Video camera with flicker reduction function, and method for flicker reduction

A video camera comprising:

• an imaging unit configured to perform imaging of a subject and to generate a subject image;
• a superimposing image generator configured to generate a superimposing image to be superimposed on the subject image;
• an image synthesizer configured to synthesize the subject image and the superimposing image to generate a synthesized image;
• a video signal generator configured to generate a video signal from the synthesized image, the video signal being output from the video camera so as to display the synthesized image on a display;
• a flicker reduction unit having a plurality of flicker reduction modes to reduce flicker caused by luminance fluctuation of a light source, each of the flicker reduction modes being configured to reduce flicker in different manner;
• and
• a mode setting unit configured to cause the superimposing image generator to generate a settings screen as the superimposing image for assisting selection of one of the flicker reduction modes;
• further comprising:
• a commercial power frequency detector configured to detect the frequency of power supplied to the video camera,
• wherein the mode setting unit causes the superimposing image generator to generate the settings screen in the event of a possibility that the commercial power frequency detected by the commercial power frequency detector causes flicker.

A flicker reduction method for reducing flicker caused by luminance fluctuation of light source which illuminates a subject being imaged by a video camera, comprising the steps of:

• imaging the subject and generating a subject image;
• reducing flicker by executing a flicker reduction mode selected from a plurality of flicker reduction modes, each of the flicker reduction modes being configured to reduce flicker in different manner;
• generating a settings screen for the purpose of assisting selection of one of the flicker reduction modes;
• generating a synthesized image in which the settings screen is superimposed on the subject image;
• and
• generating a video signal from the synthesized image, the video signal being output from the video camera so as to display the synthesized image on a display.

A flicker reduction method for reducing flicker caused by luminance fluctuation of light source which illuminates a subject being imaged by a video camera, comprising the steps of:

• imaging the subject and generating a subject image;
• reducing flicker by executing a flicker reduction mode selected from a plurality of flicker reduction modes, each of the flicker reduction modes being configured to reduce flicker in different manner;
• generating a settings screen for the purpose of assisting selection of one of the flicker reduction modes;
• generating a synthesized image in which the settings screen is superimposed on the subject image;
• generating a video signal from the synthesized image, the video signal being output from the video camera so as to display the synthesized image on a display;
• and
• detecting the frequency of commercial power supplied to the video camera with a commercial power frequency detector;
• in the step of generating the settings screen, generating the settings screen in the event of a possibility that the commercial power frequency detected by the commercial power frequency detector causes flicker.