Camera device and image processing method

An image processing method of performing an image processing on a picked-up image of a subject obtained by imaging light therefrom on image-pickup unit by a photographic lens, comprising:

• exposure time changing step of changing an exposure time for the image-pickup unit between at least 2 stages of exposure times at a predetermined timing;
• light-receiving level measuring step of measuring a light-receiving level of the image-pickup unit in units of parts of the picked-up image;
• light-receiving level judging step of judging whether or not the light-receiving level of the image-pickup unit which has been measured in units of parts is within a predetermined light-receiving level;
• and
• image replacing step of replacing, if a part whose light-receiving level has been judged by the light-receiving level judging step is an improper light-receiving level part whose light-receiving level is not judged as being within the predetermined light-receiving level, image data on the improper light-receiving level part by image data on a proper light-receiving level part which is a part of another picked-up image in a position of an image corresponding to the improper light-receiving level part and whose light-receiving level is judged as being within the predetermined light-receiving level.

A camera apparatus for use with a subject to be photographed, the camera apparatus comprising:

• a photographic lens;
• image-pickup unit on which light from the subject transmitted through the photographic lens is imaged;
• and
• image processing control unit for performing an image processing on image data on a picked-up image obtained by imaging the light on the image-pickup unit,
• the subject being continuously photographed,
• wherein high clarity parts of a plurality of picked-up images which are obtained by changing an exposure time for the image-pickup unit between at least 2 stages of exposure times during photographing and which are different in the exposure time are composited with each other to record or display a picked-up image high in clarity as a whole.