Image capturing apparatus to prevent image blurring and control method therefor

An image capturing apparatus comprising:

• an image capturing unit which captures an object image formed by an imaging optical system capable of zooming, and outputs an image signal;
• a motion vector detection unit which detects a motion vector on the basis of correlation between image signals continuously captured by said image capturing unit;
• a reliability evaluation value calculation unit which calculates a reliability evaluation value of the motion vector;
• a blurring correction amount determination unit which determines an image blurring correction amount on the basis of the motion vector;
• a correction amount reduction unit which reduces the image blurring correction amount in accordance with a reduction rate determined based on the reliability evaluation value and a zoom position of the imaging optical system;
• and
• a blurring correction unit which corrects image blurring on the basis of the image blurring correction amount.

A method of controlling an image capturing apparatus having an image capturing unit which captures an object image formed by an imaging optical system and outputs an image signal, the method comprising:

• detecting a motion vector on the basis of correlation between image signals continuously captured by the image capturing unit;
• calculating a reliability evaluation value of the motion vector;
• determining an image blurring correction amount on the basis of the motion vector;
• reducing the image blurring correction amount in accordance with a reduction rate determined based on the reliability evaluation value;
• and
• correcting image blurring on the basis of the image blurring correction amount.

A method of controlling an image capturing apparatus having an image capturing unit which captures an object image formed by an imaging optical system capable of zooming, and outputs an image signal, the method comprising:

• detecting a motion vector on the basis of correlation between image signals continuously captured by the image capturing unit;
• calculating a reliability evaluation value of the motion vector;
• determining an image blurring correction amount on the basis of the motion vector;
• reducing the image blurring correction amount in accordance with a reduction rate determined based on the reliability evaluation value and a zoom position of the imaging optical system;
• and
• correcting image blurring on the basis of the image blurring correction amount.

An image capturing apparatus comprising:

• an image capturing unit which captures an object image formed by an imaging optical system and outputs an image signal;
• a motion vector detection unit which detects a motion vector on the basis of correlation between image signals continuously captured by said image capturing unit;
• a reliability evaluation value calculation unit which calculates a reliability evaluation value of the motion vector;
• a blurring correction amount determination unit which determines an image blurring correction amount on the basis of the motion vector;
• a correction amount changing unit which changes the image blurring correction amount in accordance with an amplification rate determined based on the reliability evaluation value, wherein the correction amount changing unit changes the image blurring correction amount such that the image blurring correction amount becomes small as the reliability evaluation value becomes small;
• and
• a blurring correction unit which corrects image blurring on the basis of the image blurring correction amount.