Imaging apparatus

Abstract

Provided is an imaging device capable of accurately and rapidly selecting a main image from a plurality of continuously captured images and simplifying handling of image files recorded on a memory card. With one operation, it is possible to capture a plurality of continuous images at a predetermined time interval. A main image is selected from the captured images and the image data on the main image and the image data on sub images other than the main image are recorded as one image file on a recording medium ( 220 ).

1 . An imaging apparatus comprising:
 a continuous shooting section that captures a continuous plurality of images at a predetermined time interval in one operation;   a recording section that records image data corresponding to the plurality of captured images in a recording medium; and   a main image selection section that selects one main image from the plurality of captured images,   wherein the recording section records image data of the main image and image data of a sub-image other than the main image as one image file.   
     
     
         2 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the continuous shooting section further comprises a continuous shooting condition setting section that sets continuous shooting conditions including the time interval and a number of images captured at one time at a time of shooting according to an operation of a photographer. 
     
     
         3 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a shooting state detection section that detects shooting states of the plurality of captured images at a time of shooting,
 wherein the main image selection section selects the main image based on a detection result of the shooting state detection section.   
     
     
         4 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 the shooting state detection section detects an amount of shake at a time of shooting; and   the main image selection section selects a captured image for which the detected amount of shake is smallest as the main image.   
     
     
         5 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 the shooting state detection section detects an amount of motion of a subject at a time of shooting; and   the main image selection section selects a captured image for which the detected amount of motion of the subject is smallest as the main image.   
     
     
         6 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 the shooting state detection section detects a degree of focusing on a subject at a time of shooting; and   the main image selection section selects a captured image for which the detected degree of focusing is highest as the main image.   
     
     
         7 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 the shooting state detection section detects whether or not a subject has his/her eyes closed by recognizing a face of a subject at a time of shooting; and   the main image selection section inhibits selection of a captured image in which the eyes are closed as the main image.   
     
     
         8 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 3 , further comprising a first and second shooting operation section that starts shooting at a predetermined time interval by means of a first shooting operation and terminates shooting after capturing a predetermined number of images at a predetermined time interval by means of a second shooting operation, wherein:
 the shooting state detection section detects the second shooting operation; and   the main image selection section selects a captured image captured first after the second shooting operation as the main image.   
     
     
         9 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a shooting condition changing section that changes shooting conditions for each of the plurality of captured images; and   a display section that displays the plurality of captured images,   wherein the main image selection section selects the main image from among the plurality of captured images displayed in the display section according to an operation of a photographer.   
     
     
         10 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 9 , further comprising a shooting condition setting section that sets change contents of the shooting conditions at a time of shooting according to an operation of a photographer. 
     
     
         11 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising an image file processing section that selects the image file recorded in the recording medium and executes predetermined processing thereon,
 wherein the image file processing section has the main image only as a processing object.   
     
     
         12 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the image file processing section has the main image and the sub-image as processing objects. 
     
     
         13 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the recording section stores a detection result of the shooting state detection section together with the image data in the image file and records these in the recording medium. 
     
     
         14 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a main image replacement section that replaces the main image of the image file with an arbitrary sub-image. 
     
     
         15 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the main image replacement section has a diet mode that deletes all the sub-images and creates a new image file of the main image only.