Patent ID: 7505065
Filing Date: 2009-03-17
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An image pickup system comprising: a camera; and an external apparatus, the camera and the external apparatus being connected to each other via a two-way communication line, wherein the camera comprises: a camera operator capable of setting a plurality of photographing conditions; and a camera communicator configured to enable the camera to photograph based on one of a photographing condition set through the camera operator and a photographing condition received from the external apparatus and transmitting image data obtained by photographing to the external apparatus, and the external apparatus comprising: an external apparatus operator capable of setting at least one photographing condition of the camera; a display unit capable of displaying a set state of the photographing condition; an external apparatus communicator configured to transmit the photographing condition to the camera and receive image data from the camera; a manually operable selector configured to select one of a first photographing mode in which the camera serves as a master to photograph and a second photographing mode in which the external apparatus serves as the master and controls the camera to photograph; and a controller configured to set the second photographing mode just after a start of camera control through the external apparatus, read photographing conditions set in the camera into the external apparatus, and, set the first or second photographing mode in accordance with manual operation of the selector; wherein the external apparatus operator is capable of being configured to set a plurality of the photographing conditions of the camera, and when the controller sets the second photographing mode, each time one of said photographing conditions is set through the external apparatus operator, the controller automatically instructs the camera to photograph based on the photographing conditions including the set photographing condition, receive obtained image data, and control the display unit to display the image data.