Moving image pickup apparatus and still image recording method

Abstract

A moving image pickup apparatus which is capable of attaining both enhanced focusing accuracy and increased chances of snapshooting. A predetermined time period is determined according to a designatedimage pickup period. Responsive to designation of still image recording, an automatic focus adjusting device starts automatic focus adjustment. When an in-focus state is obtained by the automatic focus adjusting device within the determined predetermined time period, a still image for which the in-focus state has been obtained is stored in a memory device. On the other hand, when the in-focus state is not obtained even after the lapse of the determined predetermined time period, a still image for which the in-focus state has not been obtained is stored in the memory device.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the Chinese patent application with the application number 200410102306.4 and the invention title "moving image camera device and still image recording method thereof" submitted by the same applicant on June 23, 2004. technical field [0002] The present invention relates to a moving picture camera and a still picture recording method thereof. Background technique [0003] The driving speed of the imaging element of an imaging device such as a video camera (hereinafter referred to as "shutter speed") was originally 1 / 60 second in the NTSC method, but in recent years, due to the expansion of the shooting range, it has been further reduced to 1 / 15 second or even now. The 1 / 2 second shooting mode is also practical. [0004] On the other hand, in the automatic focusing device of the video camera, the mainstream method is to detect the sharpness of the picture from the image signal obtained by photoelectrically converting the...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0008] However, in existing video cameras that can set a slow shutter speed, if the shutter speed is set to a low speed, the sampling period of the AF evaluation value will also be slowed down, so the AF focusing time will be significantly longer

Therefore, in a video camera capable of recording still images while setting a slow shutter speed, there is a problem that it is almost impossible to focus within the above-mentioned predetermined time (AF focus waiting time).

[0009] In addition, in order to solve such a problem, it is also considered that the sampling period of the AF evaluation value is increased by increasing the shutter speed only during the AF operation in the still image recording mode, but the low speed is originally set. The shutter speed is for shooting subjects with very low illumination. If the shutter speed is increased for such subjects, the image signal with sufficient contrast cannot be obtained and the focus cannot be obtained.

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