Image capturing apparatus, control method thereof, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium

An image capturing apparatus having an input terminal for synchronization with another image capturing apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

• a generating unit that generates a video signal by shooting an image using an image capturing unit;
• an interface for connecting an expansion unit, the expansion unit including a first input terminal, and a first detecting unit that detects an input of a first synchronization signal to the first input terminal;
• and
• a detecting unit that detects whether the expansion unit is connected to the interface or is not connected to the interface;
• a second input terminal;
• a second detecting unit that detects an input of a second synchronization signal to the second input terminal;
• a synchronization unit that carries out a first synchronization process for synchronizing the video signal on the basis of the first synchronization signal or a second synchronization process for synchronizing the video signal on the basis of the second synchronization signal;
• and
• a control unit that carries out control so that when the first synchronization signal has been detected by the first detecting unit while the second synchronization process is being executed, the second synchronization process is stopped and the first synchronization process is executed,
• wherein when the detecting unit has detected that the expansion unit is not connected, the control unit locks the synchronization to synchronization using the second synchronization unit.

A method of controlling an image capturing apparatus having an input terminal for synchronization with another image capturing apparatus, the method comprising:

• (a) generating a video signal by shooting an image using an image capturing unit;
• (b) detecting an input of a first synchronization signal, where the first synchronization signal is a GENLOCK signal;
• (c) detecting an input of a second synchronization signal, where the second synchronization signal is a timecode signal,
• (d) carrying out a first synchronization process for matching phases of the video signal and the first synchronization signal in order to synchronize the video signal with the first synchronization signal;
• (e) carrying out a second synchronization process for matching phases of the video signal and the second synchronization signal in order to synchronize the video signal with the second synchronization signal;
• f) assigning, to the video signal, a timecode based on the second synchronization signal;
• and
• g) carrying out control so that when the first synchronization signal has been detected in the detecting (h) while the second synchronization process is being executed, the second synchronization process is stopped and the first synchronization process is executed,
• wherein, even if the second synchronization process based on the second synchronization signal is stopped, the control unit updates the timecode assigned in the assigning (f) while the second synchronization signal is inputted.

A non-transitory computer-readable:

• storage medium storing a program which, when read and executed by a computer of an image capturing apparatus having an input terminal for synchronization with another image capturing apparatus, causes the image capturing apparatus to executes the steps of a method of controlling the image capturing apparatus, the method comprising:
• (a) generating a video signal by shooting an image using an image capturing unit;
• (b) detecting an input of a first synchronization signal, where the first synchronization signal is a GENLOCK signal;
• (c) detecting an input of a second synchronization signal, where the second synchronization signal is a timecode signal;
• (d) carrying out a first synchronization process for matching phases of the video signal and the first synchronization signal in order to synchronize the video signal with the first synchronization signal;
• (e) carrying out a second synchronization process for matching phases of the video signal and the second synchronization signal in order to synchronize the video signal with the second synchronization signal;
• (f) assigning, to the video signal, a timecode based on the second synchronization signal;
• and
• (g) carrying out control so that when the first synchronization signal has been detected in the detecting (b) while the second synchronization process is being executed, the second synchronization process is stopped and the first synchronization process is executed,
• wherein, even if the second synchronization process based on the second synchronization signal is stopped, the control unit updates the timecode assigned in the assigning (f) while the second synchronization signal is inputted.