photographing means to photograph the subject;    amplifying a picture signal of the photographed subject with an amplification factor which has been set because an amount of light which enters the photographing means of a zoom lens portion is varied corresponding to a focal distance of the zoom lens portion; and    changing a setting of the amplification factor corresponding to the focal distance.    
     
     
         8 . The photographing method as set forth in  claim 7 , further comprising the steps of: 
 measuring brightness of the subject, and when the measured brightness is higher than a predetermined value, causing a setting of the amplification factor not to be changed.    
     
     
         9 . The photographing method as set forth in  claim 7 , further comprising the steps of: 
 measuring a distance to the subject, and    when the measured distance is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value, causing a setting of the amplification factor not to be changed.    
     
     
         10 . The photographing method as set forth in  claim 7 , further comprising the steps of: 
 measuring brightness of the subject;    measuring a distance to the subject; and    when the measured brightness is higher than a predetermined value and when the measured distance is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value, causing a setting of the amplification factor not to be changed.    
     
     
         11 . The photographing method as set forth in  claim 7 , 
 wherein an upper limit of the amplification factor is set.