Photographing apparatus and method to reduce auto-focus time

摘要

Photographing apparatus and method to reduce auto-focus time are disclosed. A photographing apparatus is provided that includes two imaging optical systems; an imaging device that converts images of subjects formed by the imaging optical systems into respective image signals; a subject distance calculation unit that calculates subject distances between the imaging device and the subject based on two images generated by the imaging device; and an in-focus position detection unit that detects an in-focus position based on contrast evaluation values of the image signals obtained for a plurality of focusing positions, performs preparatory focusing driving by moving the focusing positions close to the in-focus position based on the calculated subject distances, and scans the focusing positions from the position close to the in-focus position to the in-focus position.

主权项

1. A photographing apparatus comprising:
two imaging optical systems that are disposed parallel to each other and having optical axes spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance; an imaging device that converts images of subjects formed by the imaging optical systems into respective image signals; an input unit through which a user can input a photographing operation start instruction; a subject distance calculation unit that calculates subject distances between the imaging device and a subject based on two images generated in response to the image signals converted by the imaging device; and an in-focus position detection unit that:
detects an in-focus position based on contrast evaluation values of the image signals obtained for a plurality of focusing positions corresponding to positions of the imaging optical systems, which are moving,performs preparatory focusing driving by moving the focusing positions close to the in-focus position based on the subject distances calculated by the subject distance calculation unit,scans the focusing positions from the position close to the in-focus position to the in-focus position after preparatory focusing driving is performed, andswitches between a first mode in which preparatory focusing driving is performed before the photographing operation start instruction is input and a second mode in which preparatory focusing driving is performed after the photographing operation start instruction is input; wherein a first speed of preparatory focusing driving in the first mode is selected to be slower than a second speed of preparatory focusing driving in the second mode.