Camera and camera method

Abstract

The present invention provides an imaging device and an imaging method capable of analogously realizing a dimming photography equivalent to using a dimming mirror without using a dimming mirror. The imaging device has: a saturation determination unit (17) for determining whether or not at least a part of pixel outputs of the image data are saturated when imaging is performed under the imaging conditions set for main exposure; and a divided exposure time detection unit (19). ), when it is judged by the saturation judging section (17) that at least a part of the pixel output is saturated, the detection pixel output is unsaturated divided exposure time; the addition synthesis section (14), which adds and synthesizes the image data; the gain An applying unit (15) that applies a negative gain to the image data and the image data that has been added and synthesized by the addition and synthesis unit (14), and the addition and synthesis unit (14) uses the divided exposure time when the image is captured by the imaging unit. Negative gain is applied to each of the plurality of image data obtained by split exposure and the image data subjected to addition and synthesis, and the image data to which the negative gain was applied is added and combined.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to an imaging device and an imaging method capable of photographing a high-brightness subject in an imaging device such as a digital camera, and having increased degrees of freedom in exposure conditions for obtaining an appropriate exposure. Background technique [0002] In conventional imaging devices such as digital cameras, exposure is controlled by changing the aperture value, ISO sensitivity, shutter speed, and the like. The setting range of the aperture value (usually represented by the numerical aperture F value) is limited within a limited range in order to maintain the optical performance of the lens such as MTF (Modulation Transfer Function: a value related to resolution) . Among the products currently on the market, it is usually in the range of about F1.0 to F22. [0003] In addition, the boundary between the low-sensitivity side and the high-sensitivity side of ISO sensitivity is determined by the performan...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0005] As above, the aperture value, ISO sensitivity, and shutter speed used to control exposure have boundaries, and depending on the combination of aperture value, ISO sensitivity, and shutter speed within the boundary range, it may not be possible to obtain an image that meets the user's intention as a photographer.

For example, in the case of shooting a subject with high brightness such as the sun, even if the aperture is narrowed to F22, the ISO sensitivity is set to the lowest sensitivity, and the shutter speed is set to the highest speed, sometimes the captured image will appear blurry. White

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