Image processing apparatus and method for setting wide dynamic range mode based on luminance of image

An image processing apparatus comprising:

• an image sensor configured to output image data having a plurality of image channels;
• at least one processor configured to implement:
• a mode setting unit which changes a photographing mode from a first mode in which a first number of sub-images are synthesized to a second mode in which a second number of sub-images are synthesized, based on luminance of the output image data:
• and
• a register setting unit which changes a register value of the image sensor according to the second mode;
• and
• an image signal processor (ISP) configured to generate a result image by synthesizing the second number of sub-images from the image data according to the changed register value,
• wherein the second number of sub-images have different exposure times,
• wherein the register value comprises a maximum shutter speed for each photographing mode and a shutter speed for each image channel, and
• wherein the maximum shutter speed is set in inverse proportion to a number of sub-images to be synthesized for generating the result image.