Imaging apparatus

An imaging apparatus comprising:

• an imaging unit capturing a subject image to produce image data;
• a conversion unit performing a gradation conversion on the image data;
• and
• a modification unit determining a level of brightness of the image data before the gradation conversion, and modifying input/output characteristics of said conversion unit used for the gradation conversion on the image data when a brightness level of the image data is higher than a reference level of brightness, wherein:
• the input/output characteristics include a gamma characteristic portion and a knee characteristic portion;
• and
• said modification unit modifies the input/output characteristics used for the gradation conversion on the image data in such a manner that output level is decreased within a range of part of input level in comparison with the input/output characteristics used for the gradation conversion on image data with the reference level of brightness, the input level corresponding at least to said gamma characteristic portion.

An imaging apparatus comprising:

• an imaging unit capturing a subject image to produce image data;
• a photometry unit provided separately from said imaging unit and performing a photometric measurement of the subject image before said imaging unit captures the subject image;
• a control unit estimating a level of brightness of the image data from an output of said photometry unit, and performing exposure control to said imaging unit such that a brightness level of the image data is to be lower than a reference level of brightness;
• a conversion unit performing a gradation conversion on the image data;
• and
• a modification unit modifying input/output characteristics of said conversion unit before the gradation conversion is performed on the image data with a brightness level lower than the reference level of brightness, wherein:
• the input/output characteristics include a gamma characteristic portion and a knee characteristic portion;
• and
• said modification unit modifies the input/output characteristics used for the gradation conversion on the image data with a brightness level lower than the reference level of brightness, in such a manner that output level is increased within a range of part of input level in comparison with the input/output characteristics used for the gradation conversion on the image data with the reference level of brightness, the input level corresponding at least to said gamma characteristic portion.