Image pickup apparatus and image processing method

An image processing method processing an image signal outputted from a solid-state image sensor which has two or more different photoelectric conversion characteristics, comprises steps of:

• a first step executing a gradation conversion process on the image signal to conform or approximate the different photoelectric conversion characteristics to each other;
• and
• a second step executing on the image signal at least one color process out of those processes which include a color interpolation process, a color correction process and a color space conversion process;
• wherein the second step is executed after the first step.

An image pickup apparatus, comprising:

• a solid-state image sensor which generates an electric signal in response to an amount of an incident light and has a linier characteristic region where the electric signal is converted linearly in response to an amount of the incident light and an logarithmic characteristic region, provided on a brighter side of the linear characteristic region, where the electric signal is converted logarithmically in response to the amount of the incident light;
• and
• an image processing section which processes an image signal outputted from the solid-state image sensor;
• wherein the image processing section comprises,
• a gradation conversion processing section which executes a gradation conversion process on the image signal to conform or approximate photoelectric conversion characteristics of the linear characteristic region and the logarithmic characteristic region to each other, and
• a color processing section which executes on the image signal at least one of those color processes which include a color interpolation process, a color correction process and a color space conversion process,
• wherein the color processing section executes the color process after the gradation conversion processing section executes the gradation conversion process.