Image processing apparatus, method, and program

An image processing apparatus comprising:

• an image pickup device which has a structure in which a large number of primary photosensitive pixels having a narrower dynamic range and higher sensitivity and a large number of secondary photosensitive pixels having a wider dynamic range and lower sensitivity are arranged in a given arrangement and image signals can be obtained from said primary photosensitive pixels and said secondary photosensitive pixels at one exposure;
• a first image signal processing device which generates first image information according to signals obtained from said primary photosensitive pixels with the purpose of outputting an image by a first output device;
• and
• a second image signal processing device which generates second image information according to signals obtained from said secondary photosensitive pixels with the purpose of outputting an image by a second output device different from said first output device.

An image processing apparatus comprising:

• an image pickup device which has a structure in which a large number of primary photosensitive pixels having a narrower dynamic range and higher sensitivity and a large number of secondary photosensitive pixels having a wider dynamic range and lower sensitivity are arranged in a given arrangement and image signals can be obtained from said primary photosensitive pixels and said secondary photosensitive pixels at one exposure;
• a storage control device which controls storing of first image information obtained from said primary photosensitive pixels and said second image information obtained from said secondary photosensitive pixels;
• a D range setting operation device for specifying a dynamic range for said second image information;
• and
• a D range changeable control device which changes a reproduction luminance gamut for said second image information according to a setting specified with said D range setting operation device.

An image processing method comprising:

• an image pickup step of capturing an image of a subject by an image pickup device which has a structure in which a large number of primary photosensitive pixels having a narrower dynamic range and higher sensitivity and a large number of secondary photosensitive pixels having a wider dynamic range and lower sensitivity are arranged in a given arrangement and image signals can be obtained from said primary photosensitive pixels and said secondary photosensitive pixels at one exposure;
• an information storing step of storing first image information obtained from said primary photosensitive pixels and second image information obtained from said secondary photosensitive pixels;
• the selection step of selecting whether or not said second image information is to be stored;
• and
• a storage control step of controlling storing of said first image information and said second image information according to said selection.

An image processing method comprising:

• an image pickup step of capturing an image of a subject by an image pickup device which has a structure in which a large number of primary photosensitive pixels having a narrower dynamic range and higher sensitivity and a large number of secondary photosensitive pixels having a wider dynamic range and lower sensitivity are arranged in a given arrangement and image signals can be obtained from said primary photosensitive pixels and said secondary photosensitive pixels at one exposure;
• a first image signal processing step of generating first image information according to signals obtained from said primary photosensitive pixels with the purpose of outputting an image by a first output device;
• and
• a second image signal processing step of generating second image information according to signals obtained from said secondary photosensitive pixels with the purpose of outputting an image by a second output device different from said first output device.

An image processing method comprising:

• an image pickup step of capturing an image of a subject by an image pickup device which has a structure in which a large number of primary photosensitive pixels having a narrower dynamic range and higher sensitivity and a large number of secondary photosensitive pixels having a wider dynamic range and lower sensitivity are arranged in a given arrangement and image signals can be obtained from said primary photosensitive pixels and said secondary photosensitive pixels at one exposure;
• a storage control step of controlling storing of first image information obtained from said primary photosensitive pixels and said second image information obtained from said secondary photosensitive pixels;
• a D range setting operation step of specifying a dynamic range for said second image information;
• and
• a D range changeable control step of changing a reproduction luminance gamut for said second image information according to a setting specified at said D range setting operation step.

An image processing program that causes a computer to implement:

• an image pickup function of capturing an image by using an image pickup device which has a structure in which a large number of primary photosensitive pixels having a narrower dynamic range and higher sensitivity and a large number of secondary photosensitive pixels having a wider dynamic range and lower sensitivity are arranged in a given arrangement and image signals can be obtained from said primary photosensitive pixels and said secondary photosensitive pixels at one exposure;
• an information storing function of storing first image information obtained from said primary photosensitive pixels and second image information obtained from said secondary photosensitive pixels;
• the selection step of selecting whether or not said second image information is to be stored;
• and
• a storage control function of controlling storing of said first image information and said second image information according to said selection.

An image processing program that causes a computer to implement:

• an image pickup function of capturing an image by using an image pickup device which has a structure in which a large number of primary photosensitive pixels having a narrower dynamic range and higher sensitivity and a large number of secondary photosensitive pixels having a wider dynamic range and lower sensitivity are arranged in a given arrangement and image signals can be obtained from said primary photosensitive pixels and said secondary photosensitive pixels at one exposure;
• a first image signal processing function of generating first image information according to signals obtained from said primary photosensitive pixels with the purpose of outputting an image by a first output device;
• and
• a second image signal processing function of generating second image information according to signals obtained from said secondary photosensitive pixels with the purpose of outputting an image by a second output device different from said first output device.

An image processing program that causes a computer to implement:

• an image pickup function of capturing an image by using an image pickup device which has a structure in which a large number of primary photosensitive pixels having a narrower dynamic range and higher sensitivity and a large number of secondary photosensitive pixels having a wider dynamic range and lower sensitivity are arranged in a given arrangement and image signals can be obtained from said primary photosensitive pixels and said secondary photosensitive pixels at one exposure;
• a storage control function of controlling storing of first image information obtained from said primary photosensitive pixels and said second image information obtained from said secondary photosensitive pixels;
• a D range setting operation function of specifying a dynamic range for said second image information;
• and
• a D range changeable control function of changing a reproduction luminance gamut for said second image information according to a setting specified with said D range setting operation function.