Image sensing apparatus, image sensing method, and recording medium which records photographing method

Abstract

Photographing at a fixed focus is executed by quickly canceling the autofocus without any labor for mode switching or the like. An image sensing apparatus includes a photographing unit which has an autofocus function and photographs an object image, a key input unit including a shutter key which has two operation strokes and designates autofocus and autoexposure by operation of the first stroke and photographing by operation of the second stroke, and a focus control unit which automatically sets a correct exposure value in the photographing unit, detects predetermined operation states of the first and second strokes designated by the shutter key, and switches and selects, on the basis of the detection result, whether to operate the autofocus function or set a fixed-focus position at which a predetermined depth of field is obtained.

1 . An image sensing apparatus comprising: 
 a photographing unit which has an autofocus function and photographs an object image;    an autoexposure unit which automatically sets a correct exposure value in the photographing unit;    a designation unit which has two operation strokes and designates autofocus and autoexposure by an operation of a first stroke and photographing by an operation of a second stroke;    a detection unit which detects predetermined operation states of the first stroke and the second stroke designated by the designation unit; and    a focus control unit which switches and selects, on the basis of a detection result of the detection unit, whether to operate the autofocus function or set a fixed-focus position at which a predetermined depth of field is obtained.    
   
   
       2 . An image sensing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 the detection unit also detects a time from the operation of the first stroke to the operation of the second stroke, and    the focus control unit sets the fixed-focus position when the time detected by the detection unit is not longer than a predetermined time.    
   
   
       3 . An image sensing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 the detection unit also detects a time from power-on of the apparatus to the operation of the first stroke, and    the focus control unit sets the fixed-focus position when the time detected by the detection unit is not longer than a predetermined time.    
   
   
       4 . An image sensing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 the photographing unit starts operation of the autofocus function by the operation of the first stroke of the designation unit, and    the focus control unit sets the fixed-focus position when the operation of the autofocus function has not been completed yet upon detection of the operation of the second stroke of the designation unit by the detection unit.    
   
   
       5 . An image sensing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a focus range determination unit which determines a fixed-focus range containing the object image from a plurality of fixed-focus ranges, 
 the focus control unit selecting the fixed-focus range obtained by the focus range determination unit in switching and selection to the fixed-focus position.    
   
   
       6 . An image sensing apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein 
 the photographing unit has an auto white balance function of performing color temperature adjustment corresponding to a light source, and    the focus range determination unit determines the fixed-focus range containing the object image in accordance with a result of color temperature adjustment by the auto white balance function.    
   
   
       7 . An image sensing apparatus according to  claim 5 , further comprising a notification unit which issues a notification of a result of determining the fixed-focus range containing the object image by the focus range determination unit.  
   
   
       8 . An image sensing apparatus comprising: 
 a photographing unit which has an autofocus function and photographs an object image;    an autoexposure unit which automatically sets a correct exposure value in the photographing unit;    an exposure comparison unit which compares the correct exposure value obtained by the autoexposure unit with a preset exposure value; and    a focus control unit which switches and selects, on the basis of a comparison result of the exposure comparison unit, whether to operate the autofocus function or set a fixed-focus position at which a predetermined depth of field is obtained.    
   
   
       9 . An image sensing apparatus comprising: 
 a photographing unit which photographs an object image and has a multifocal length switching function of switching between at least a plurality of focal lengths and an autofocus function;    a focal length comparison unit which compares a current focal length of the photographing unit with a preset focal length; and    a focus control unit which switches and selects, on the basis of a comparison result of the focal length comparison unit, whether to operate the autofocus function or set a fixed-focus position at which a predetermined depth of field is obtained.    
   
   
       10 . An image sensing apparatus comprising: 
 a photographing unit which has an autofocus function and photographs an object image;    an autoexposure unit which automatically sets a correct exposure value in the photographing unit;    an exposure setting unit which sets an arbitrary exposure value instead of the correct exposure value automatically set by the autoexposure unit;    an exposure detection unit which detects the exposure value when the exposure setting unit sets the exposure value; and    a focus control unit which switches and selects, on the basis of a detection result of the exposure detection unit, whether to operate the autofocus function or set a fixed-focus position at which a predetermined depth of field is obtained.    
   
   
       11 . A photographing method comprising: 
 a photographing control step of adopting an autofocus function and an autoexposure function, and executing autofocus and autoexposure by an operation of a first stroke of a shutter key which operates in two strokes, and photographing by an operation of a second stroke;    a detection step of detecting predetermined operation states of the first stroke and the second stroke designated by the shutter key; and    a focus control step of switching and selecting, on the basis of a detection result in the detection step, whether to operate the autofocus function or set a fixed-focus position at which a predetermined depth of field is obtained.    
   
   
       12 . A photographing method comprising: 
 an exposure comparison step of adopting an autofocus function and an autoexposure function, and comparing a correct exposure value obtained by the autoexposure function with a preset exposure value; and    a focus control step of switching and selecting, on the basis of a comparison result in the exposure comparison step, whether to operate the autofocus function or set a fixed-focus position at which a predetermined depth of field is obtained.    
   
   
       13 . A photographing method comprising: 
 a focal length comparison step of adopting a multifocal length switching function of switching between at least a plurality of focal lengths and an autofocus function, and comparing a current focal length with a preset focal length; and    a focus control step of switching and selecting, on the basis of a comparison result in the focal length comparison step, whether to operate the autofocus function or set a fixed-focus position at which a predetermined depth of field is obtained.    
   
   
       14 . A photographing method comprising: 
 an exposure setting step of adopting an autofocus function and an autoexposure function, and setting an arbitrary exposure value instead of an exposure value obtained by the autoexposure unit;    an exposure detection step of detecting the exposure value when the exposure value is set in the exposure setting step; and    a focus control step of switching and selecting, on the basis of a detection result in the exposure detection step, whether to operate the autofocus function or set a fixed-focus position at which a predetermined depth of field is obtained.    
   
   
       15 . A photographing method according to  claim 11 , further comprising a focus range determination step of determining a fixed-focus range containing an object image from a plurality of fixed-focus ranges, 
 in the focus control step, the fixed-focus range obtained in the focus range determination step being selected in switching and selection to the fixed-focus position.    
   
   
       16 . A recording medium which records 
 a photographing method, comprising: 
 an image sensing control step of adopting an autofocus function and an autoexposure function, and executing autofocus and autoexposure by an operation of a first stroke of a shutter key which operates in two strokes, and photographing by an operation of a second stroke;  
 a detection step of detecting predetermined operation states of the first stroke and the second stroke designated by the shutter key; and  
 a focus control step of switching and selecting, on the basis of a detection result in the detection step, whether to operate the autofocus function or set a fixed-focus position at which a predetermined depth of field is obtained.  
   
   
   
       17 . A recording medium which records 
 a photographing method, comprising: 
 an exposure comparison step of adopting an autofocus function and an autoexposure function, and comparing a correct exposure value obtained by the autoexposure function with a preset exposure value; and  
 a focus control step of switching and selecting, on the basis of a comparison result in the exposure comparison step, whether to operate the autofocus function or set a fixed-focus position at which a predetermined depth of field is obtained.  
   
   
   
       18 . A recording medium which records 
 a photographing method, comprising: 
 a focal length comparison step of adopting a multifocal length switching function of switching between at least a plurality of focal lengths and an autofocus function, and comparing a current focal length with a preset focal length; and  
 a focus control step of switching and selecting, on the basis of a comparison result in the focal length comparison step, whether to operate the autofocus function or set a fixed-focus position at which a predetermined depth of field is obtained.  
   
   
   
       19 . A recording medium which records 
 a photographing method, comprising: 
 an exposure setting step of adopting an autofocus function and an autoexposure function, and setting an arbitrary exposure value instead of an exposure value obtained by the autoexposure unit;  
 an exposure detection step of detecting the exposure value when the exposure value is set in the exposure setting step; and  
 a focus control step of switching and selecting, on the basis of a detection result in the exposure detection step, whether to operate the autofocus function or set a fixed-focus position at which a predetermined depth of field is obtained.  
   
   
   
       20 . A recording medium which records a photographing method according to  claim 16 , further comprising a focus range determination step of determining a fixed-focus range containing an object image from a plurality of fixed-focus ranges, 
 in the focus control step, the fixed-focus range obtained in the focus range determination step being selected in switching and selection to the fixed-focus position.