Patent ID: 6204880
Filing Date: 2001-03-20
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A video camera comprising:optical zooming apparatus including a variable power lens unit and a focusing lens unit;detecting apparatus for detecting a distance to an object on the basis of a position of the variable power lens unit and a position of the focusing lens unit;fixing apparatus for fixing the variable power lens unit in a properly-focused state when the distance to the object is approximately equal to, but less than, a minimum object distance of the variable power lens unit in accordance with a movement of the variable power lens unit;a memory in which image data representing an object in the properly-focused state is stored; andelectronic zooming apparatus for providing electronic zoom by reading out the image data, and forming data for an electronic zooming image which is enlarged in accordance with a desired zoom magnification,wherein a synthesized image is created by alternately outputting the electronic zooming image and an image provided by the optical zooming apparatus at every one to a plurality of fields when the desired zoom magnification is in a range between a magnification related to the distance to the object and a magnification related to the minimum object distance.