Electronic still camera and method of image acquisition of electronic still camera

Abstract

A photography mode selecting section allows a photographer to select continuous photographing. An imaging section captures an image of a subject. An area setting section detects a photographic subject based on a photographic image captured by the imaging section for every photographing in the continuous photographing, and sets the size and position of a photographic subject area including the detected photographic subject, when the continuous photographing is selected by the photography mode selecting section. A memory section stores an image inside the photographic subject area as a photographic subject image. Consequently, in continuous photographing of a moving body, the size of the photographic subject area for every photographing in the continuous photographing can be changed according to change in the size of the image of the moving body with respect to an image screen of the imaging section, thereby preventing wasteful usage of a memory area of the memory section.

1 . An electronic still camera comprising: 
 a photography mode selecting section allowing a photographer to select continuous photographing;    an imaging section capturing an image of a subject;    an area setting section detecting a photographic subject based on a photographic image captured by said imaging section for every photographing in the continuous photographing, and setting the size and position of a photographic subject area including the detected photographic subject, when the continuous photographing is selected by said photography mode selecting section; and    a memory section storing an image inside the photographic subject area as a photographic subject image.    
   
   
       2 . The electronic still camera according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said area setting section detects a moving photographic subject based on a difference between a photographic image captured at the time of previous photographing and a photographic image captured at the time of current photographing in the continuous photographing.    
   
   
       3 . The electronic still camera according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said area setting section divides the photographic image into plural areas, and sets the size and position of the photographic subject area based on luminance information of the respective areas.    
   
   
       4 . The electronic still camera according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said area setting section divides the photographic image into plural areas, and sets the size and position of the photographic subject area based on contrast information of the respective areas.    
   
   
       5 . The electronic still camera according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said area setting section sets the size of the photographic subject area to be equal to or greater than a predetermined value which is held in advance, irrespective of the size of a moving photographic subject.    
   
   
       6 . The electronic still camera according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said memory section stores the position of the photographic subject area with respect to an image screen of said imaging section, together with the photographic subject image.    
   
   
       7 . The electronic still camera according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said area setting section uses a predetermined area which is held in advance, as the photographic subject area, when a moving photographic subject cannot be detected.    
   
   
       8 . The electronic still camera according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a shutter speed changing section changing shutter speed, wherein    said area setting section limits the size of the photographic subject area in response to increase in the shutter speed.    
   
   
       9 . The electronic still camera according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a continuous photographing speed changing section changing a photographing interval of the continuous photographing, wherein    said area setting section limits the size of the photographic subject area in response to shortening of the photographing interval of the continuous photographing.    
   
   
       10 . The electronic still camera according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a focus detecting point decision section deciding a focus detecting point of the next photographing in the continuous photographing, among a plurality of focus detecting points, in response to movement of the photographic subject.    
   
   
       11 . A method of image acquisition of an electronic still camera, comprising the steps of: 
 detecting a photographic subject based on a captured photographic image for every photographing in continuous photographing, when the continuous photographing is selected by a photographer;    setting the size and position of a photographic subject area including the detected photographic subject; and    storing an image inside the photographic subject area as a photographic subject image.    
   
   
       12 . The method of image acquisition of the electronic still camera according to  claim 11 , wherein 
 a moving photographic subject is detected based on a difference between a photographic image captured at the time of previous photographing and a photographic image captured at the time of current photographing in the continuous photographing.    
   
   
       13 . The method of image acquisition of the electronic still camera according to  claim 11 , wherein 
 the photographic image is divided into plural areas, and the size and position of the photographic subject area is set based on luminance information of the respective areas.    
   
   
       14 . The method of image acquisition of the electronic still camera according to  claim 11 , wherein 
 the photographic image is divided into plural areas, and the size and position of the photographic subject area is set based on contrast information of the respective areas.    
   
   
       15 . The method of image acquisition of the electronic still camera according to  claim 11 , wherein 
 the size of the photographic subject area is set to be equal to or greater than a predetermined value which is held in advance, irrespective of the size of a moving photographic subject.    
   
   
       16 . The method of image acquisition of the electronic still camera according to  claim 11 , wherein 
 the position of the photographic subject area with respect to an image screen is stored together with the photographic subject image.    
   
   
       17 . The method of image acquisition of the electronic still camera according to  claim 11 , wherein 
 a predetermined area which is held in advance is used as the photographic subject area, when a moving photographic subject cannot be detected.    
   
   
       18 . The method of image acquisition of the electronic still camera according to  claim 11 , wherein 
 the size of the photographic subject area is limited in response to increase in shutter speed.    
   
   
       19 . The method of image acquisition of the electronic still camera according to  claim 11 , wherein 
 the size of the photographic subject area is limited in response to shortening of a photographing interval of the continuous photographing.    
   
   
       20 . The method of image acquisition of the electronic still camera according to  claim 11 , wherein 
 a focus detecting point of the next photographing in the continuous photographing is decided among a plurality of focus detecting points, in response to movement of the photographic subject.