Image pickup apparatus, image processing apparatus, image pickup method, and image processing method

Claim 2

1 . An image pickup apparatus comprising: an automatic in-focus position determination device which determines an in-focus position of a main subject on the basis of image data; a focus bracket photography device which obtains a plurality of images by successively photographing images while discretely moving a focal position by a predetermined moving amount; a focal position control device which controls the focal position, so as to include the in-focus position of the main subject determined by the automatic in-focus position determination device and focal positions followed and preceded by the in-focus position; an image synthesis device which synthesizes the plurality of images photographed by the focus bracket photography device, including an image photographed at the in-focus position of the main subject and images photographed at the focal positions followed and preceded by the in-focus position of the main subject; and a recording device which records an image obtained by the image synthesis device on a recording medium.

Claim 3

2 . The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the image synthesis device selects a pixel photographed at the in-focus position of the main subject, among pixels at corresponding coordinates among the plurality of images, if sharpness of the pixel is maximum, selects a pixel photographed at a focal position symmetrical, with respect to the in-focus position of the main subject, to the focal position at which sharpness of a pixel is maximum if the sharpness of the pixel photographed at the focal position other than the in-focus position of the main subject is maximum, and performs image synthesis.

Claim 4

3 . An image pickup apparatus comprising: an automatic in-focus position determination device which determines an in-focus position of a main subject on the basis of image data; a focus bracket photography device which obtains a plurality of images by successively photographing images while discretely moving a focal position by a predetermined moving amount; a focal position control device which controls the focal position, so as to include the in-focus position of the main subject determined by the automatic in-focus position determination device and focal positions followed and preceded by the in-focus position; a blur amount calculation device which calculates a blur amount according to pixel coordinates from the plurality of images photographed by the focus bracket photography device, including an image photographed at the in-focus position of the main subject and images photographed at the focal positions followed and preceded by the in-focus position of the main subject; a blurring process device which performs blurring process on one frame of a reference image selected from the plurality of images according to a predetermined criteria, on the basis of the calculated blur amount; and a recording device which records the reference image which is blurring-processed by the blurring process device on a recording medium.

Claim 5

3 . An image pickup apparatus comprising: an automatic in-focus position determination device which determines an in-focus position of a main subject on the basis of image data; a focus bracket photography device which obtains a plurality of images by successively photographing images while discretely moving a focal position by a predetermined moving amount; a focal position control device which controls the focal position, so as to include the in-focus position of the main subject determined by the automatic in-focus position determination device and focal positions followed and preceded by the in-focus position; a blur amount calculation device which calculates a blur amount according to pixel coordinates from the plurality of images photographed by the focus bracket photography device, including an image photographed at the in-focus position of the main subject and images photographed at the focal positions followed and preceded by the in-focus position of the main subject; a blurring process device which performs blurring process on one frame of a reference image selected from the plurality of images according to a predetermined criteria, on the basis of the calculated blur amount; and a recording device which records the reference image which is blurring-processed by the blurring process device on a recording medium.

Claim 6

4 . The image pickup apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the focal position control device controls the focal position on the basis of at least one of an aperture and a focal distance at the time of photographing.

Claim 7

5 . The image pickup apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising a sharpness calculating device which calculates sharpness of pixels at corresponding coordinates among the plurality of images, wherein the blur amount calculation device calculates the blur amount on the basis of the calculation result of the sharpness calculating device.

Claim 8

6 . The image pickup apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising a blur emphasis degree setting device which sets a blur emphasis degree, wherein the blur amount calculation device calculates a blur amount according to the blur emphasis degree set by the blur emphasis degree setting device.

Claim 9

7 . The image pickup apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the reference image is an image photographed at the in-focus position of the main subject.

Claim 10

8 . The image pickup apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the blurring process device produces a smoothed image from the reference image using a lowpass filter which causes the blur amount to become larger as a cutoff frequency becomes lower.

Claim 11

9 . The image pickup apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the blur amount calculation device calculates the blur amount, so as to make the blur amount larger with the increase of a difference between the focal position of an image having the highest sharpness and the focal position of the reference image.

Claim 12

10 . An image processing apparatus comprising: an input device which inputs a plurality of images of an identical scene respectively photographed at different focal positions, including an image photographed at an in-focus position of a main subject and images photographed at focal positions followed and preceded by the in-focus position of the main subject; an image synthesis device which synthesizes the plurality of images; and an output device which outputs an image obtained by the image synthesis device.

Claim 13

10 . An image processing apparatus comprising: an input device which inputs a plurality of images of an identical scene respectively photographed at different focal positions, including an image photographed at an in-focus position of a main subject and images photographed at focal positions followed and preceded by the in-focus position of the main subject; an image synthesis device which synthesizes the plurality of images; and an output device which outputs an image obtained by the image synthesis device.

Claim 14

11 . An image processing apparatus comprising: an input device which inputs a plurality of images of an identical scene respectively photographed at different focal positions, including an image photographed at an in-focus position of a main subject and images photographed at focal positions followed and preceded by the in-focus position of the main subject; a focal position control device which controls the focal position, so as to include the in-focus position of the main subject determined by the automatic in-focus position determination device and focal positions followed and preceded by the in-focus position; a blur amount calculation device which calculates a blur amount according to pixel coordinates from the plurality of images photographed by the focus bracket photography device, including an image photographed at the in-focus position of the main subject and images photographed at the focal positions followed and preceded by the in-focus position of the main subject; a blurring process device which performs blurring process on one frame of a reference image selected from the plurality of images according to a predetermined criteria, on the basis of the calculated blur amount; and an output device which outputs the reference image blurring processed by the blurring process device.

Claim 15

11 . An image processing apparatus comprising: an input device which inputs a plurality of images of an identical scene respectively photographed at different focal positions, including an image photographed at an in-focus position of a main subject and images photographed at focal positions followed and preceded by the in-focus position of the main subject; a focal position control device which controls the focal position, so as to include the in-focus position of the main subject determined by the automatic in-focus position determination device and focal positions followed and preceded by the in-focus position; a blur amount calculation device which calculates a blur amount according to pixel coordinates from the plurality of images photographed by the focus bracket photography device, including an image photographed at the in-focus position of the main subject and images photographed at the focal positions followed and preceded by the in-focus position of the main subject; a blurring process device which performs blurring process on one frame of a reference image selected from the plurality of images according to a predetermined criteria, on the basis of the calculated blur amount; and an output device which outputs the reference image blurring processed by the blurring process device.

Claim 16

12 . An image pickup method comprising: an automatic in-focus position determination step of determining an in-focus position of a main subject on the basis of image data; a focus bracket photography step of obtaining a plurality of images by successively photographing images while discretely moving a focal position by a predetermined moving amount; a focal position control step of controlling the focal position, so as to include the in-focus position of the main subject determined by the automatic in-focus position determination step and focal positions followed and preceded by the in-focus position of the main subject; an image synthesis step of synthesizing the plurality of images photographed by the focus bracket photography step, including an image photographed at the in-focus position of the main subject and images photographed at the focal positions followed and preceded by the in-focus position of the main subject; and a recording step of recording an image obtained by the image synthesis step on a recording medium.

Claim 17

12 . An image pickup method comprising: an automatic in-focus position determination step of determining an in-focus position of a main subject on the basis of image data; a focus bracket photography step of obtaining a plurality of images by successively photographing images while discretely moving a focal position by a predetermined moving amount; a focal position control step of controlling the focal position, so as to include the in-focus position of the main subject determined by the automatic in-focus position determination step and focal positions followed and preceded by the in-focus position of the main subject; an image synthesis step of synthesizing the plurality of images photographed by the focus bracket photography step, including an image photographed at the in-focus position of the main subject and images photographed at the focal positions followed and preceded by the in-focus position of the main subject; and a recording step of recording an image obtained by the image synthesis step on a recording medium.

Claim 18

13 . An image pickup method comprising: an automatic in-focus position determination step of determining an in-focus position of a main subject on the basis of image data; a focus bracket photography step of obtaining a plurality of images by successively photographing images while discretely moving a focal position by a predetermined moving amount; a focal position control step of controlling the focal position, so as to include the in-focus position of the main subject determined by the automatic in-focus position determination step and focal positions followed and preceded by the in-focus position of the main subject; a blur amount calculation step of calculating a blur amount according to pixel coordinates from the plurality of images photographed by the focus bracket photography step, including an image photographed at the in-focus position of the main subject and images photographed at the focal positions followed and preceded by the in-focus position of the main subject; a blurring process step of performing blurring process on one frame of a reference image selected from the plurality of images according to a predetermined criteria, on the basis of the calculated blur amount; and a recording step of recording the reference image blurring-processed by the blurring process step on a recording medium.

Claim 19

13 . An image pickup method comprising: an automatic in-focus position determination step of determining an in-focus position of a main subject on the basis of image data; a focus bracket photography step of obtaining a plurality of images by successively photographing images while discretely moving a focal position by a predetermined moving amount; a focal position control step of controlling the focal position, so as to include the in-focus position of the main subject determined by the automatic in-focus position determination step and focal positions followed and preceded by the in-focus position of the main subject; a blur amount calculation step of calculating a blur amount according to pixel coordinates from the plurality of images photographed by the focus bracket photography step, including an image photographed at the in-focus position of the main subject and images photographed at the focal positions followed and preceded by the in-focus position of the main subject; a blurring process step of performing blurring process on one frame of a reference image selected from the plurality of images according to a predetermined criteria, on the basis of the calculated blur amount; and a recording step of recording the reference image blurring-processed by the blurring process step on a recording medium.

Claim 20

14 . An image processing method comprising: an input step of inputting a plurality of images of an identical scene respectively photographed at different focal positions, including an image photographed at an in-focus position of a main subject and images photographed at focal positions followed and preceded by the in-focus position of the main subject; an image synthesis step of synthesizing the plurality of images; and an output step of outputting an image obtained by the image synthesis step.

Claim 21

14 . An image processing method comprising: an input step of inputting a plurality of images of an identical scene respectively photographed at different focal positions, including an image photographed at an in-focus position of a main subject and images photographed at focal positions followed and preceded by the in-focus position of the main subject; an image synthesis step of synthesizing the plurality of images; and an output step of outputting an image obtained by the image synthesis step.

Claim 22

15 . An image processing method comprising: an automatic in-focus position determination step of determining an in-focus position of a main subject on the basis of image data; a focus bracket photography step of obtaining a plurality of images by successively photographing images while discretely moving a focal position by a predetermined moving amount; a focal position control step of controlling the focal position, so as to include the in-focus position of the main subject determined by the automatic in-focus position determination step and focal positions followed and preceded by the in-focus position of the main subject; a blur amount calculation step of calculating a blur amount according to pixel coordinates from the plurality of images photographed by the focus bracket photography step, including an image photographed at the in-focus position of the main subject and images photographed at the focal positions followed and preceded by the in-focus position of the main subject; a blurring process step of performing blurring process on one frame of a reference image selected from the plurality of images according to a predetermined criteria, on the basis of the calculated blur amount; and a recording step of recording the reference image blurring-processed by the blurring process step on a recording medium.

Claim 23

15 . An image processing method comprising: an automatic in-focus position determination step of determining an in-focus position of a main subject on the basis of image data; a focus bracket photography step of obtaining a plurality of images by successively photographing images while discretely moving a focal position by a predetermined moving amount; a focal position control step of controlling the focal position, so as to include the in-focus position of the main subject determined by the automatic in-focus position determination step and focal positions followed and preceded by the in-focus position of the main subject; a blur amount calculation step of calculating a blur amount according to pixel coordinates from the plurality of images photographed by the focus bracket photography step, including an image photographed at the in-focus position of the main subject and images photographed at the focal positions followed and preceded by the in-focus position of the main subject; a blurring process step of performing blurring process on one frame of a reference image selected from the plurality of images according to a predetermined criteria, on the basis of the calculated blur amount; and a recording step of recording the reference image blurring-processed by the blurring process step on a recording medium.