Digital camera with movable mirror for AF in live view mode and optical viewfinder mode

A digital camera having a movable mirror provided so as to enter or retract with respect to an optical path of an image pickup optical system for purpose of guiding a subject image to an optical viewfinder, comprising:

• an image pickup element configured to capture the subject image formed by the image pickup optical system to generate image data;
• a display portion configured to display the image data generated by the image pickup element or image data obtained by subjecting the image data generated by the image pickup element to predetermined processing;
• a release portion configured to receive an instruction of a user regarding start of capturing an image for recording by the image pickup element;
• a distance-measuring portion configured to receive the subject image and obtain information on a distance from the subject to the digital camera in a state where the movable mirror is positioned in the optical path;
• an autofocus portion configured to adjust a focus of the subject image by adjusting the image pickup optical system in accordance with measurement results of the distance-measuring portion;
• an AF start instruction receiving portion configured to receive an instruction of a user regarding activation of the autofocus portion;
• and
• a control portion configured to control the digital camera to enter a live view mode so that the image data generated by the image pickup element or the image data obtained by subjecting the image data generated by the image pickup element to predetermined processing is displayed on the display portion as a moving image in real time,
• wherein after allowing the autofocus portion to start an autofocus operation in accordance with a manipulation of the AF start instruction receiving portion while in the live view mode, the control portion determines whether to shift the digital camera directly to an image pickup operation of an image for recording in accordance with a timing at which the release portion receives the instruction regarding the start of capturing an image, or to shift the digital camera to a live view mode and thereafter, shifts the digital camera to the image pickup operation of the image for recording when the release portion receives the instruction regarding the start of capturing an image,
• wherein when the release portion receives the instruction regarding the start of capturing an image within a predetermined time after the control portion allows the autofocus portion to start an autofocus operation in accordance with the manipulation of the AF start instruction receiving portion, the control portion shifts the digital camera directly to the image pickup operation of the image for recording, and
• when the release portion does not receive the instruction regarding the start of capturing an image within the predetermined time, the control portion shifts the digital camera to the live view mode, and thereafter, shifts the digital camera to the image pickup operation of the image for recording when the release portion receives the instruction regarding the start of capturing an image.

A digital camera having a movable mirror provided so as to enter or retract with respect to an optical path of an image pickup optical system for purpose of guiding a subject image to an optical viewfinder, comprising:

• an image pickup element configured to capture the subject image formed by the image pickup optical system to generate image data;
• a display portion configured to display the image data generated by the image pickup element or image data obtained by subjecting the image data generated by the image pickup element to predetermined processing;
• a distance-measuring portion configured to receive the subject image and obtain information on a distance from the subject to the digital camera in a state where the movable mirror is positioned in the optical path;
• an autofocus portion configured to adjust a focus of the subject image by adjusting the image pickup optical system using measurement results of the distance-measuring portion, or using contrast of the image data generated by the image pickup element or image data obtained by subjecting the image data generated by the image pickup element to predetermined processing;
• a release button configured to receive an instruction of a user regarding start of capturing an image for recording by the image pickup element by being pressed fully;
• and
• a control portion configured to control the digital camera to enter a live view mode so that the image data generated by the image pickup element or the image data obtained by subjecting the image data generated by the image pickup element to predetermined processing is displayed on the display portion as a moving image in real time,
• wherein when the movable mirror is not positioned in the optical path, the control portion controls the autofocus portion so that an autofocus operation is performed using the contrast, and when the movable mirror is positioned in the optical path, the control portion controls the autofocus portion so that an autofocus operation is performed using the measurement results of the distance-measuring portion, and
• wherein, when the release button receives the instruction regarding start of capturing an image for recording by the image pickup element during the live view mode where the control portion controls the autofocus portion so that an autofocus operation is performed continuously using the contrast, the control portion is configured to control the movable mirror to be positioned in the optical path, and the autofocus operation to be performed using the measurement results of the distance-measuring portion, before the digital camera is shifted to the image pickup operation.