Control method for digital photographing apparatus for efficient setting operation and digital photographing apparatus using the method

A control method for a digital photographing apparatus is provided in which one of operating modes associated with a button is set according to the length of time the button is pressed and a digital photographing apparatus using the method. The method includes setting a next operating mode in a forward direction if a first setting signal is generated by pressing the button and setting a next operating mode in a reverse direction if a second setting signal including the first setting signal is generated by pressing the button. Also, a system for controlling the operation of a digital photographing apparatus is provided. The system includes means for a digital photographing apparatus to operate in at least two selectable operating modes, means for showing the available operating modes in both a forward and reverse direction and means for selecting one of the operating modes.

This application claims the priority of Korean Patent Application No. 2004-67085, filed on Aug. 25, 2004, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a control method for a digital photographing apparatus, a digital photographing apparatus using the method, and a system for controlling the operation of a digital photographing apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a control method for a digital photographing apparatus in which one of the operating modes associated with a button is set according to operation of the button, a digital photographing apparatus using the method, and a system for setting the operating mode of a digital photographing apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional digital photographing apparatus was disclosed by the present applicant in U.S. Patent Publication No. 119,876, “Method of Notification of Inadequate Picture Quality.” In this disclosed apparatus, one of the operating modes associated with a button, for example, a flash button, is set according to the number of times that the button is pressed. Generally, whenever the button is pressed, a next operating mode in a forward direction is displayed and set. Therefore, if the user mistakenly skips a desired operating mode, the user has to press the button as many times as the number of operating modes in order to return to the desired operating mode.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a control method for a digital photographing apparatus. The control method herein described enables a user to set an operating mode quickly and easily. The present invention also provides a digital photographing apparatus which employs the method.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control method for a digital photographing apparatus in which one of the operating modes associated with a button is set according to the number of times the button is pressed. The method includes (1) setting a next operating mode in a forward direction if a first setting signal is generated by pressing the button and (2) setting a next operating mode in a reverse direction if a second setting signal including the first setting signal is generated by pressing the button.

In the method, a user may set a next operating mode in a forward or reverse direction using the button. Therefore, even if the user mistakenly skips a desired flash mode, the desired flash mode can be set quickly and easily by pressing the button.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital photographing apparatus using the control method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIG. 1, the front part of a digital camera1according to the present invention includes a microphone MIC, a self-timer lamp11, a flash12, a shutter release button13, a viewfinder17a, a flash light intensity sensor19, a power switch31, a lens unit20, and a remote receiver41.

In a self-timer mode, the self-timer lamp11operates for a set period of time from the time when the shutter release button13is pressed to the time when an image starts to be captured. When the flash12operates, the flash light intensity sensor19senses the intensity of the light generated by the flash12and relays the sensed intensity of the light to a digital signal processor (DSP)507ofFIG. 3via a micro-controller512ofFIG. 3. The remote receiver41receives command signals, such as a photographing command signal, and relays the command signals to the micro-controller512.

The shutter release button13has two levels. In other words, after operating a wide angle-zoom button39WofFIG. 2and a telephoto-zoom button39TofFIG. 2, when a user lightly depresses the shutter release button13to a first level, a first level signal S1from the shutter release button13is turned on. When the user fully depresses the shutter release button13to a second level, a second level signal S2of the shutter release button13is turned on (seeFIGS. 4,6and7).

Referring toFIG. 2, the back of the digital camera1according to the present invention includes a mode dial14, functional buttons15, a manual focusing/deleting button36, a manual adjusting/reproducing/terminating button37, a reproducing mode button42, a speaker SP, a monitor button32, an automatic focusing lamp33, a viewfinder17b, a flash standby lamp34, a color LCD panel35, the wide angle-zoom button39W, the telephoto-zoom button39T, and an external interface unit21.

The mode dial14is used for selecting any one of the operating modes of the digital camera1. Exemplary operating modes include the following: a simple photographing mode, a program photographing mode, a character photographing mode, a night view photographing mode, a manual photographing mode, a moving-image photographing mode14MP, a user setting mode14MY, and a recording mode14V.

The user setting mode14MYis an operating mode in which the user selects the photograph-taking settings for a still-image or moving-image photographing mode. The recording mode14Vis for recording only sounds, e.g., a user's voice. After selecting the recording mode14V, when a user presses the shutter release button, an audio file is created in the memory card and audio data is stored in the audio file. When the user presses the shutter release button13again, the audio data stops being stored and the audio file is set.

The functional buttons15are used for operating specific functions of the digital camera1, and the functional buttons15are also used as control buttons to manage the movement of an active cursor on the menu screen of the color LCD panel35. For example, in a reproducing mode, if an image currently displayed is not enlarged, when a user presses a self-timer/right button15R, a next file in a forward direction is displayed. If an image currently displayed is enlarged, when the user presses the self-timer/right button15R, a display region of the enlarged image is moved to the right. In a preview mode, if the user presses the self-timer/right button15R, a self-timer operation, e.g., automatic photographing after 10 seconds, is performed.

In the reproducing mode, if the image currently displayed is not enlarged, when the user presses a flash/left button15L, a next file in a reverse direction is displayed. If the image currently displayed is enlarged, when the user presses the flash/left button15L, the display region of the enlarged image is moved to the left.

In the preview mode, if the user presses the flash/left button15L, any one of the flash modes for a photographing mode is set. If the flash/left button15Lis pressed is for a period of time equal to or shorter than a reference time, a next flash mode in the reverse direction is set. In other words, if the user presses the flash/left button15Lfor a short time, a next flash mode in the forward direction is set, and if the user presses the flash/left button15Lfor a long time, a next flash mode in the reverse direction is set. Therefore, even if the user mistakenly skips a desired flash mode, the desired flash mode can be set quickly and easily by pressing the flash/left button15Lfor a short or long time. A related algorithm will be described later with reference toFIGS. 8,9, and10.

In the reproducing mode, if the image currently displayed is enlarged, when the user presses a macro/down button15D, the display region of the enlarged image is moved down. In the preview mode, the user may set automatic proximity focusing by pressing a macro/down button15D.

In the reproducing mode, when the image currently displayed is enlarged, if the user presses a voice-memo/up button15U, the display region of the enlarged image is moved up. In the preview mode, if the user presses the voice/memo/up button15U, a 10 second recording is possible upon consecutive photographing.

In a setting mode from the preview mode, if the user presses a menu/select-confirm button15Mwhen the active cursor is on a selection menu, the operation corresponding to the selection menu is performed.

The manual adjusting/reproducing/terminating button37is used for manual adjustment of specific conditions. In addition, when the user presses the manual adjusting/reproducing/terminating button37, a selected moving-image file may be reproduced or its reproduction may be terminated.

The manual focusing/deleting button36is used for manual focusing or deleting in the photographing mode.

The monitor button32is used for controlling the operation of the color LCD panel35. For example, in the photographing mode, when the user presses the monitor button32, an image and photographing information are displayed on the color LCD panel35. When the user presses the monitor button32again, the color LCD panel35is turned off. In the reproducing mode, when the user presses the monitor button32while an image file is being reproduced, photographing information about the image file is displayed on the color LCD panel35. When the user presses the monitor button32again, only pure images are displayed.

The reproducing mode button42is used for switching between a reproducing mode and a preview mode.

The automatic focusing lamp33operates when a focus is well adjusted. The flash standby lamp34operates when the flash12ofFIG. 1is in a standby mode. A mode indicating lamp14Lindicates a selection mode of the mode dial14.

FIG. 3is a schematic diagram of the configuration of the digital camera ofFIG. 1. The configuration and operation of the digital camera1ofFIG. 1will now be described with reference toFIGS. 1 through 3.

An optical system (OPS) including the lens unit20and a filter unit optically processes light. The lens unit20of the OPS includes a zoom lens, a focus lens, and a compensation lens.

When the user presses the wide angle-zoom button39Wor the telephoto-zoom button39Tincluded in a user input unit (INP), a signal corresponding to the wide angle-zoom button39Wor the telephoto-zoom button39Tis relayed to the micro-controller512. The micro-controller512controls a lens driver510, thereby running a zoom motor MZ, which in turn, moves the zoom lens. In other words, when the user presses the wide angle-zoom button39W, the focal length of the zoom lens becomes short, thereby widening the angle of view. When the user presses the telephoto-zoom button39T, the focal length of the zoom lens becomes long, thereby narrowing the angle of view. Since the position of the focus lens is adjusted in a state where the position of the zoom lens is set, the angle of view is hardly affected by the position of the focus lens.

In the automatic focusing mode, a main controller built into the DSP507controls the lens driver510through the micro-controller512, thereby driving a focus motor MF. Accordingly, when the focus lens is moved, the position of the focus lens having the largest high frequency component of an image signal is set. The position of the focus lens may be determined, for example, by the number of driving steps of the focus motor MF.

A compensation lens in the lens unit20of the OPS is not separately operated because the compensation lens compensates for the entire refractive index. Reference numeral MAindicates a motor for driving an aperture (not shown).

An optical low pass filter included in the filter unit of the OPS eliminates high frequency optical noise. An infrared cut filter included in the filter unit of the OPS blocks the infrared component of incident light.

A photoelectric conversion unit (OEC) of a charge coupled device or a complementary metal oxide (CMOS) semiconductor converts light from the OPS into an analog electrical signal. Here, the DSP507controls a timing circuit502to control the operations of the OEC and a correlation-double-sampler-and-analog-to-digital converter (CDS-ADC)501. The CDS-ADC501processes an analog signal from the OEC, eliminates high frequency noise, adjusts amplitude, and then converts the analog signal into a digital signal.

A real time clock (RTC)503provides time information to the DSP507. The DSP507processes the digital signal from the CDS-ADC501and generates a digital image composed of luminance and chromaticity values.

A light source (LAMP) is operated by the micro-controller512in response to a control signal generated by the DSP507including the main controller. The light source (LAMP) includes the self-timer lamp11, the automatic focusing lamp33, the mode indicating lamp14L, and the flash standby lamp34. The INP includes the shutter release button13, the mode dial14, the functional buttons15, the monitor button32, the manual focusing/deleting button36, the manual adjusting/reproducing/terminating button37, the wide angle-zoom button39W, and the telephoto-zoom button39T, and the reproducing mode button42.

A dynamic random access memory (DRAM)504temporarily stores a digital image signal from the DSP507. An electrically erasable and programmable read only memory (EEPROM)505stores algorithm and setting data. A user's memory card is inserted or removed in a memory card interface (MCI)506. The digital image signal from the DSP507is input to an LCD driver514, thereby displaying an image on the color LCD panel35.

The digital image signal from the DSP507can be transmitted via a universal serial bus (USB) connector21aor via an RS232C interface508and an RS232C connector21bfor serial communications. The digital image signal from the DSP507can also be transmitted via a video filter509and a video output unit21cas a video signal. Here, the DSP507includes the main controller.

An audio processor513can relay sound from the microphone MIC to the DSP507or to speaker SP. In addition, the audio processor513can output an audio signal from the DSP507to the speaker SP. The micro-controller512controls the operation of a flash controller511in response to a signal from the flash light intensity sensor (FS)19, thereby driving the flash12.

A main algorithm of the DSP507ofFIG. 3will be described in the following with reference toFIGS. 1 through 4.

When power is applied to the digital photographing apparatus1, the DSP507is initialized (S1). After the initialization (S1), the DSP507performs a preview mode (S2). In the preview mode, an image input is displayed on the display panel35. An operation related to the preview mode will be described in detail later with reference toFIG. 5.

When the first level signal S1from the shutter release button13is on after a user pressed the shutter release button13to the first level, the DSP507identifies a current operating mode (S32). Hereinafter, a description of the recording mode will be omitted. The DSP507performs the still-image photographing mode or the moving-image photographing mode depending on the chosen current operation mode (Steps S41or S42). The still-image photographing mode (S41) algorithm will be described with reference toFIG. 6. The moving-image photographing mode (S42) algorithm will be described with reference toFIG. 7.

When INP-generated signals corresponding to a setting mode are input (S5), the setting mode for setting an operating condition in response to the input signals from the INP is performed (S6). For example, in the preview mode (S2), if a flash button signal is input after the user presses the flash/left button15L(S5), the setting mode for setting one of the flash modes is performed (S6). An algorithm of the setting mode for setting a flash mode (S6FofFIG. 8) will be described later in detail with reference toFIGS. 8,9, and10.

When a termination signal is not generated, the DSP507continues to perform the following operation (S7).

When a signal is generated by the reproducing mode button42in the INP (S8), a reproducing mode is performed (S9). In the reproducing mode, reproducing is performed in response to input signals from the INP. The reproducing mode (S9) algorithm will be described in detail later with reference toFIG. 9. When the reproducing mode is terminated, the above operations are repeated.

The preview mode (S2) algorithm ofFIG. 4will now be described with reference toFIGS. 1 through 3andFIG. 5.

The DSP507performs automatic white balancing (AWB) and sets parameters related to the white balance (S201). In the automatic exposure mode (S202), the DSP507calculates the exposure by measuring incident luminance, drives the aperture driving motor MAaccording to the calculated exposure, and sets a shutter speed (S203).

The DSP507performs gamma correction on input image data (S204) and scales the gamma corrected image data to meet display standards (S205). The DSP507converts the scaled input image data from an RGB (red, green, and blue) format into a luminance-chrominance format (S206). The DSP507processes the input image data depending on resolution and display location and also filters the input image data (S207).

The DSP507temporarily stores the input image data in the DRAM504ofFIG. 3(S208). The DSP507synthesizes the data temporarily stored in the DRAM504ofFIG. 3and on-screen display (OSD) data (S209). The DSP507converts the synthesized image data from the RGB format into the luminance-chromaticity format (S210) and outputs the image data in the converted format via the LCD driver514ofFIG. 3(S211).

FIG. 6illustrates a still-image photographing mode (S41) algorithm illustrated inFIG. 4. The still-image photographing mode (S41) algorithm will now be described with reference toFIGS. 1 through 3andFIG. 6. Here, the present position of the zoom lens is already set.

The DSP507inspects the remaining capacity of the memory card (S4101) and determines whether the memory card has enough capacity to store a digital image signal (S4102). If the memory card does not have enough storage capacity, the DSP507indicates the lack of capacity of the memory card and ends the still-image photographing mode (S4103). If the memory card has enough storage capacity, the following operations are performed.

The DSP507sets white balance and parameters related to the white balance according to a present photographing condition (S4104). In the automatic exposure mode (S4105), the DSP507calculates the exposure by measuring incident luminance, drives the aperture driving motor MAaccording to the calculated exposure, and sets the exposure time (S4106). In the automatic focusing mode (S4107), the DSP507performs automatic focusing and drives the focus lens (S4108).

When the first level signal S1from the shutter release button13is on (S4109), the DSP507continues to perform the following steps.

The DSP507identifies whether the second level signal S2is on (S4110). When the second level signal S2is not on, it means that the user did not press the shutter release button13to the second level to take a photograph. Then, the DSP507repeats the operations S4105through S4110.

When the second level signal S2is on, it means that the user pressed the shutter release button13to the second level, and the DSP507creates a still-image file in the memory card (S4111). Next, the DSP507captures a still image (S4112). In other words, the DSP507receives still-image data from the CDS-ADC501and the DSP507compresses the received still-image data (S4113). The DSP507stores the compressed still-image data in the still-image file (S4114).

FIG. 7is a flowchart illustrating the moving-image photographing mode (S42) algorithm illustrated inFIG. 4. The moving-image photographing mode algorithm will now be described with reference toFIGS. 1 through 3andFIG. 7.

If an on-screen display (OSD) has been synthesized with image data being output, the DSP507deletes the OSD data (S4201and S4202).

The DSP507inspects the remaining capacity of the memory card and determines whether a storable time for storing digital moving-image data is present (S4203). When the memory card does not have enough storage capacity, the DSP507indicates the lack of capacity of the memory card (S4204). When the memory card has enough storage capacity, the following operations are performed.

The DSP507displays a symbol of the moving-image photographing mode and storable time on the LCD panel35(S4205).

The DSP507sets a white balance and parameters related to the white balance according to a set photographing condition (S4206). Then, the DSP507performs the automatic exposure mode according to the set photographing condition (S4207). In other words, the DSP507calculates the exposure by measuring incident luminance, drives the aperture driving motor MAaccording to the calculated exposure, and sets exposure time. The DSP507performs automatic focusing according to the set photographing condition and drives the focus lens (S4208).

When the first level signal S1from the shutter release button13is on (S4209), the DSP performs the following operations.

The DSP507determines whether the second level signal S2is on (S4210). When the second level signal S2is not on, it means that the user did not press the shutter release button13to the second level to take a photograph. Therefore, the DSP507repeats the operations S4207through S4210.

When the second level signal S2is on, it means that the user pressed the shutter release button13to the second level. Accordingly, the DSP507creates a moving-image file in the memory card (S4211).

The DSP507compresses the moving-image data from the CDS-ADC501using a motion picture experts group (MPEG) compressing algorithm or a motion joint photographic experts group (MJPEG) compressing algorithm and stores the compressed data in the moving-image file (S4212).

During this process, if both the first level signal S1and the second level signal S2from the shutter release button13are on, the DSP507stops storing the moving-image data and sets the moving-image file (S4213through S4215).

FIG. 8is a flowchart illustrating a flash-mode setting algorithm (S6F) when the flash/left button15Lis pressed in S5ofFIG. 4according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 9is the color LCD panel35displaying an icon IFof a flash mode currently set as a result of performing S691illustrated inFIG. 8.FIG. 10summarizes the flash mode setting algorithm (S6F) ofFIG. 8.

InFIG. 10, IF1indicates an icon of an automatic flash mode, IF2indicates an icon of a preliminary flash mode, IF3indicates an icon of a constant flash mode, IF4indicates an icon of a slow-synchro flash mode, and IF5indicates an icon of a flash-off mode. If the automatic flash mode (indicated by IF1) is set, the DSP507controls an operation of the flash12according to the intensity of illumination in the surrounding area. If the preliminary flash mode (indicated by IF2) is set, the DSP507controls the operation of the flash12according to the intensity of illumination in the surrounding area and, when the flash12is turned on, the flash12fires preliminary and main flashes consecutively, thereby preventing red eye.

If the constant flash mode (indicated by IF3) is set, whenever the shutter release button13is pressed, the DSP507turns the flash12on regardless of the intensity of illumination in the surrounding area. If the flow-synchro flash mode (indicated by IF4) is set, the DSP507controls the operation of the flash12according to the intensity of illumination in the surrounding area and, when the flash12is turned on, has a longer exposure to lighten the background. Photographing in the slow-synchro flash mode may be greatly affected by shaking caused by pressing the shutter release button13. Thus, the slow-synchro flash mode (indicated by IF4) and the self-timer mode may be set together. If the flash-off mode (indicated by IF5) is set, the DSP507keeps the flash12off.

The flash-mode setting algorithm (S6F) will now be described with reference toFIGS. 1 through 3and8through10. The DSP507controls the LCD driver514to display an icon IFof a flash mode currently set on the color LCD panel35(S691).FIG. 9illustrates the color LCD panel35displaying a screen when the automatic flash mode (indicated by IF1) is set. Next, a variable n is set to “1” (S692).

If the flash button signal is generated after a user presses the flash/left button15L(S693), the DSP507determines whether an input time TINof the flash button signal is longer than a set reference time TR(n)(S694). The reference time TR(n)is set according to the variable n. For example, if the variable n is in a range of “1” through “10,” TR(1)is set to 0.5 seconds, TR(2)to 1 second, TR(3)to 1.5 seconds, TR(4)to two seconds, TR(5)to 2.5 seconds, TR(6)to three seconds, TR(7)to 3.5 seconds, TR(8)to four seconds, TR(9)to 4.5 seconds, and TR(10)to five seconds.

If the time when the flash/left button15Lis pressed by the user, that is, the input time TINof the flash button signal, is equal to or shorter than the reference time TR(n), the DSP507controls the LCD driver514to display an icon of a next flash mode in the forward direction (indicated by upper arrows inFIG. 10) on the color LCD panel35and sets the flash mode indicated by the displayed icon (S695). If the length of time when the flash/left button15Lis pressed by the user, that is, the input time TINof the flash button signal, is longer than the reference time TR(n), the DSP507controls the LCD driver514to display an icon of a next flash mode in the reverse direction (indicated by lower arrows inFIG. 10) on the color LCD panel35and sets the flash mode indicated by the displayed icon (S697).

The variable n is reset by adding “1” to the current variable n (S698). Then, it is determined whether the input time TINof the flash button signal is longer than the reference time TR(n)(S699). If the input time TINof the flash button signal is longer than the reference time TR(n), S697and S698are repeated until the input time TINof the flash button signal becomes the same as the reference time TR(n)(S699). Accordingly, the user can set a desired flash mode by continuously pressing the flash/left button15Lto view icons IF1through IF5in the reverse direction until an icon of the desired flash mode is displayed on the color LCD panel35.

In summary, if the user presses the flash/left button15Lfor a short time, a next flash mode in the forward direction is set, and if the user presses the flash/left button15Lfor a long time, a next flash mode in the reverse direction is set. Therefore, even if the user mistakenly skips over a desired flash mode, the desired flash mode can be set quickly and easily by pressing the flash/left button15Lfor a short or long time.

The reproducing mode (S9) algorithm ofFIG. 4will now be described with reference toFIGS. 1 through 3and11. The DSP507identifies the type of a latest file created in the memory card (S90). If the type of the latest file created in the memory card is a still image, the DSP507transmits data of the still-image file to the LCD driver514. Accordingly, the LCD panel35displays the still-image (S911).

After S911, if a left or right signal is not generated by a left or right functional button15(S912), the DSP507performs the following steps. If a signal is generated by the wide angle-zoom button39W(S914), the DSP507transmits data of a still-image reduced from its displayed image to the LCD driver514. Accordingly, the color LCD panel35displays the reduced still-image (S915). Conversely, if a signal is generated by the telephoto-zoom button39T(S916), the DSP507transmits data of a still-image enlarged from its displayed image to the LCD driver514. Accordingly, the color LCD panel35displays the enlarged still-image (S917).

If a signal is not generated by the reproducing mode button42, S912and its following operations are performed, and, if generated, the reproducing mode (S9) is terminated (S918).

After operation S911, if the left or right signal is generated by the left or right functional button15(S912), the DSP507identifies the type of a file corresponding to the generated signal (S913).

In operation S913, if the type of the file is a still image, the DSP507performs the operations S911, S912, and S913. On the other hand, in operations S90and S913, if the type of the file is a moving-image, the DSP507performs the following operations.

The DSP507transmits an image of an initial frame in a corresponding moving-image file to the LCD driver514. Accordingly, the color LCD panel35displays the image of the initial frame as a representative image of the moving-image file (S901). While the representative image is displayed, if a reproduction/termination signal is not generated after the user pressed the manual adjusting/reproducing/terminating button37(S903), the DSP507performs operation S912and subsequent operations.

While the representative image is displayed, if the user presses the manual adjusting/reproducing/terminating button37(S903), thus generating the reproduction/termination signal, the DSP507performs the following operations.

Moving-image data and audio data stored in the moving-image file are transmitted to the LCD driver514and the audio processor513, respectively, and reproduced (S904).

If the left signal is generated when the left button is pressed (S905), the DSP507performs rewind (S906). Similarly, if the right signal is generated when the right button is pressed (S907), the DSP507performs fast-forward (S908).

If the reproduction/termination signal is not generated after the user pressed the manual-adjusting/reproducing/terminating button37(S909), the DSP507performs operation S904and subsequent operations.

If the reproduction/termination signal is generated after the user pressed the manual-adjusting/reproducing/terminating button37(S909), the DSP507terminates the reproduction (S910) and performs S903and subsequent operations.

FIG. 12is a flowchart illustrating a flash-mode setting algorithm (S6F) when the flash/left button15Lis pressed in S5ofFIG. 4according to another embodiment of the present invention. The flash-mode setting algorithm (S6F) will now be described with reference toFIGS. 1 through 3,9, and12.

The DSP507controls the LCD driver514to display an icon IFof a flash mode currently set on the color LCD panel35(S121).FIG. 9illustrates the color LCD panel35displaying the screen when the automatic flash mode (indicated by IF1) is set.

If the flash button signal as a first setting signal is generated after the user pressed the flash/left button15L(S122), the DSP507determines whether a second setting signal including the first setting signal is generated (S123). In other words, the DSP507determines whether a menu/select-confirm button signal is generated after the user pressed the menu/select-confirm button15M(S123).

If the menu/select-confirm button signal is not generated, the DSP507controls the LCD driver514to display an icon of a next flash mode in the forward direction (indicated by the upper arrows inFIG. 10) on the color LCD panel35and sets the flash mode indicated by the displayed icon. If generated, the DSP507controls the LCD driver514to display an icon of a next flash mode in the reverse direction (indicated by the lower arrows inFIG. 10) on the color LCD panel35and sets the flash mode indicated by the displayed icon (S125).

As described above, according to a control method for a digital photographing apparatus and a digital photographing apparatus using the method, a user may set a next operating mode in a forward or reverse direction using a flash/left button15L. Therefore, even if the user mistakenly skips a desired flash mode, the desired flash mode can be set quickly and easily by pressing the flash/left button15L.