Camera system, imaging device, lens device, control method, and program

Abstract

To provide a camera system, an imaging device, a lens device, a control method, and a program with which it is possible to suppress a reduction in the performance of a camera function while guaranteeing the responsiveness of aperture drive when aperture value setting is changed on the lens side by a user.SOLUTION: Provided is a camera system having a lens unit and a camera which are mutually communicable, in which, for the lens unit, a lens control part adopts the effective aperture value of an aperture as a set aperture value by user operation of an aperture drive ring. For the camera, an exposure control part calculates an aperture value in accordance with the photometric value outputted from a frame image captured by an imaging element during live view operation, and a camera control part shifts the lens unit to an auto iris mode and forcibly controls the lens control part so that the effective aperture value equals the calculated aperture value when an aperture control entity is determined to be the camera in accordance with an imaging mode during live view operation.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a camera system, an imaging device, a lens device, a control method, and a program, and in particular to a camera system, an imaging device, a lens device, a control method, and a program in which the aperture value of an aperture mounted in a lens device can be changed on both the lens side and the camera side. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, camera systems have been known in which the aperture value of the aperture mounted on the lens device can be set on both the lens side and the camera side. Usually, in a camera system including a lens without a member for setting the aperture value, the user cannot change the aperture value setting directly on the lens side, so the camera side and the lens side communicate with each other, and the lens side controls the driving of the aperture based on the aperture driving instruction from the camera side. On the other hand, in a camera system including a lens having a member for setting the aperture value, the user can change the aperture value setting directly on the lens side by operating the member. When the aperture value setting is changed directly on the lens side in this way, the aperture drive control is immediately performed in conjunction with the change in the aperture value setting by the user on the lens side without the above-mentioned communication between the camera and lens, and the aperture can be driven with good response. Therefore, in a shooting mode in which the process of changing scenes is recorded by continuously recording continuously captured frame images such as a movie mode, it is useful to change the aperture value setting from the lens side with good response in this way.

[0003] Incidentally, in a shooting mode in which an image is recorded one-off, such as a still image mode, automatic focus detection processing is normally performed by a user operation such as half-pressing the release button in order to record a still image that is in focus at the time of shooting.

[0004] For example, Patent Document 1 proposes a technology (image plane phase difference AF) in which an image sensor has a plurality of focus detection pixels that photoelectrically convert an image formed by a split light beam from a lens, and performs focus detection of an image pickup optical system using the focus detection pixels. Specifically, Patent Document 1 detects the phase difference between a pair of images based on a digital signal from the focus detection pixels, and performs focus detection of the image pickup optical system from the detected phase difference.

[0005] Patent Document 2 proposes a technique for controlling the lens so that the aperture value is not changed from the value set by the user even in a shooting mode in which the camera automatically determines the aperture value when the aperture value is set by the user on the lens side. This reduces the possibility of the user becoming confused about changing the aperture value. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] JP 2011-232741 A [Patent Document 2] Patent Publication No. 2021-76807 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, it is known that the focus detection process by the image plane phase difference AF described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 generally has a lower focus detection accuracy when the aperture is on the small aperture side. Therefore, when the user sets a small aperture value on the lens side, if the image plane phase difference AF is performed by fixing the aperture value set by the user on the lens side as in Patent Document 2, the focus detection accuracy is lowered and a still image that is out of focus is captured. In other words, a problem occurs in that the focus detection performance is degraded.

[0008] Similarly, the flicker detection process generally has a lower flicker detection accuracy when the aperture is on the small aperture side. Therefore, when the user sets a small aperture value on the lens side, if the flicker detection process is performed on the lens side with the aperture value fixed to the user setting as in Patent Document 2, the flicker detection accuracy will decrease. In other words, there is a problem of a decrease in flicker removal performance.

[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide a camera system, an imaging device, a lens device, a control method, and a program that can suppress performance degradation in the camera functions described above while ensuring the responsiveness of aperture drive when the aperture value setting on the lens side is changed by the user. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to solve the above problem, a camera system according to claim 1 of the present invention is a camera system having a lens device and an imaging device capable of communicating with each other, the lens device comprising an aperture that adjusts the amount of light when photographing with the imaging device, an aperture value setting means for setting a first aperture value in response to a user operation, and an aperture control means for controlling the aperture so that, in a first mode, an effective aperture value becomes the first aperture value, and the imaging device comprises image acquisition means for capturing an image of a subject during a live view operation in a state in which the amount of received light is adjusted by the aperture, and acquiring frame images, a photometric value calculation means for calculating a photometric value from the frame images, and a photometric value calculation means for calculating a photometric value in response to the photometric value. an aperture control subject determination means for determining whether the aperture control subject is the lens device or the imaging device according to a shooting mode during the live view operation; a mode transition means for determining the aperture value calculated by the aperture value calculation means as a second aperture value and transitioning the lens device to a second mode when the mode transition means transitions the lens device to the second mode; and a compulsory control means for compulsorily controlling the aperture control means so that the effective aperture value becomes the determined second aperture value rather than the first aperture value when the mode transition means transitions the lens device to the second mode.

[0011] In order to solve the above problem, an imaging device according to claim 12 of the present invention is an imaging device communicably connected to a lens device, the lens device comprising: an aperture that adjusts the amount of light when photographing with the imaging device; an aperture value setting means for setting a first aperture value in response to a user operation; and an aperture control means for controlling the aperture in a first mode so that an effective aperture value becomes the first aperture value. The imaging device comprises: an image acquisition means for acquiring frame images by photographing a subject during a live view operation; a photometric value calculation means for calculating a photometric value from the frame images; and an aperture value calculation means for calculating an aperture value in response to the photometric value. The system is characterized in that it comprises an aperture control subject determination means for determining whether the aperture control subject will be the lens device or the imaging device depending on the shooting mode during the live view operation; a mode transition means for determining the aperture value calculated by the aperture value calculation means as a second aperture value and transitioning the lens device to a second mode when the determined aperture control subject is the imaging device; and a forced control means forcibly controlling the aperture control means so that the effective aperture value becomes the determined second aperture value rather than the first aperture value when the mode transition means transitions the lens device to the second mode.

[0012] In order to solve the above problem, the lens device of claim 13 of the present invention is a lens device capable of communicating with an imaging device, and includes an aperture that adjusts the amount of light when shooting with the imaging device, an aperture value setting means that sets a first aperture value in response to user operation, and an aperture control means that controls the aperture so that, in a first mode, an effective aperture value becomes the first aperture value, and is characterized in that, when the lens device transitions to a second mode in response to an instruction from the imaging device in response to a shooting mode during live view operation, the aperture control means is forcibly controlled by the imaging device so that the effective aperture value becomes a second aperture value determined by the imaging device rather than the first aperture value. Effect of the Invention

[0013] According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the performance of the camera function while ensuring the responsiveness of the aperture drive when the aperture value setting on the lens side is changed by the user. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a camera system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an external view of a lens unit having an aperture drive ring in FIG. [Diagram 3] 2 is a diagram for explaining an imaging operation in a live view of the camera in FIG. 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 4] 4 is a flowchart of an aperture control process during a live view operation of the camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] 5 is a flowchart of the aperture control subject determination process in step S403 in FIG. 4. [Figure 6A] 6 is a sequence diagram of an aperture drive control process in the camera system when the lens unit is set as the aperture control subject in the process of FIG. 5. FIG. [Figure 6B] 6 is a sequence diagram of an aperture drive control process in the camera system when the aperture control subject is set to the camera in the process of FIG. 5. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims. Although the embodiments describe a number of features, not all of these features are essential to the invention, and the features may be combined in any manner. Furthermore, in the accompanying drawings, the same reference numbers are used for the same or similar configurations, and duplicated descriptions are omitted.

[0016] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a camera system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] In FIG. 1, a camera system 1 includes a camera 100 (an imaging device) and a lens unit 200 (a lens device).

[0018] The camera 100 comprises a shutter 101, an image sensor 102, an analog signal processing unit 103, a camera control unit 104, a shutter control unit 111, a timing generation unit 112, a communication terminal 113, an image display unit 114, a memory control unit 115, a memory 116, and an operation unit 117.

[0019] The shutter 101 is provided to control the incidence of the light beam from the lens unit 200 on the image sensor 102, and is normally in an open state. The shutter 101 is controlled by the camera control unit 104 via the shutter control unit 111, and has a so-called mechanical shutter function that sets the time of incidence of the light beam on the image sensor 102.

[0020] The image sensor 102 (image acquisition means) is, for example, a CMOS sensor or a CCD sensor that captures an image of a subject, and is driven based on a timing signal output from a timing generation unit 112 to photoelectrically convert an optical image of the subject into an analog signal. In addition to the imaging pixels, the image sensor 102 has a plurality of focus detection pixels that photoelectrically convert an image formed by a split light beam from the lens unit 200. The timing generation unit 112 is controlled by the camera control unit 104, and has a so-called electronic shutter function that sets the time at which the light beam enters the image sensor 102.

[0021] An analog signal processing unit 103 performs A / D conversion on the analog signal from the image sensor 102 to convert it into a digital signal and outputs it.

[0022] The camera control unit 104 is a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM, and executes a program stored in the ROM. The camera control unit 104 controls each unit included in the camera 100. For example, the camera control unit 104 performs digital signal processing, which will be described later, on a digital signal output from the analog signal processing unit 103, and stores the result in a memory 116 via a memory control unit 115. The camera control unit 104 includes a digital gain unit 105, an image processing unit 106, a photometry processing unit 107, an exposure control unit 108, a focus detection processing unit 109, and a flicker detection processing unit 110 as software configurations for this digital signal processing.

[0023] The digital gain unit 105 adds a digital gain to the digital signal and outputs the signal to the image processing unit 106. The image processing unit 106 performs various digital signal processing, such as pixel interpolation processing and color conversion processing. The photometry processing unit 107 (photometric value calculation means) calculates the luminance (photometric value) of the subject image from the digital signal output from the digital gain unit 105.

[0024] The exposure control unit 108 (aperture value calculation means) outputs an exposure control value consisting of an aperture value (Av), a shutter speed (Tv), a gain amount (Sv), and the like, based on the photometric value output from the photometry processing unit 107. Here, the aperture value (Av) is a value for controlling the aperture diameter of the aperture 202 of the lens unit 200, which will be described later. The shutter speed (Tv) is a value for controlling the incidence time of a light beam into the imaging element 102 using the electronic shutter function or mechanical shutter function described above. The gain amount (Sv) is a value indicating the gain amount (Sv) added during gain addition processing performed by the analog signal processing unit 103 or the digital gain unit 105.

[0025] The focus detection processing unit 109 detects the phase difference between a pair of images based on the digital signals of the focus detection pixels output from the analog signal processing unit 103, and performs focus detection processing of the imaging optical system from the detected phase difference. The flicker detection processing unit 110 performs detection processing of the frequency of a flickering light source using frame image data, which are continuously captured digital signals output from the analog signal processing unit 103.

[0026] The image display unit 114 is a rear monitor for displaying images and shooting information, and is, for example, an image display device such as an LCD. The operation unit 117 is various operation members as an input unit that accepts operations from the user. The operation unit 117 has a camera power switch, an AF (autofocus) instruction button, a shooting instruction button, a flicker light source detection instruction button, and various operation buttons, and outputs input operations by the user to the camera control unit 104.

[0027] The lens unit 200 is an interchangeable lens unit equipped with a photographing lens, and includes a lens 201 , an aperture 202 , a focus driver 203 , an aperture driver 204 , a lens controller 205 , a communication terminal 206 , and an aperture position acquisition unit 207 .

[0028] The lens 201 is a group of lenses having, for example, a focusing lens and a zoom lens as a photographing lens, and takes reflected light entering from a subject into the camera 100. The aperture 202 adjusts the amount of light (amount of light received by the image sensor 102 during photographing) when photographing with the camera 100 by adjusting its aperture diameter (aperture amount). The aperture diameter of the aperture 202 is controlled by a lens control unit 205 (aperture control means) via an aperture drive unit 204.

[0029] The communication terminals 113 and 206 are communication terminals of the camera 100 and the lens unit 200, respectively, and the camera 100 and the lens unit 200 are in a state in which they can communicate with each other by connecting the communication terminals 113 and 206.

[0030] The focus driver 203 adjusts the focus by displacing the position of the lens 201 upon receiving a command from the lens controller 205. The lens controller 205 controls each unit included in the lens unit 200. Furthermore, the lens controller 205 can acquire an effective F-number (effective aperture value) based on position information of the aperture 202 from the aperture position acquisition unit 207, and can communicate the acquired effective F-number to the camera 100 via the communication terminal 206. Furthermore, the lens controller 205 can switch between an aperture control mode in which the aperture is driven by communication with the camera 100 and an aperture drive mode in which the aperture is driven by operating an aperture drive ring 208 (aperture value setting means) of the lens unit 200. Hereinafter, the mode in which the aperture is driven by operating the aperture drive ring 208 of the lens unit 200 is referred to as a manual aperture mode (first mode), and the mode in which the aperture is driven by communication with the camera 100 is referred to as an automatic aperture mode (second mode).

[0031] FIG. 2 is an external view of the lens unit 200 having the aperture drive ring 208 in FIG.

[0032] 2, the aperture drive ring 208 is provided with a scale 209, and is configured to be rotatable by a user relative to the housing of the lens unit 200 in two directions indicated by double-headed arrows, centered on the imaging optical axis indicated by a dotted line. A plurality of aperture values ​​(F-numbers) of the aperture 202 that can be set by the user are printed on the housing of the lens unit 200. Furthermore, the word "Auto" is printed on the housing of the lens unit 200, indicating that the aperture value is set by the imaging device 200, not by the user.

[0033] The user can set the aperture value to be instructed to the lens control unit 205 by rotating the aperture drive ring 208 to match the scale 209 with one of the aperture values ​​printed on the housing. When the user rotates the aperture drive ring 208 to match the scale 209 with the character "Auto" printed on the housing, the automatic aperture mode is selected. In the manual aperture mode, the lens control unit 205 controls the aperture diameter of the aperture 202 via the aperture drive unit 204 so that the aperture value is set to the aperture value set by the user by rotating the aperture drive ring 208 (hereinafter, set aperture value (first aperture value)). In the automatic aperture mode, the lens control unit 205 controls the aperture diameter of the aperture 202 via the aperture drive unit 204 so that the aperture value is set to the target aperture value (second aperture value) transmitted from the camera 100, as will be described in detail later.

[0034] (Imaging operation of camera 100) Hereinafter, the imaging operation during the live view operation of the camera 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

[0035] Frame images 305 to 309 in FIG. 3 are image data made up of digital signals generated based on charges read out from the image sensor 102.

[0036] Photometry calculations 310 and 311 are processes executed by the photometry processing unit 107 under the control of the camera control unit 104 , and calculate the luminance value (photometric value) of the subject image from each of the frame images 305 and 306 .

[0037] Exposure calculations 312 and 313 are processes executed by the exposure control unit 108 under the control of the camera control unit 104, and calculate an exposure control value based on the photometric value calculated by each of the photometric calculations 310 and 311 and a program diagram pre-stored in the ROM. As described above, the exposure control value is composed of the aperture value (Av) of the aperture 202, the incidence time (Tv) of the light beam to the image sensor 102, and the amount of gain (Sv) added by the analog signal processing unit 103 or the digital gain unit 105.

[0038] Exposure settings 314 and 315 are processes executed by the camera control unit 104, and transmit the exposure control values ​​Av, Tv, and Sv calculated in the exposure calculations 312 and 313, respectively, to the image sensor 102, the analog signal processing unit 103, and the digital gain unit 105. As a result, the exposure control values ​​Av, Tv, and Sv calculated in the exposure calculations 312 and 313, respectively, are set so as to be reflected in the frame images 308 and 309, respectively.

[0039] Furthermore, when the aperture control subject determined in the aperture control subject determination process described below is the camera 100, the exposure settings 314 and 315 transmit to the lens control unit 205 an instruction to switch to the aperture control subject camera 100 and the Av value (target aperture value) calculated in each of the exposure calculations 312 and 313. In this case, the lens control unit 205 sets the aperture control mode to the automatic aperture mode, and sets the target aperture value transmitted from the camera 100 as the effective aperture value. On the other hand, when it is determined in the aperture control subject determination process that the aperture control subject is the lens unit 200, the exposure settings 314 and 315 do not transmit to the lens control unit 205 the exposure control value Av calculated in each of the exposure calculations 312 and 313. In this case, the lens control unit 205 sets the aperture control mode to the manual aperture mode, and sets the set aperture value transmitted from the aperture drive ring 208 at the timing when the aperture drive ring 208 is operated as the effective aperture value.

[0040] 3, photometry calculation 310 and exposure calculation 312 for frame image 305 are performed in the section between vertical synchronization signals (VD) 301, 302 output from timing generation unit 112, and exposure setting 314 is performed in the section between VDs 302, 303. The exposure control value set in exposure setting 314 is reflected in frame image 308, which is image data accumulated in the section between VDs 303, 304.

[0041] Similarly, photometry calculation 311 and exposure calculation 313 for frame image 306 are performed in the section between VDs 302 and 303, and exposure setting 315 is performed in the section between VDs 303 and 304. The exposure control value set in exposure setting 315 is reflected in frame image 309.

[0042] In this way, the exposure of the subsequently generated frame images 308, 309 is controlled based on the photometric value and exposure control value calculated from the frame images 305, 306. This makes it possible to obtain frame images with an appropriate amount of exposure in response to changes in the luminance of the subject image.

[0043] (Aperture control process of camera 100) Hereinafter, an aperture control process during a live view operation of the camera 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart in Fig. 4. The following process is executed by the camera control unit 104 controlling each unit of the camera 100 according to a program stored in the ROM.

[0044] When the camera control unit 104 detects that the camera power switch attached to the operation unit 117 has been operated and turned ON, it starts the camera system 1 to start live view and also starts this process which is part of the exposure calculation and exposure setting in Fig. 3. Specifically, this process is executed by the CPU inside the camera control unit 104 expanding a program in the ROM into the RAM. Below, this process will be described with the camera control unit 104 as the main executor. When the camera system 1 is started, the lens control unit 205 sets the aperture control mode to the manual aperture mode.

[0045] In FIG. 4, first, the camera control unit 104 reads out the electric charges accumulated in the image sensor 102 and acquires one frame image (Yes in step S400), and then proceeds to step S401.

[0046] Next, in step S401, the camera control unit 104 (aperture value acquisition means) acquires the effective aperture value from the lens unit 200 via the communication terminal 113.

[0047] Next, in step S402, the camera control unit 104 instructs the photometry processing unit 107 to perform a photometry calculation, and obtains a photometry value that is the result of the calculation.

[0048] Next, in step S403, the camera control unit 104 executes an aperture control subject determination process, which will be described later with reference to FIG.

[0049] Next, in step S404, if the camera control unit 104 (aperture control subject determining means) determines (decides) that the aperture control subject is the lens unit 200 in the aperture control subject determination process in step S403 (YES in step S404), the camera control unit 104 proceeds to step S405.

[0050] Next, in step S405, the camera control unit 104 (mode transition means) transmits a switching instruction to make the lens unit 200 the aperture control subject to the lens control unit 205 via the communication terminal 113. Upon receiving this switching instruction, the lens control unit 205 transitions the lens unit 200 to a manual aperture mode in which aperture driving is achieved by operating the aperture drive ring 208.

[0051] Next, in step S406, the camera control unit 104 instructs the exposure control unit 108 to calculate a target aperture value when the aperture driving unit 204 drives the aperture 202. Upon receiving this instruction, the exposure control unit 108 calculates the effective aperture value acquired in step S401 as a target aperture value and notifies the camera control unit 104. Then, the process proceeds to step S406a.

[0052] In step S406a, the camera control unit 104 inquires of the lens unit 200 whether or not the mode has been changed from the automatic aperture mode to the manual aperture mode in step S405. If the result of this inquiry is that the mode has been changed (Yes in step S406a), the process proceeds to step S409. In this case, in step S409, the camera control unit 104 (forced control means) issues an aperture drive instruction to forcibly control the lens control unit 205 via the communication terminal 113 so that the aperture 202 becomes the effective aperture value acquired in step S401. Thereafter, the process returns to step S401. On the other hand, if the manual aperture mode remains as it was at the start of this process and there has been no mode change (No in step S406a), the process returns directly to step S400.

[0053] It is also possible to directly return to step S401 from step S406 without performing the inquiry process of step S406a. In this case, however, the user needs to operate the aperture drive ring 208 as necessary to set a desired aperture value.

[0054] On the other hand, if it is determined (decided) that the aperture control subject is the camera 100 in the aperture control subject determination process in step S403 (NO in step S404), the camera control unit 104 proceeds to step S407.

[0055] Next, in step S407, the camera control unit 104 (forced control means) transmits a switching instruction to make the camera 100 the aperture control subject to the lens control unit 205 via the communication terminal 113. When this switching instruction is transmitted, the lens control unit 205 transitions to an automatic aperture mode that realizes aperture driving by communication with the camera 100. That is, in the automatic aperture mode, the camera control unit 104 forcibly controls the lens control unit 205 so that the effective aperture value becomes the target aperture value rather than the set aperture value.

[0056] Next, in step S408, the camera control unit 104 instructs the exposure control unit 108 to calculate a target aperture value when the aperture driving unit 204 drives the aperture 202. Upon receiving this instruction, the exposure control unit 108 calculates a target aperture value based on the photometric value acquired in step S402 and a program diagram pre-stored in the ROM, and notifies the camera control unit 104. In this case, in step S409, the camera control unit 104 (forced control means) issues an aperture drive instruction to forcibly control the lens control unit 205 via the communication terminal 113 so as to achieve the target aperture value notified by the aperture 202 in step S408. Thereafter, the process returns to step S400.

[0057] (Throttle control subject determination process) The aperture control subject determination process in step S403 in Fig. 4 will be described below with reference to the flowchart in Fig. 5. The following process is executed by the camera control unit 104 controlling each unit of the camera 100 according to a program stored in the ROM.

[0058] 5, first, in step S501, the camera control unit 104 determines whether the effective aperture value acquired in step S401 is Auto. If it is determined to be Auto (Yes in step S501), the aperture value has not been set by the user on the lens unit 200 side, and therefore the aperture 202 only needs to be driven by instructions from the camera 100. Therefore, when this determination is made, the camera control unit 104 proceeds to step S505, sets the camera 100 as the control subject of the aperture 202, and ends this process. On the other hand, if the camera control unit 104 determines that the acquired effective aperture value is other than Auto (No in step S501), it proceeds to step S502.

[0059] Next, in step S502, the camera control unit 104 determines whether the shooting mode set in the camera 100 is a still image shooting mode, and if it is determined that it is a still image shooting mode (Yes in step S502), the process proceeds to step S503. On the other hand, if it is determined that it is not a still image shooting mode (No in step S502), the shooting mode is assumed to be a mode in which continuously captured frame images are continuously recorded like a video mode, and the process of scene transition is recorded. For this reason, the camera control unit 104 proceeds to step S506 in order to speed up the response to the user's operation to change the aperture value setting via the aperture drive ring 208, sets the lens unit 200 as the control entity of the aperture 202, and ends this process.

[0060] Next, in step S503, the camera control unit 104 determines whether or not the camera 100 is executing focus detection processing. Specifically, when an AF instruction is received from the user via the AF instruction button of the operation unit 117, the camera control unit 104 determines in step S503 that the camera 100 is executing focus detection processing.

[0061] When it is determined that focus detection processing is in progress (Yes in step S503), the camera control unit 104 proceeds to step S505, sets the camera 100 as the control entity for the aperture 202, and ends this processing. This is because it is known that in focus detection processing using image plane phase difference AF, detection accuracy generally decreases when the aperture is on the small aperture side, so that the aperture 202 can be controlled on the camera 100 side to be an aperture suitable for focus detection processing.

[0062] On the other hand, if the camera control unit 104 determines that the camera 100 is not currently performing focus detection processing (No in step S503), the process proceeds to step S504.

[0063] Next, in step S504, the camera control unit 104 determines whether or not the camera 100 is executing a flickering light source detection process. Specifically, when a flickering light source detection instruction is received from the user via a flickering light source detection instruction button provided in the operation unit 117, the camera control unit 104 determines in step S504 that the camera 100 is executing a flickering light source detection process.

[0064] If the camera control unit 104 determines that the flickering light source detection process is in progress (Yes in step S504), the process proceeds to step S505, where the camera 100 is set as the control entity for the aperture 202, and then this process ends. This is because the flickering light source detection process cannot obtain an image with appropriate brightness depending on the luminance of the subject image, resulting in reduced detection accuracy, so that the camera 100 can control the aperture 202 to an aperture suitable for the flickering light source detection process.

[0065] On the other hand, if the camera control unit 104 determines that the camera 100 is not in the flicker light source detection process (No in step S504), it is assumed that the camera 100 is in a normal shooting standby state in which no special process is being executed on the side of the camera 100 in the still image shooting mode. For this reason, the camera control unit 104 proceeds to step S506 in order to speed up the response to the user's operation to change the aperture value setting via the aperture drive ring 208, sets the lens unit 200 as the control entity of the aperture 202, and ends this process.

[0066] 4 and 5, in this embodiment, during live view operation of camera 100, the control entity of aperture 202 in imaging operation using camera 100 may be set to camera 100 or to lens unit 200. Below, the process flow of aperture drive control in each case will be described with reference to Figures 6A and 6B, and its usefulness will be shown.

[0067] Fig. 6A is a sequence diagram of the aperture drive control process in the camera system 1 when the aperture control subject is set to the lens unit 200 in the process of Fig. 5. Fig. 6B is a sequence diagram of the aperture drive control process in the camera system 1 when the aperture control subject is set to the camera 100 in the process of Fig. 5.

[0068] For example, when the camera 100 is in a video shooting mode, the lens unit 200 is set as the control subject of the aperture 202 in the aperture control subject determination process of Fig. 5. In this case, as shown in Fig. 6A, when the aperture drive ring 208 notifies the lens control unit 205 of the aperture value (set aperture value) of the aperture 202 set by a user's rotation operation, the lens control unit 205 immediately drives the aperture 202 via the aperture drive unit 204. This makes it possible to drive the aperture 202 with good response in response to an aperture change instruction from the user to the aperture drive ring 208. This is useful in a shooting mode in which the process of changing scenes is recorded by continuously recording frame images captured successively, such as in a video mode.

[0069] On the other hand, when the camera 100 is in a mode for recording an image captured one-off, such as a still image shooting mode, and is in focus detection processing (AF processing) or flicker detection processing, the aperture control subject determination processing of FIG. 5 sets the aperture 202 control subject to the camera 100. In this case as well, as shown in FIG. 6B, the aperture value (set aperture value) of the aperture 202 set by the user by rotating the aperture drive ring 208 is transmitted to the camera 100 via the lens control unit 205 as an effective aperture value. On the camera 100 side, when the exposure control unit 108 calculates a target aperture value based on the effective aperture value transmitted from the lens unit 200, the camera control unit 104 transmits the target aperture value together with an aperture drive request to the lens unit 200. When the lens control unit 205 receives the aperture drive request and the target aperture value from the camera 100 side, it drives the aperture 202 via the aperture drive unit 204 in response to the request. Therefore, the camera control unit 104 can control the aperture to a value (for example, a fully open aperture) suitable for the processing being executed (for example, focus detection processing) as necessary. Such control is useful in the still image mode, in which a single captured image is recorded and therefore the responsiveness of the aperture 202 drive to the user's rotation of the aperture drive ring 208 is relatively low, since it can suppress degradation of performance of specific camera functions.

[0070] A mode notification icon (mode display means) indicating whether the current aperture control mode in the lens unit 200 is the manual aperture mode or the automatic aperture mode may be displayed on the image display unit 114 of the camera 100. For example, a user may operate the aperture drive ring 208 in manual aperture mode during live view operation to set an aperture value, and then press the AF instruction button in still image mode. In this case, the aperture control mode automatically switches from the manual aperture mode to the automatic aperture mode in step S407, and the display of the mode notification icon allows the user to immediately know that this automatic switch to the automatic aperture mode has occurred.

[0071] Furthermore, when automatic switching to the automatic aperture mode is performed in step S407, the effective aperture value before the automatic switching acquired in step S401 and the effective aperture value (target aperture value) after the aperture drive control in step S409 may be displayed on the image display unit 114 (aperture value display means). This makes it possible to easily check how much the effective aperture value has changed from the set aperture value due to the automatic switching, for example, when the effective aperture value before the automatic switching acquired in step S401 is the set aperture value manually set by the user using the aperture drive ring 208.

[0072] Furthermore, when automatic switching to the automatic aperture mode is performed in step S407, a warning message (warning display means) such as "Manual aperture setting is currently not possible" may be displayed (for example, blinking) on ​​the image display unit 114. This allows the user to recognize that while this warning is being displayed, the effective aperture value cannot be changed even by rotating the aperture drive ring 208.

[0073] Furthermore, if the mode is changed from the automatic aperture mode to the manual aperture mode during live view operation (YES in step S406a), the aperture 202 may be returned to the effective aperture value acquired in step S401 in step S409, and then the warning display may be ended. This allows the user to quickly perform shooting processing in the still image mode at the aperture value desired by the user that was manually set before the automatic switching, without rotating the aperture drive ring 208, after the warning display has ended.

[0074] (Other embodiments) In this embodiment, a program for implementing one or more functions may be provided to a computer of the system or device via a network or storage medium, and the system controller of the system or device may read and execute the program. The system controller may have one or more processors or circuits, and may include multiple separate system controllers or a network of multiple separate processors or circuits to read and execute the executable instructions.

[0075] The processor or circuitry may include a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessing unit (MPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a digital signal processor (DSP), a data flow processor (DFP), or a neural processing unit (NPU).

[0076] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

[0077] The disclosure of this embodiment includes the following configuration, method, and program. (Configuration 1) A camera system having a lens device and an imaging device capable of communicating with each other, the lens device comprising an aperture for adjusting the amount of light when photographing with the imaging device, an aperture value setting means for setting a first aperture value in response to a user operation, and an aperture control means for controlling the aperture so that an effective aperture value becomes the first aperture value in a first mode, the imaging device comprising an image acquisition means for acquiring a frame image by capturing an image of a subject during a live view operation in a state in which the amount of received light is adjusted by the aperture, a photometric value calculation means for calculating a photometric value from the frame image, and an aperture value calculation means for calculating an aperture value in response to the photometric value. a mode transition means for, when the determined aperture control subject is the imaging device, determining the aperture value calculated by the aperture value calculation means as a second aperture value and transitioning the lens device to a second mode; and a compulsory control means for, when the mode transition means transitions the lens device to the second mode, forcibly controlling the aperture control means so that the effective aperture value becomes the determined second aperture value rather than the first aperture value. (Configuration 2) The camera system described in configuration 1, characterized in that when the shooting mode is a mode in which captured images are continuously recorded, the aperture control subject determination means determines the lens device to be the aperture control subject, and the forced control means transitions the lens device to the first mode. (Configuration 3) The camera system according to configuration 1 or 2, characterized in that the aperture control subject determination means determines that the aperture control subject is the imaging device when the shooting mode is a mode for recording a captured image one-off and AF processing is in progress. (Configuration 4) The camera system according to Configuration 3, wherein the aperture control subject determination means determines that the aperture control subject is the imaging device when the shooting mode is a mode for recording a captured image one-off and flicker detection processing is in progress. (Configuration 5) The camera system according to configuration 3, wherein the aperture control subject determination means determines the lens device to be the aperture control subject when the AF process is completed. (Configuration 6) The camera system according to configuration 4, wherein the aperture control subject determining means determines the lens device to be the aperture control subject when the flicker detection process is completed. (Configuration 7) The imaging device further includes an aperture value acquisition means for acquiring the effective aperture value from the lens device before the aperture control subject determination means determines the aperture control subject, and when, during the live view operation, the mode transition means transitions the lens device to the second mode and then further transitions the lens device to the first mode, the forced control means forcibly controls the aperture control means so that the effective aperture value becomes the first aperture value acquired by the aperture value acquisition means. (Configuration 8) The camera system according to configuration 7, further comprising a mode display means for displaying whether the current mode is the first mode or the second mode during the live view operation. (Configuration 9) The camera system described in Configuration 7 or 8, further comprising an aperture value display means for displaying, in the second mode, the effective aperture value acquired by the aperture value acquisition means and the second aperture value. (Configuration 10) The camera system described in any one of configurations 7 to 9, further comprising a warning display means for displaying a warning that, in the second mode, the effective aperture value will not be changed in response to the user's operation on the aperture value setting means. (Configuration 11) The camera system described in configuration 10, characterized in that when, during the live view operation, the mode transition means transitions the lens device to the second mode and then further transitions the lens device to the first mode, the aperture control means is forcibly controlled by the forced control means so that the effective aperture value becomes the first aperture value acquired by the aperture value acquisition means, and then the warning display by the warning display means is terminated. (Configuration 12) An imaging device communicably connected to a lens device, the lens device comprising: an aperture control means for controlling the aperture so that an effective aperture value is the first aperture value when the image capturing apparatus is in a first mode, and the image capturing apparatus further comprises: an image capturing means for capturing an image of a subject during a live view operation to capture frame images; a photometric value calculation means for calculating a photometric value from the frame images; an aperture value calculation means for calculating an aperture value in accordance with the photometric value; an aperture control subject determination means for determining whether an aperture control subject is the lens device or the image capturing apparatus in accordance with a shooting mode during the live view operation; a mode transition means for, when the determined aperture control subject is the image capturing apparatus, determining the aperture value calculated by the aperture value calculation means as a second aperture value and transitioning the lens device to a second mode; and a forced control means forcibly controlling the aperture control means so that the effective aperture value is the determined second aperture value instead of the first aperture value when the mode transition means transitions the lens device to the second mode. (Configuration 13) A lens device capable of communicating with an imaging device, comprising: an aperture that adjusts the amount of light when photographing with the imaging device; an aperture value setting means that sets a first aperture value in response to user operation; and an aperture control means that controls the aperture so that, in a first mode, an effective aperture value becomes the first aperture value, wherein, when the lens device transitions to a second mode in response to an instruction from the imaging device in response to a photographing mode during live view operation, the aperture control means is forcibly controlled by the imaging device so that the effective aperture value becomes a second aperture value determined by the imaging device rather than the first aperture value. (Method 1) A control method for a camera system having a lens device and an imaging device capable of communicating with each other, the control method including, in the lens device, an adjustment step of adjusting the amount of light when photographing with the imaging device using an aperture, an aperture value setting step of setting a first aperture value in response to a user operation, and an aperture control step of controlling the aperture so that an effective aperture value becomes the first aperture value in a first mode, and, in the imaging device, an image acquisition step of capturing an image of a subject during the aperture live view operation to acquire a frame image, a photometric value calculation step of calculating a photometric value from the frame image, and an aperture value calculation step of calculating an aperture value in response to the photometric value, a mode transition step of determining an aperture control subject as to whether the lens device or the imaging device will be an aperture control subject in accordance with a shooting mode during the live view operation, and determining, when the determined aperture control subject is the imaging device, the aperture value calculated in the aperture value calculation step as a second aperture value and transitioning the lens device to a second mode; and, when the lens device has transitioned to the second mode in the mode transition step, forcibly controlling the aperture control step so that the effective aperture value is the determined second aperture value rather than the first aperture value. (Method 2) A control method for an imaging device communicably connected to a lens device, the lens device comprising an aperture for adjusting an amount of light when photographing with the imaging device, an aperture value setting means for setting a first aperture value in response to a user operation, and an aperture control means for controlling the aperture so that an effective aperture value becomes the first aperture value in a first mode, the control method including an image acquisition step of photographing a subject during a live view operation to acquire a frame image, a photometric value calculation step of calculating a photometric value from the frame image, an aperture value calculation step of calculating an aperture value in response to the photometric value, and a mode transition step of determining an aperture control subject as an aperture control subject to be the lens device or the imaging device in accordance with a shadow mode, and determining an aperture value calculated in the aperture value calculation step as a second aperture value and transitioning the lens device to a second mode when the determined aperture control subject is the imaging device, and a forced control step of forcibly controlling the aperture control means so that the effective aperture value becomes the determined second aperture value rather than the first aperture value when the lens device has transitioned to the second mode in the mode transition step. (Method 3) A control method for a lens device capable of communicating with an imaging device, comprising: an adjustment step for adjusting the amount of light when shooting with the imaging device using an aperture; an aperture value setting step for setting a first aperture value in accordance with user operation; and an aperture control step for controlling the aperture so that, in a first mode, an effective aperture value becomes the first aperture value, wherein, when the lens device transitions to a second mode in response to an instruction from the imaging device in accordance with a shooting mode during live view operation, the aperture control step is forcibly controlled by the imaging device so that the effective aperture value becomes a second aperture value determined by the imaging device rather than the first aperture value. (Program 1) A program executable by a computer, causing the computer to function as each of the means of the camera system described in any one of configurations 1 to 11. (Program 2) A program executable by a computer, causing the computer to function as each of the means of the imaging device according to configuration 12. (Program 3) A program executable by a computer, causing the computer to function as each of the means of the lens apparatus described in configuration 13. [Explanation of symbols]

[0078] 1 Camera System 100 Cameras 102 Image sensor 104 Camera control unit 107 Photometry processing section 108 Exposure control section 109 Focus detection processing unit 110 Flicker detection processing unit 114 Image display unit 200 Lens unit 205 Lens control unit 208 Aperture drive ring

Claims

1. A camera system having a lens device and an imaging device that can communicate with each other, The aforementioned lens device is The aperture used to adjust the amount of light during shooting with the aforementioned imaging device, A first aperture value setting means that sets an aperture value according to user operation, In the first mode, aperture control means controls the aperture so that the effective aperture value becomes the first aperture value, Equipped with, The imaging device is Image acquisition means that captures a frame image of a subject during live view operation with the amount of light received adjusted by the aperture, A photometric value calculation means for calculating a photometric value from the frame image, Aperture value calculation means for calculating aperture value according to the aforementioned photometric value, Aperture control entity determination means for determining whether the main entity for aperture control is the lens device or the imaging device, depending on the shooting mode during the live view operation, When the determined aperture control entity is the imaging device, a mode transition means determines the aperture value calculated by the aperture value calculation means as a second aperture value and transitions the lens device to a second mode, When the mode transition means transitions the lens device to the second mode, the forced control means forcibly controls the aperture control means so that the effective aperture value becomes the determined second aperture value instead of the first aperture value, A camera system characterized by having the following features.

2. The aperture control entity determination means determines the lens device as the aperture control entity when the shooting mode is a mode for continuously recording captured images. The camera system according to claim 1, characterized in that the forced control means causes the lens device to transition to the first mode.

3. The camera system according to claim 1, characterized in that the aperture control entity determination means determines the imaging device as the aperture control entity when the shooting mode is a mode for recording captured images one by one and AF processing is in progress.

4. The camera system according to claim 3, characterized in that the aperture control entity determination means determines the imaging device as the aperture control entity when the shooting mode is a mode for recording captured images one by one and flicker detection processing is in progress.

5. The camera system according to claim 3, characterized in that the aperture control entity determination means determines the lens device as the aperture control entity when the AF processing is completed.

6. The camera system according to claim 4, characterized in that the aperture control entity determination means determines the lens device as the aperture control entity when the flicker detection process is completed.

7. The imaging device is The aperture control main determination means further comprises an aperture value acquisition means for acquiring the effective aperture value from the lens device before determining the aperture control main by the aperture control main determination means, During the live view operation, if the mode transition means transitions the lens device to the second mode and then further transitions the lens device to the first mode, the forced control means sets the effective aperture value to the first aperture value obtained by the aperture value acquisition means. The camera system according to claim 1, characterized in that the aperture control means is forcibly controlled.

8. The camera system according to claim 7, further comprising mode display means for indicating which of the first mode and the second mode is being used during the live view operation.

9. The camera system according to claim 7, further comprising aperture value display means for displaying the effective aperture value obtained by the aperture value acquisition means and the second aperture value in the case of the second mode.

10. The camera system according to claim 7, further comprising a warning display means that displays a warning that the effective aperture value will not be changed in response to the user operation on the aperture value setting means in the case of the second mode.

11. The camera system according to claim 10, characterized in that, during the live view operation, if the mode transition means transitions the lens device to the second mode and then further transitions the lens device to the first mode, the aperture control means is forcibly controlled by the forced control means so that the effective aperture value becomes the first aperture value obtained by the aperture value acquisition means, and then the warning display by the warning display means ends.

12. An imaging device that is connected to a lens device in a communicative manner, The aforementioned lens device is The aperture used to adjust the amount of light during shooting with the aforementioned imaging device, A first aperture value setting means that sets an aperture value according to user operation, In the first mode, the system includes aperture control means for controlling the aperture so that the effective aperture value becomes the first aperture value, The imaging device is An image acquisition means that captures a frame image by taking a picture of the subject during live view operation, A photometric value calculation means for calculating a photometric value from the frame image, Aperture value calculation means for calculating aperture value according to the aforementioned photometric value, Aperture control entity determination means for determining whether the main entity for aperture control is the lens device or the imaging device, depending on the shooting mode during the live view operation, When the determined aperture control entity is the imaging device, a mode transition means determines the aperture value calculated by the aperture value calculation means as a second aperture value and transitions the lens device to a second mode, When the mode transition means transitions the lens device to the second mode, the forced control means forcibly controls the aperture control means so that the effective aperture value becomes the determined second aperture value instead of the first aperture value, An imaging device characterized by comprising:

13. A lens device capable of communicating with an imaging device, The aperture used to adjust the amount of light during shooting with the aforementioned imaging device, A first aperture value setting means that sets an aperture value according to user operation, In the first mode, the system includes aperture control means for controlling the aperture so that the effective aperture value becomes the first aperture value, A lens device characterized in that, when the lens device transitions to a second mode in response to an instruction from the imaging device corresponding to the shooting mode during live view operation, the aperture control means is forcibly controlled by the imaging device so that the effective aperture value becomes a second aperture value determined by the imaging device, rather than the first aperture value.

14. A control method for a camera system having a lens device and an imaging device that can communicate with each other, In the aforementioned lens device, An adjustment step to adjust the amount of light during shooting with the imaging device by adjusting the aperture, A first aperture value setting step in response to user operation, In the first mode, the aperture control step controls the aperture so that the effective aperture value becomes the first aperture value, Execute, In the aforementioned imaging device, The image acquisition step involves capturing a frame image by taking an image of the subject during the aperture live view operation, A photometric value calculation step, which involves calculating a photometric value from the frame image, A step of calculating an aperture value according to the aforementioned photometric value, A step to determine whether the main aperture control entity is the lens device or the imaging device, depending on the shooting mode during the live view operation; If the determined aperture control entity is the imaging device, the aperture value calculated in the aperture value calculation step is determined to be a second aperture value, and the lens device is transitioned to a second mode in a mode transition step. If the lens device transitions to the second mode in the mode transition step, a forced control step is provided to forcibly control the aperture control step so that the effective aperture value becomes the determined second aperture value instead of the first aperture value. A control method characterized by performing the following.

15. A control method for an imaging device that is communicatively connected to a lens device, The aforementioned lens device is The aperture used to adjust the amount of light during shooting with the aforementioned imaging device, A first aperture value setting means that sets an aperture value according to user operation, In the first mode, the system includes aperture control means for controlling the aperture so that the effective aperture value becomes the first aperture value, The control method described above is An image acquisition step that captures a frame image by taking a picture of the subject during live view operation, A photometric value calculation step, which involves calculating a photometric value from the frame image, A step of calculating an aperture value according to the aforementioned photometric value, A step to determine whether the main aperture control entity is the lens device or the imaging device, depending on the shooting mode during the live view operation; If the determined aperture control entity is the imaging device, the aperture value calculated in the aperture value calculation step is determined to be a second aperture value, and the lens device is transitioned to a second mode in a mode transition step. If the lens device transitions to the second mode in the mode transition step, a forced control step is performed to forcibly control the aperture control means so that the effective aperture value becomes the determined second aperture value instead of the first aperture value. A control method characterized by having the following features.

16. A control method for a lens device that can communicate with an imaging device, An adjustment step to adjust the amount of light during shooting with the imaging device by adjusting the aperture, A first aperture value setting step in response to user operation, In the first mode, the system includes an aperture control step of controlling the aperture so that the effective aperture value becomes the first aperture value, A control method characterized in that, when the lens device transitions to a second mode in response to an instruction from the imaging device corresponding to the shooting mode during live view operation, the aperture control step is forcibly controlled by the imaging device so that the effective aperture value becomes a second aperture value determined by the imaging device, rather than the first aperture value.

17. A program for causing a computer to execute each step of the control method described in any one of claims 14 to 16.

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