An arrangement for determining an amount of light reaching an image sensor of a video camera, the video camera comprising an imaging lens system guiding a beam path towards an image sensor, wherein the arrangement comprises a transparent probing element through which the beam path passes on its way to the image sensor, and a light sensor arranged in an end of the transparent probing element. The light sensor is arranged to collect light being scattered or reflected in the transparent probing element.

Provided is an imaging apparatus capable of continuously imaging a natural video even though brightness is changed. In an imaging apparatus in which an exposure condition is set based on a characteristic of a transmittance control element, a first exposure condition range is calculated based on photometry of the imaging apparatus. Determination is made whether or not the calculated first exposure condition range is included in a second exposure condition range where a control range acquired by the transmittance control element is applicable. In a case where the calculated first exposure condition range is not included in the second exposure condition range, the exposure condition of the imaging apparatus is changed such that the first exposure condition range is included in the second exposure condition range.

Provided is an imaging apparatus capable of continuously imaging a natural video even though brightness is changed. In an imaging apparatus in which an exposure condition is set based on a characteristic of a transmittance control element, a first exposure condition range is calculated based on photometry of the imaging apparatus. Determination is made whether or not the calculated first exposure condition range is included in a second exposure condition range where a control range acquired by the transmittance control element is applicable. In a case where the calculated first exposure condition range is not included in the second exposure condition range, the exposure condition of the imaging apparatus is changed such that the first exposure condition range is included in the second exposure condition range.

The present technology relates to an imaging apparatus, an imaging method, and a program that perform appropriate exposure control, to thereby enable a desired object to be appropriately imaged. The present technology includes: an imaging unit including a plurality of pixels having different spectral characteristics; and an exposure control unit setting information associated with exposure control on the plurality of pixels depending on specification information for specifying a kind of a measurement target. Alternatively, the present technology includes: an imaging unit including a plurality of pixels having different spectral characteristics; and an exposure control unit setting information associated with exposure control on the plurality of pixels on the basis of a predicted output value of each of the plurality of pixels based on a spectral characteristic related to a measurement target. The present technology is applicable to an imaging apparatus which senses vegetation, for example.

The present technology relates to an imaging apparatus, an imaging method, and a program that perform appropriate exposure control, to thereby enable a desired object to be appropriately imaged. The present technology includes: an imaging unit including a plurality of pixels having different spectral characteristics; and an exposure control unit setting information associated with exposure control on the plurality of pixels depending on specification information for specifying a kind of a measurement target. Alternatively, the present technology includes: an imaging unit including a plurality of pixels having different spectral characteristics; and an exposure control unit setting information associated with exposure control on the plurality of pixels on the basis of a predicted output value of each of the plurality of pixels based on a spectral characteristic related to a measurement target. The present technology is applicable to an imaging apparatus which senses vegetation, for example.

An arrangement for determining an amount of light reaching an image sensor of a video camera is disclosed. The video camera comprises an imaging lens system guiding a beam path towards an image sensor and has an aperture plane where a variable aperture is arranged. The inventive arrangement comprises a light sensor arranged to probe light intensity continuously from a portion of the beam path, which portion is located in or near the aperture plane of the imaging lens system.

A method for controlling an autoexposure function of a camera to a gray level setting, the method including establishing a critical exposure time of an image sensing device of the camera, wherein the critical exposure time of the image sensing device of the camera is an exposure time at which a first sensed gray level of the image sensing device of the camera is disposed at a target gray level, the sensed gray level is disposed in a trend of decreasing sensed gray level values; exposing the image sensing device of the camera to light to obtain a second sensed gray level and comparing the second sensed gray level at the critical exposure time to the target gray level, if the second sensed gray level is disposed at least at the target gray level, limiting the exposure of the image sensing device of the camera to the critical exposure time.

An electronic camera comprising an image sensor configured to capture an electronic image and a shutter mechanism. The electronic camera further comprises a controller configured to control the shutter mechanism and the image sensor. The controller comprising a processor and a memory having computer-readable code embodied therein which, when executed by the processor, causes the controller to: open the shutter mechanism, allow light to reach the image sensor for an exposure, automatically cause the image sensor to capture a first digital image of a scene using a first capture setting and automatically cause the image sensor to capture a second digital image of the scene using a second capture setting. The first capture setting includes a first value and the second capture setting includes a second value respectively of at least one of an aperture parameter, a shutter speed parameter, an ISO sensor gain parameter.

An image capturing apparatus, comprises an instructing unit capable of issuing an instruction for an image capture preparation operation and an instruction for an image capture operation, a metering unit configured to meter brightness of a subject, a calculating unit configured to calculate values of exposure parameters based on a metering result, an acquiring unit configured to acquire information related to an image capture lens; and a controlling unit configured to, when image capture is performed with light emitted by a light emitter, control the calculating unit so as to make different a calculation method for the values of the exposure parameters at the time of issuance of the instruction for the image capture preparation operation based on the information related to the image capture lens.

An image capturing apparatus, comprises an instructing unit capable of issuing an instruction for an image capture preparation operation and an instruction for an image capture operation, a metering unit configured to meter brightness of a subject, a calculating unit configured to calculate values of exposure parameters based on a metering result, an acquiring unit configured to acquire information related to an image capture lens; and a controlling unit configured to, when image capture is performed with light emitted by a light emitter, control the calculating unit so as to make different a calculation method for the values of the exposure parameters at the time of issuance of the instruction for the image capture preparation operation based on the information related to the image capture lens.