An image capturing apparatus includes an optical system, an image capturing unit, a posture detection unit, and a control unit. The optical system forms an image of a light beam from an object. The image capturing unit obtains image data corresponding to the light beam by the optical system. The posture detection unit detects a posture of the image capturing apparatus. The control unit determines based on the posture whether the image capturing apparatus is in a mode to perform shooting in a state in which an optical axis of the optical system faces a zenith or in a mode to perform shooting in a state in which the optical axis of the optical system faces a photographer side. The control unit changes control in a shooting operation using the image capturing unit in accordance with a result of the determination.

An image capturing apparatus includes an optical system, an image capturing unit, a posture detection unit, and a control unit. The optical system forms an image of a light beam from an object. The image capturing unit obtains image data corresponding to the light beam by the optical system. The posture detection unit detects a posture of the image capturing apparatus. The control unit determines based on the posture whether the image capturing apparatus is in a mode to perform shooting in a state in which an optical axis of the optical system faces a zenith or in a mode to perform shooting in a state in which the optical axis of the optical system faces a photographer side. The control unit changes control in a shooting operation using the image capturing unit in accordance with a result of the determination.

Image processing methods and systems apply filtering operations to images, wherein the filtering operations use filter costs which are based on image gradients in the images. In this way, image data is filtered for image regions in dependence upon the image gradients for the image regions. This may be useful for different scenarios such as when combining images to form a High Dynamic Range (HDR) image. The filtering operations may be used as part of a connectivity unit which determines connected image regions, and/or the filtering operations may be used as part of a blending unit which blends two or more images together to form a blended image.

A method and an apparatus for adjusting photography parameters are provided. The method includes: determining a pupil size of a person; and adjusting one or more photography parameters according to the pupil size. The pupil size of the person is determined, and then one or more photography parameters such as the aperture size may be adjusted automatically according to the pupil size of the person. Since a current pupil size is subject to a light intensity in current surroundings, the photography parameters of a photographic device may be adjusted automatically and efficiently based on the pupil size.

The imaging device comprises: an imaging unit, a shooting processor, an exposure information setter, and an image processor. The imaging unit stores electric charges in response to an incident light for each frame, thereby outputting an image signal. The shooting processor controls storage times, during which the imaging unit stores the electric charges. The exposure information setter sets first exposure control information that controls brightness of a first image signal generated based on a first storage time and second exposure control information that controls brightness of a second image signal generated based on a second storage time. The image processor combines the first and the second image signal. In the case where the first exposure control information satisfies a given condition, the exposure information setter sets the first and the second exposure control information such that storage times corresponding to frames adjacent to each other become equal to each other.

A portable device comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having a first front surface and a first back surface. The first portion comprises an image sensor and a first imaging optical arrangement lying in imaging connection with the image sensor and defining a first field of view with a wide angle of view. The second portion comprises a second imaging optical arrangement. The first and the second portions are movably coupled to allow adjustment of the device to a closed position with the second portion lying against the first back surface, with the second imaging optical arrangement aligned with the first imaging optical arrangement, whereby the first and the second imaging optical arrangements define a second field of view, and to open positions with the second portion lying outside the first field of view.

A device comprising at least two body sections is disclosed. The first body section comprises an imaging unit and a magnet movably connected to the imaging unit, and the second body section comprising an optical unit with a magnet fixed to the optical unit. The magnet movably connected to the imaging unit may be sliding along a guiding element. The body sections are also in a movable connection with each other, and the device is operable in at least two modes. In the first mode the imaging unit and the optical unit are fixed in a set relative position due to magnetic interaction between the magnets, and in the imaging unit is positioned away from the optical unit. In the second mode the units are positioned apart from each other.

A device comprising at least two body sections is disclosed. The first body section comprises a movable imaging unit and a magnet rigidly fixed to the imaging unit, and the second body section comprising an optical unit with a magnet rigidly fixed to the optical unit. The body sections are in a movable connection with each other, and the device is operable in at least two modes. In the first mode, the imaging unit and the optical unit are fixed in a set relative position due to magnetic interaction between the magnets. In the second mode, the imaging unit is positioned away from the optical unit.

An imaging device includes: an imaging unit imaging an object and generating image data of the object; a display unit displaying an image corresponding to the image data; a display controller controlling the display unit to display an expression guide image in which at least a part of expression of a face in the object has been changed; an expression determination unit determining similarity between the expressions in the image and in the expression guide image; an imaging controller controlling the imaging unit to continuously image the object until the expression determination unit determines that the expressions in the image and in the expression guide image are matched, wherein the display controller controls the display unit to display another expression guide image at a time the expression determination unit determines that the expressions in the image in the expression guide image are matched.

Provided is a technology enabling an imaging apparatus and an interchangeable lens to appropriately perform initialization processes. An interchangeable lens includes one or more lens-side processors configured to perform initialization of a plurality of lens-side elements. The one or more lens-side processors is further configured to transmit lens-side initialization element information indicating the plurality of lens-side elements to an imaging apparatus. The technology can be applied to, for example, a camera system including a detachable interchangeable lens and an imaging apparatus serving as a camera body side.