Imaging apparatus, control method, and program

An imaging apparatus comprising at least one processor coupled to at least one memory, the at least one processor being programmed to implement:

• a light amount adjustment unit configured to drive a light amount adjustment member to adjust the amount of light input to an imaging unit;
• a control unit configured to control the imaging unit in a first mode or a second mode;
• and
• a setting unit configured to set a first level of light amount adjustment corresponding to a driving amount per unit time of the light amount adjustment member in the first mode, and to set a second level of light amount adjustment corresponding to the driving amount per unit time of the light amount adjustment member in the second mode;
• wherein the imaging unit continuously outputs images not used for compositing in the first mode,
• wherein the imaging unit continuously outputs images used for compositing in the second mode,
• wherein the setting unit sets the first level and the second level so that a level of light amount adjustment per unit time of the light amount adjustment member when the light amount adjustment member is driven in the second mode in accordance with changes in a luminance of a subject is less than a level of light amount adjustment per unit time of the light amount adjustment member when the light amount adjustment member is driven in the first mode in accordance with changes in the luminance of the subject, and
• wherein the light amount adjustment member is at least one of a diaphragm and an ND (neutral density) filter.

A control method of an imaging apparatus which can set a high-dynamic-range mode which outputs a first image and outputs a second image with an exposure amount different from that of the first image after the first image, the imaging apparatus comprising at least one processor coupled to at least one memory, the at least one processor being programmed to implement a light amount adjustment unit for driving a light amount adjustment member to adjust the amount of light input to an imaging unit which outputs images by imaging a subject, the control method comprising:

• a control step to control the imaging unit;
• and
• a setting step to set a difference in the exposure amount between the first image and the second image to a predetermined difference based on at least one of the light amount adjustment by the light amount adjustment unit and the controlling of the imaging unit by the control step when the high-dynamic-range mode is set,
• wherein the first image and the second image are images used for compositing,
• wherein the predetermined difference is a difference that maintains relative relationship in the exposure amount between the first image and the second image, and
• wherein the setting step sets the predetermined difference in the exposure amount so that the relative relationship in the exposure amount between the first image and the second image outputted when the light amount adjustment member is driven in accordance with changes in a luminance of the subject is the same as the relative relationship in the exposure amount between the first image and the second image outputted when the light amount adjustment member is not driven.

A control method of an imaging apparatus comprising at least one processor coupled to at least one memory, the at least one processor being programmed to implement a light amount adjustment unit for driving a light amount adjustment member to adjust the amount of light input to an imaging unit, the control method comprising:

• a control step to control the imaging unit in a first mode or a second mode;
• and
• a setting step to set a first level of light amount adjustment corresponding to a driving amount per time of the light amount adjustment member in the first mode, and to set a second level of light amount adjustment corresponding to the driving amount per time of the light amount adjustment member in the second mode;
• wherein the imaging unit continuously outputs images not used for compositing in the first mode,
• wherein the imaging unit continuously outputs images used for compositing in the second mode,
• wherein the setting step sets the first level and the second level so that a level of light amount adjustment per unit time of the light amount adjustment member when the light amount adjustment member is driven in the second mode in accordance with changes in a luminance of a subject is less than a level of light amount adjustment per unit time of the light amount adjustment member when the light amount adjustment member is driven in the first mode in accordance with changes in the luminance of the subject, and
• wherein the light amount adjustment member is at least one of a diaphragm and an ND (neutral density) filter.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the control method of an imaging apparatus which can set a high-dynamic-range mode which outputs a first image and outputs a second image with an exposure amount different from that of the first image after the first image, the imaging apparatus comprising at least one processor coupled to at least one memory, the at least one processor being programmed to implement a light amount adjustment unit for driving a light amount adjustment member to adjust the amount of light input to an imaging unit which outputs images by imaging a subject, the control method comprising:

• a control step to control the imaging unit;
• and
• a setting step to set a difference in the exposure amount between the first image and the second image to a predetermined difference based on at least one of the light amount adjustment by the light amount adjustment unit and the controlling of the imaging unit by the control step when the high-dynamic-range mode is set,
• wherein the first image and the second image are images used for compositing,
• wherein the predetermined difference is a difference that maintains relative relationship in the exposure amount between the first image and the second image, and
• wherein the setting step sets the predetermined difference in the exposure amount so that the relative relationship in the exposure amount between the first image and the second image outputted when the light amount adjustment member is driven in accordance with changes in a luminance of a subject is the same as the relative relationship in the exposure amount between the first image and the second image outputted when the light amount adjustment member is not driven.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the control method of an imaging apparatus comprising at least one processor coupled to at least one memory, the at least one processor being programmed to implement a light amount adjustment unit for driving a light amount adjustment member to adjust the amount of light input to an imaging unit, the control method comprising:

• a control step to control the imaging unit in a first mode or a second mode;
• and
• a setting step to set a first level of light amount adjustment corresponding to a driving amount per time of the light amount adjustment member in the first mode, and to set a second level of light amount adjustment corresponding to the driving amount per time of the light amount adjustment member in the second mode;
• wherein the imaging unit continuously outputs images not used for compositing in the first mode,
• wherein the imaging unit continuously outputs images used for compositing in the second mode,
• wherein the setting step sets the first level and the second level so that a level of light amount adjustment per unit time of the light amount adjustment member when the light amount adjustment member is driven in the second mode in accordance with changes in a luminance of a subject is less than a level of light amount adjustment per unit time of the light amount adjustment member when the light amount adjustment member is driven in the first mode in accordance with changes in the luminance of the subject, and
• wherein the light amount adjustment member is at least one of a diaphragm and an ND (neutral density) filter.