Patent ID: 7483064
Filing Date: 2009-01-27
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An imaging apparatus comprising: an imaging unit capturing a subject image to produce image data; a conversion unit performing a gradation conversion on the image data; and a modification unit determining a level of brightness of the image data before the gradation conversion, and modifying input/output characteristics of said conversion unit used for the gradation conversion on the image data when a brightness level of the image data is lower than a reference level of brightness, wherein: the input/output characteristics include a gamma characteristic portion and a knee characteristic portion; and said modification unit modifies the input/output characteristics used for the gradation conversion on the image data in such a manner that output level is increased within a range of part of input level in comparison with the input/output characteristics used for the gradation conversion on image data with the reference level of brightness, the input level corresponding at least to said gamma characteristic portion.