Imaging apparatus, imaging method, and program

Abstract

An image processing system includes circuitry that determine whether a focus operation is performed on an image, and processes the image in a high resolution mode when the focus operation is determined to be performed. The circuitry processes the image in a low resolution mode when the focus operation is determined not to be performed. The resolution of the image is lower in the low resolution mode than in the high resolution mode.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An image processing system, comprising:
 circuitry configured to
 determine whether a focus operation is performed on an image, 
 process the image in a high resolution mode when the focus operation is determined to be performed, and 
 process the image in a low resolution mode when the focus operation is determined not to be performed, 
   wherein a resolution of the image is lower in the low resolution mode than in the high resolution mode.   
     
     
         2 . The image processing system according to  claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to switch from the high resolution mode to the low resolution mode after the focus operation is completed. 
     
     
         3 . The image processing system according to  claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to drive an optical system through which the image is received during the focus operation. 
     
     
         4 . The image processing system according to  claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to delay switching between the high resolution mode and the low resolution mode until after image recording on a computer-readable medium is complete. 
     
     
         5 . The image processing system according to  claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is configured to highlight a focus target within the image when processing the image in the high resolution mode during the focus operation. 
     
     
         6 . The image processing system according to  claim 5 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to highlight the focus target by changing at least one of a luminance value and color information for corresponding pixels. 
     
     
         7 . The image processing system according to  claim 5 , wherein the circuitry highlights the focus target after the focus target is identified during the focus operation. 
     
     
         8 . The image processing system according to  claim 7 , wherein the focus target is identified using facial recognition to recognize a face in the image. 
     
     
         9 . The image processing system according to  claim 5 , wherein highlighting of the focus target is user-selectable. 
     
     
         10 . The image processing system according to  claim 3 , wherein the circuitry is configured to determine whether the focus operation is performed based on a depression state of a shutter button. 
     
     
         11 . The image processing system according to  claim 10 , wherein the circuitry determines that the focus operation is performed when the shutter button is depressed to a midpoint between fully depressed and not depressed. 
     
     
         12 . The image processing system according to  claim 11 , wherein the circuitry is configured to switch from the high resolution mode to the low resolution mode when the shutter button is released. 
     
     
         13 . The image processing system according to  claim 1 , wherein when the circuitry switches from the high resolution mode to the low resolution mode, the circuitry adjusts development parameters accordingly. 
     
     
         14 . The image processing system according to  claim 13 , wherein the development parameters include a flicker width, a size and an effective range of the image. 
     
     
         15 . The image processing system according to  claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is configured to switch between the high resolution mode and the low resolution mode while maintaining a same viewing angle. 
     
     
         16 . The image processing system according to  claim 5 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to switch between first and second high resolution modes based on whether the focus target is highlighted. 
     
     
         17 . The image processing system according to  claim 16 , wherein the circuitry uses the first high resolution mode when the focus target is not highlighted and uses the second high resolution mode when the focus target is highlighted. 
     
     
         18 . The image processing system according to  claim 17 , wherein the first high resolution mode has a higher resolution than the second high resolution mode and both first and second high resolution modes have higher resolution that the low resolution mode. 
     
     
         19 . An image processing method for an image processing system, comprising:
 determining, in circuitry, whether a focus operation is performed on an image;   processing, in the circuitry, the image in a high resolution mode when the focus operation is determined to be performed; and   processing, in the circuitry, the image in a low resolution mode when the focus operation is determined not to be performed,   wherein a resolution of the image is lower in the low resolution mode than in the high resolution mode.   
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with computer-readable instructions thereon that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method comprising:
 determining whether a focus operation is performed on an image;   processing the image in a high resolution mode when the focus operation is determined to be performed; and   processing the image in a low resolution mode when the focus operation is determined not to be performed,   wherein a resolution of the image is lower in the low resolution mode than in the high resolution mode.