PATENT DOCUMENT

Abstract:
An imaging system includes: an imaging device; and a terminal device configured to remotely operate the imaging device in response to an input received from a user of the terminal device. The imaging device includes an imager configured to capture an image; and a transmitter configured to transmit the image to the terminal device. The terminal device includes a receiver configured to receive the image transmitted from the transmitter. The imaging device is removably attachable to the terminal device. The transmitter of the imaging device is configured to start communication with the receiver of the terminal device when the imaging device and the terminal device are in proximity to each other.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-124827 filed on Jun. 3, 2011, and Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-096977 filed on Apr. 20, 2012, the disclosure of which including the specification, the drawings, and the claims is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The disclosed technology relates to an imaging apparatus capable of sending a captured image to a terminal device, and an imaging system including the imaging apparatus. 
         [0003]    Imaging apparatuses using an image sensor, such as a CCD and a CMOS, have been known. As communication technologies (wireless LAN etc.) have recently been popularized, imaging apparatuses capable of communicating with other terminal devices have been proposed. 
         [0004]    For example, an imaging system disclosed by Japanese Patent Publication No. 2000-023015 includes a single imaging apparatus and a plurality of remote control devices wirelessly connected to the imaging apparatus. The imaging apparatus shoots an image based on control signals from the remote control devices. 
         [0005]    In the imaging system of Japanese Patent Publication No. 2000-023015, a plurality of users use the single imaging apparatus. Thus, different from the case where a single user uses a single imaging apparatus, various problems derived from this configuration may occur. 
         [0006]    In view of the foregoing, the disclosed technology has been achieved. The disclosed technology is concerned with improving convenience in use of the single imaging apparatus by the plurality of users. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    The disclosed technology is directed to an imaging apparatus which is remote-controllable by a terminal device, and is capable of sending an image to the terminal device, the imaging apparatus including: an imaging unit configured to capture an image of a subject; a storage unit configured to store one or multiple particular subjects, and one or multiple terminal devices corresponding to the one or multiple particular subjects; a detection unit configured to detect the particular subject stored in the storage unit in the image captured by the imaging unit; and a control unit configured to notify, when the detection unit detects the particular subject, the terminal device which is stored in the storage unit and corresponds to the detected particular subject that the particular subject is detected. 
         [0008]    The disclosed technology is also directed to an imaging system including a terminal device; and an imaging apparatus which is remote-controllable by the terminal device, and is capable of sending an image to the terminal device, wherein the imaging apparatus includes: an imaging unit configured to capture an image of a subject; a storage unit configured to store one or multiple particular subjects, and one or multiple terminal devices corresponding to the one or multiple particular subjects; a detection unit configured to detect the particular subject stored in the storage unit in the image captured by the imaging unit; and a control unit configured to notify, when the detection unit detects the particular subject, the terminal device which is stored in the storage unit and corresponds to the detected particular subject that the particular subject is detected. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic configuration of an imaging system of a first embodiment. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an imaging apparatus. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the imaging apparatus. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  shows an example of a distance measurement frame F set on a subject. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  shows an identification information table. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a terminal device. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the terminal device. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  shows a display of the terminal device. 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a flowchart of mode selection of the imaging apparatus. 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a flowchart of processing in an automatic shooting mode. 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  shows a display of the terminal device displaying a through image. 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  shows a display of another terminal device displaying a through image. 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  is a flowchart of processing in a manual shooting mode. 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  shows a display of the terminal device in the manual shooting mode. 
           [0023]      FIG. 15  is a flowchart of processing in a playback mode. 
           [0024]      FIG. 16  shows a display of the terminal device in the playback mode. 
           [0025]      FIG. 17  is a flowchart of processing in an automatic shooting mode according to an alternative. 
           [0026]      FIG. 18  is a flowchart of processing in a manual shooting mode according to the alternative. 
           [0027]      FIG. 19  is a perspective view showing appearance of an imaging apparatus and a terminal device joined in use. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0028]    An example embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 
       First Embodiment 
     (1. General Configuration of Imaging System) 
       [0029]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic configuration of an imaging system of a first embodiment. 
         [0030]    An imaging system S includes an imaging apparatus  1  and three terminal devices  100 A,  100 B, and  100 C. The imaging apparatus  1  is mounted on a tripod  50  having an electric pan head  51  in which a motor is mounted. The terminal devices  100 A,  100 B, and  100 C are operated by users a, b, and c, respectively. The imaging apparatus  1  and the terminal devices  100 A,  100 B, and  100 C are wirelessly connected so that signals can be transmitted between them. For example, each of the terminal devices  100 A,  100 B, and  100 C can send a control signal to the imaging apparatus  1  to allow the imaging apparatus  1  to perform shooting. The imaging apparatus  1  can send an image and additional information to the terminal devices  100 A,  100 B, and  100 C. The tripod  50  is wirelessly connected to the terminal devices  100 A,  100 B, and  100 C or the imaging apparatus  1  so that signals can be transmitted between them. For example, the terminal devices  100 A,  100 B, and  100 C can send a control signal directly or indirectly through the imaging apparatus  1  to the tripod  50  to pan or tilt the electric pan head  51 . The terminal devices  100 A,  100 B, and  100 C may be referred to as terminal device(s)  100  when distinction among them is not necessary. 
       (2. Configuration of Imaging Apparatus) 
       [0031]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the imaging apparatus  1 , and  FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the imaging apparatus  1 . For easy description, three-dimensional rectangular coordinates are defined in which an optical axis AZ of the imaging apparatus  1  is referred to as a Z axis (a direction toward a subject is a positive direction, and a direction toward an imaging surface is a negative direction), a horizontal direction of the imaging apparatus  1  is referred to as an X axis, and a vertical direction of the imaging apparatus  1  is referred to as an Y axis as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0032]    The imaging apparatus  1  may be a digital camera. The imaging apparatus  1  includes a camera body  40  and a lens barrel  41  as shown in  FIG. 2 . The imaging apparatus  1  further includes an optical system L, a microcomputer  3 , an image sensor  4 , a CCD drive unit  5 , an analog signal processing unit  6 , an A/D converter  7 , a digital signal processing unit  8 , a buffer memory  9 , an image compression unit  10 , an image recording control unit  11 , an image recording unit  12 , a communication unit  15 , a power switch  20 , a proximity sensor  17 , a GPS sensor  18 , a geomagnetic sensor  19 , a face registration database  23 , a memory  28 , a shutter  33 , a shutter control unit  31 , a shutter drive motor  32 , a zoom control unit  34 , a zoom drive motor  35 , a focus control unit  36 , and a focus drive motor  37  as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0033]    The optical system L forms an optical image of a subject, and includes a zoom lens group L 1 , a focus lens group L 2 , etc. The optical system L is supported by the lens barrel  41 . 
         [0034]    The microcomputer  3  generally controls the imaging apparatus  1 . The microcomputer  3  is connected to the various units. 
         [0035]    The shutter  33  is arranged on the optical axis AZ and between the zoom lens group L 1  and the focus lens group L 2 . The shutter drive motor  32  drives the shutter  33 . The shutter control unit  31  controls the shutter drive motor  32  based on a control signal from the microcomputer  3  to operate the shutter  33 . For example, the microcomputer  3  generates a control signal to be sent to the shutter control unit  31  when the microcomputer  3  receives a control signal derived from operation of a shutter button  134  of the terminal device  100  described later. 
         [0036]    The zoom drive motor  35  moves the zoom lens group L 1  along the optical axis AZ. The zoom control unit  34  controls the zoom drive motor  35  based on a control signal from the microcomputer  3 . Specifically, the microcomputer  3  outputs the control signal to the zoom control unit  34  so that the zoom lens group L 1  performs zooming. For example, the microcomputer  3  generates the control signal to be sent to the zoom control unit  34  when the microcomputer  3  receives a control signal derived from operation of a zoom button  137  of the terminal device  100  described later. 
         [0037]    The focus drive motor  37  moves the focus lens group L 2  along the optical axis AZ. The focus control unit  36  controls the focus drive motor  37  based on a control signal from the microcomputer  3 . Specifically, the microcomputer  3  outputs the control signal to the focus control unit  36  to perform focusing. For example, the microcomputer  3  generates the control signal to be sent to the focus control unit  36  when the microcomputer  3  receives a control signal derived from operation of the shutter button  134  of the terminal device  100  described later. 
         [0038]    The image sensor  4  may be a CCD, for example. The image sensor  4  converts the optical image formed by the optical system L into an electric image signal. The image sensor  4  is controlled by the CCD drive unit  5 . The CCD drive unit  5  is controlled by a control signal from the microcomputer  3 . The image sensor  4  may be an electronic component which performs photoelectric conversion, such as a CMOS sensor. The image sensor  4  is an example of an imaging unit. 
         [0039]    The image signal output from the image sensor  4  is sequentially processed by the analog signal processing unit  6 , the A/D converter  7 , the digital signal processing unit  8 , the buffer memory  9 , and the image compression unit  10 . The analog signal processing unit  6  performs analog signal processing, such as gamma processing, on the image signal output from the image sensor  4 . The A/D converter  7  converts the analog signal output from the analog signal processing unit  6  to a digital signal. The digital signal processing unit  8  performs digital signal processing, such as noise reduction, edge enhancement, etc., on the image signal converted to the digital signal by the A/D converter  7 . The buffer memory  9  is a random access memory (RAM), and temporarily stores the image signal processed by the digital signal processing unit  8 . The image compression unit  10  compresses data of the image signal stored in the buffer memory  9 . Thus, a data size of the image signal is reduced to be smaller than the original data. For example, a still image may be compressed by Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG), and a moving image may be compressed by Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG). 
         [0040]    Based on a command from the image recording control unit  11 , the image recording unit  12  stores the image signal (a moving image and a still image) in association with a signal of a reduced image corresponding to the image signal and predetermined information. The predetermined information associated with the image signal may include, for example, date information when the image is shot, focal length information, shutter speed information, f/number information, shooting mode information, etc. The predetermined information may be a format similar to Exif®, for example. The predetermined information may include face recognition information described later. 
         [0041]    The communication unit  15  establishes wireless communication with the terminal device  100  through, for example, wireless LAN. For example, the communication unit  15  is Wi-Fi®-certified, and is Wi-Fi®-connected to the terminal devices  100 . The imaging apparatus  1  and the terminal device  100  may be connected via an external communication device, such as an access point, or may directly be connected via P2P (a wireless ad hoc network) without using any external communication device. Alternatively, a telecommunication standard for cellular phones, such as 3G, or Long Term Evolution (LTE), may be used. For example, the communication unit  15  can receive a control signal etc. from the terminal device  100 , and can send an image signal etc. to the terminal device  100  through wireless communication. 
         [0042]    The proximity sensor  17  detects that the imaging apparatus  1  is in proximity to the terminal device  100 . For example, the proximity sensor  17  may be a magnetic sensor, such as a Hall device. The GPS sensor  18  determines a location of the imaging apparatus  1 . The GPS sensor  18  determines a latitude/longitude, or a location where a representative landmark exists. The geomagnetic sensor  19  determines a direction pointed by the lens barrel  41  (the optical axis AZ) of the imaging apparatus  1 . 
         [0043]    The power switch  20  is a switch operated to turn on/off the imaging apparatus  1 . 
         [0044]    The face registration database  23  has a face recognition table. The face recognition table stores a plurality of face recognition records which are data related to faces of particular persons. Each of the face recognition records contains data related to facial features. 
         [0045]    The microcomputer  3  includes a face detection unit  21 , a face recognition unit  22 , and an identification information storage unit  24 . 
         [0046]    The face detection unit  21  performs face detection. Specifically, the face detection unit  21  detects a face of a subject from a single frame of an image obtained from the digital signal processing unit  8 . The face detection can be performed by extracting an outline from the image, and detecting whether features (eyes, nose, mouth, etc.) are found in the extracted outline. When the features are found in the detected outline, the face detection unit  21  determines the outline as a face. The microcomputer  3  sets a distance measurement frame F (an AF frame) surrounding the detected face of the subject. The distance measurement frame F may be set on the eyes, nose, or mouth of the subject instead of the face of the subject. Further, the face detection unit  21  extracts facial feature data, and determines sex and age of the subject, or determines whether the subject is a person or an animal based on the features. The face detection unit  21  detects a plurality of faces, if they are in the single frame, and extracts the facial feature data of each face. 
         [0047]      FIG. 4  shows an example of the distance measurement frame F set on the subject. In  FIG. 4 , the distance measurement frame FA is set on a region where the face detection is performed on a subject A. A distance measurement frame FB is set on a region where the face detection is performed on a subject B. 
         [0048]    The face recognition unit  22  compares the facial feature data extracted by the face detection unit  21  with the feature data stored in the face registration database  23  to determine similarity. The face recognition unit  22  determines which person&#39;s face is the detected face based on the similarity, thereby determining the subject. The face detection unit  21  and the face recognition unit  22  are examples of a detection unit. 
         [0049]    The identification information storage unit  24  stores an identification information table  25  shown in  FIG. 5 . The identification information table  25  stores particular subjects associated with the terminal devices. Specifically, in the identification information table  25 , the particular subjects and the corresponding terminal devices  100  are associated, respectively. Pieces of identification information unique to the terminal devices are stored in the columns of the terminal devices  100 A,  100 B, and  100 C in  FIG. 5 . In this example, the identification information is a Wi-Fi® address of each of the terminal devices  100 . Image data of each of the subjects are stored in the columns of the subjects A, B, and C in  FIG. 5 . Specifically, the subject A is associated with the terminal device  100 A, the subject B is associated with the terminal device  100 B, and the subject C is associated with the terminal device  100 C. The identification information storage unit  24  is an example of a storage unit. 
         [0050]    The identification information table  25  can be set by a user. Specifically, the user registers the identification information unique to each of the terminal devices  100  in the imaging apparatus  1 . For example, the imaging apparatus  1  displays all the terminal devices  100  which can be Wi-Fi®-connected so that the user can select one of the terminal devices  100  to be registered. An address of wireless LAN, a mail address, or a phone number of each terminal device  100  can be registered as the unique identification information. Then, the user selects a face of a person in an image shot by the imaging apparatus  1 . The imaging apparatus  1  displays the shot image on a liquid crystal display (not shown) to encourage the user to select the person to be registered. Then, the user allocates the registered identification information of the terminal device  100  to the selected face. Thus, the user can set the identification information table  25 . The registered face may be a face of the user who possesses the terminal device  100 , or a face of a person except for the user, such as a user&#39;s family member. 
         [0051]    The microcomputer  3  generally controls the imaging apparatus  1 , e.g., performs the shooting, or transmits and receives signals to and from external devices. One of the controls performed by the microcomputer  3  is focusing. The microcomputer  3  performs the focusing based on a contrast value of the distance measurement frame. The microcomputer  3  outputs a control signal to the focus control unit  36  to move the focus lens group L 2  along the optical axis AZ, while calculating a contrast value. The contrast value is calculated by arithmetic processing of the image signal corresponding to the distance measurement frame FA or the distance measurement frame FB. The microcomputer  3  obtains a position of the focus lens group L 2  at which the highest contrast value of the distance measurement frame FA, FB is obtained. Then, the microcomputer  3  calculates an optimum focus position relative to the subject (the position of the focus lens group L 2 ) based on the magnitude of the contrast value of the distance measurement frame FA, FB, weighting based on the position of the distance measurement frame FA, FB on the screen, etc. 
         [0052]    The imaging apparatus  1  configured as described above displays a through image captured by the image sensor  4  on the liquid crystal display (live view display). The imaging apparatus  1  performs the shooting when the user operates a release button (not shown). The imaging apparatus  1  displays the shot image on the liquid crystal display, or stores the shot image in the image recording unit  12 . The “through image” designates an image captured by the image sensor  4 , i.e., a through-the-lens image, and is used for the shooting. The “shot image” designates an image shot by the imaging apparatus  1 . Specifically, the “shot image” is an image which is captured by the image sensor  4 , and processed as a single file. Both of the “through image” and the “shot image” are images captured by the image sensor  4 , i.e., they are “captured images.” 
       (3. Configuration of Terminal Device) 
       [0053]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the terminal device  100 .  FIG. 7  is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the terminal device  100 .  FIG. 8  shows a display  118  of the terminal device  100 . 
         [0054]    The terminal device  100  may be a smartphone. The terminal device  100  includes a casing  101 , a display  118 , and a touch panel  119  as shown in  FIGS. 6-8 . The terminal device  100  is in the shape of a plate which is rectangular when viewed in plan. The terminal device  100  sends a control signal for operating the imaging apparatus  1 , and receives a through image or a shot image from the imaging apparatus  1  to display the through image or the shot image on the display  118 . For easy description, three-dimensional rectangular coordinates are defined in which a direction of a long side of the terminal device  100  is referred to an X axis, a direction of a short side of the terminal device  100  is referred to a Y axis, and a direction of a thickness of the terminal device  100  is referred to as a Z axis. 
         [0055]    The casing  101  includes a front casing  101   a  and a back casing  101   b.  The front casing  101   a  and the back casing  101   b  are integrally coupled with screws etc. A display window  104  is formed in the front casing  101   a.  The display  118  is arranged in the display window  104 . The display  118  may be a liquid crystal display. The touch panel  119  is arranged to cover the display  118 . The touch panel  119  may be an electrostatic touch panel, a resistive film touch panel, an optical touch panel, an ultrasonic touch panel, or an electromagnetic touch panel. The user touches an object displayed on the display  118  with a finger or a pen to operate the terminal device  100  through the touch panel  119 . The front casing  101   a  includes a power switch  120 . The power switch  120  is a switch operated to turn on/off the terminal device  100 . 
         [0056]    The terminal device  100  further includes, as shown in  FIG. 7 , a microcomputer  103 , an image recording control unit  111 , an image recording unit  112 , a communication unit  115 , a display control unit  117 , a memory  128 , an operation I/F unit  130 , a GPS sensor  145 , a geomagnetic sensor  146 , a triaxial gyro sensor  147 , and a triaxial acceleration sensor  148 . 
         [0057]    The image recording unit  112  includes a card I/F unit  114  to which a removable memory  113  is attachable. The image recording unit  112  stores an image signal (a moving image and a still image) in association with a signal of a reduced image corresponding to the image signal and predetermined information based on a command from the image recording control unit  111 . The predetermined information associated with the image signal may include, for example, date information when the image is shot, focal length information, shutter speed information, f/number information, shooting mode information, etc. The predetermined information may be a format similar to Exif®, for example. 
         [0058]    The communication unit  115  conducts wireless communication with the imaging apparatus  1  through, for example, wireless LAN. For example, the communication unit  115  is Wi-Fi®-certified, and is Wi-Fi®-connected to the imaging apparatus  1 . The terminal device  100  transmits and receives signals to and from the imaging apparatus  1  through the communication unit  115 . 
         [0059]    The display control unit  117  controls the display  118  based on a control signal from the microcomputer  103 . The display  118  displays an image signal read from the image recording unit  112  or an image signal sent from the imaging apparatus  1  through the wireless LAN as a visible image based on a command from the display control unit  117 . 
         [0060]    The memory  128  stores identification information unique to the terminal device  100 . The identification information may be a Wi-Fi® address of the terminal device  100 . 
         [0061]    The GPS sensor  145  determines a position of the terminal device  100 . The GPS sensor  145  determines a latitude/longitude, or a location where a representative landmark exists. The geomagnetic sensor  146  determines a direction which the terminal device  100  faces (e.g., a direction which a normal line to the display  118  points). The triaxial gyro sensor  147  detects an attitude of the terminal device  100 , and detects rotation of the terminal device  100  in a pitching direction (X axis), a yawing direction (Y axis), and a rolling direction (Z axis). The triaxial acceleration sensor  148  detects acceleration of the terminal device  100  in the X, Y, and Z axis directions. 
         [0062]    The display  118  displays an operation unit  131  which can be operated through the touch panel  119 . Output from the touch panel  119  is input to the microcomputer  103  etc. through the operation I/F unit  130 . 
         [0063]    Specifically, the operation unit  131  includes a MENU button  132 , a SET button  133 , a shutter button  134 , a shooting mode button  135 , a playback mode button  136 , a zoom button  137 , and an automatic/manual selector button  138 . 
         [0064]    The MENU button  132  is operated to display various menus on the display  118 . The SET button  133  is operated to confirm the execution of the menu. The shooting mode button  135  is operated to select a shooting mode. The playback mode button  136  is operated to select a playback mode. The shooting mode button  135  and the playback mode button  136  are alternatively operable. The automatic/manual selector button  138  is operated to select an automatic shooting mode or a manual shooting mode. The automatic shooting mode and the manual shooting mode will be described later. 
         [0065]    The shutter button  134  is operated to output a command to the imaging apparatus  1  to perform focusing and driving of the shutter. The shutter button  134  is displayed as the distance measurement frame F. Specifically, in the shooting mode, a rectangular distance measurement frame F is displayed on a subject on the display  118 . The distance measurement frame F also functions as the shutter button  134 . When the user lightly touches the distance measurement frame F, a control signal instructing the focusing is sent from the terminal device  100  to the imaging apparatus  1 . When the user presses the distance measurement frame F for a long time, a control signal instructing the driving of the shutter is sent from the terminal device  100  to the imaging apparatus  1 . 
         [0066]    The zoom button  137  is operated to output a command to perform zooming to the imaging apparatus  1 . The zoom button  137  is a vertically extending bar-shaped button. When the user touches a lower part of the zoom button  137  (a part closer to a letter W), a control signal instructing the zoom lens group L 1  to move toward a wide angle position is sent from the terminal device  100  to the imaging apparatus  1 . When the user touches an upper part of the zoom button  137  (a part closer to a letter T), a control signal instructing the zoom lens group L 1  to move toward a telephoto position is sent from the terminal device  100  to the imaging apparatus  1 . 
         [0067]    The display  118  displays various types of information. For example, the display  118  displays a terminal name display part  139  and a shooting condition display part  140 . 
         [0068]    The terminal name display part  139  is an icon indicating which terminal device  100  is used at present. The terminal name display part  139  includes terminal name display icons  139   a,    139   b,  and  139   c.  The terminal names are A, B, and C in this example. The terminal device  100  displays the terminal name display icon of its own on an upper right part of the display  118 , and displays the terminal name display icons of the other terminal devices  100  on the left of the former terminal name display icon. The other terminal name display icons are displayed with a solid line when they are in use, or with a broken line when they are not in use. Thus, the user can see whether the other terminal devices are in use or not. 
         [0069]    The shooting condition display part  140  displays shooting conditions set by the imaging apparatus  1 , i.e., a shutter speed and an f/number. 
         [0070]    Although not shown, the display  118  can display the determination results of the GPS sensor  145  and the geomagnetic sensor  146 . In addition, the display  118  can display the determination results of the GPS sensors  145  and the geomagnetic sensors  146  of the other terminal devices  100 , and the determination results of the GPS sensor  18  and the geomagnetic sensor  19  of the imaging apparatus  1 . 
         [0071]    In the following description, the components of the terminal devices  100 A,  100 B, and  100 C will be indicated by their original reference characters added with “A”, “B”, or “C,” if necessary. For example, a “display  118 A” is a display of the terminal device  100 A, and an “automatic/manual selector button  138 B” is an automatic/manual selector button of the terminal device  100 B. 
       (4. Remote Operation) 
       [0072]    In the imaging system S configured as described above, the imaging apparatus  1  can be remote-controlled by the terminal device  100 . 
         [0073]    For example, the through image and the shot image of the imaging apparatus  1  can be checked using the terminal device  100 . Specifically, the imaging apparatus  1  sends the through image and the shot image to the terminal device  100 , and the terminal device  100  displays the through image and the shot image on the display  118 . The distance measurement frame F is shown on the through image. 
         [0074]    The terminal device  100  can allow the imaging apparatus  1  to perform the focusing, the zooming, and the shooting. Specifically, the terminal device  100  can adjust the focus and the magnification of the imaging apparatus  1 , or can allow the imaging apparatus  1  to perform the shooting by sending a control signal from the terminal device  100  to the imaging apparatus  1 . 
         [0075]    The terminal device  100  can also operate the electric pan head  51  of the tripod  50 . For example, when the user rotates the terminal device  100  in the pitching direction or the yawing direction, the microcomputer  103  of the terminal device  100  detects the movement of the terminal device  100  using one or both of the triaxial gyro sensor  147  and the triaxial acceleration sensor  148 , and generates a control signal to be sent to the electric pan head  51  based on the movement. The terminal device  100  sends the control signal to the tripod  50 . Upon receiving the control signal, the tripod  50  tilts or pans based on the control signal. Thus, when the user imitates the tilting or the panning with the terminal device  100 , the tripod  50  can tilt or pan based on the movement of the terminal device  100 . Thus, even through the remote control, the imaging apparatus  1  can be turned to the direction intended by the user. For example, even when the subject moves, the user can easily follow the subject by tilting or panning the terminal device  100  while looking at the through image on the display  118  of the terminal device  100 . When the tripod  50  and the terminal device  100  are wirelessly connected through the imaging apparatus  1 , the control signal from the terminal device  100  is sent to the tripod  50  through the imaging apparatus  1 . 
       (5. Mode Selection of Imaging Apparatus) 
       [0076]      FIG. 9  is a flowchart of mode selection of the imaging apparatus  1 . Referring to  FIG. 9 , the mode selection of the imaging apparatus  1  will be described below. In this example, the imaging apparatus  1  can be wirelessly connected to the three terminal devices  100 A,  100 B, and  100 C. In the following description, S designates step. 
         [0077]    First, the imaging apparatus  1  is turned on to activate the imaging apparatus  1 . Thus, the imaging apparatus  1  is ready for the shooting (S 11 ). 
         [0078]    Then, the imaging apparatus  1  determines whether the imaging apparatus  1  is in wireless connection with the terminal device  100  in S 12 . Specifically, when the terminal device  100  is turned on, and is located in a range where the terminal device  100  can be wirelessly connected to the imaging apparatus  1 , the wireless connection between the imaging apparatus  1  and the terminal device  100  is established. The imaging apparatus  1  checks current connection to the terminal devices  100 A,  100 B, and  100 C, and determines which terminal device  100  is in wireless connection. The imaging device  1  can determine that the terminal device  100  is in wireless connection when the imaging apparatus  1  sends a request signal for confirming the connection to the terminal device  100 , and a response signal is sent back from the terminal device  100 . The following flow will be described on condition that the three terminal devices  100 A,  100 B, and  100 C are in wireless connection. 
         [0079]    Then, in S 13 , the imaging apparatus  1  determines whether each of the wirelessly connected terminal devices  100  is in an automatic mode or a manual mode. When the automatic mode is selected, the flow proceeds to S 14 . When the manual mode is selected, the flow proceeds to S 17 . In S 14 , the imaging apparatus  1  determines whether the terminal device  100  in the automatic mode is in a shooting mode or a playback mode. When the shooting mode is selected, the flow proceeds to S 15 . When the playback mode is selected, the flow proceeds to S 16 . In S 15 , processing in an automatic shooting mode is performed. In S 16 , processing in a playback mode is performed. In S 17 , processing in a manual shooting mode is performed. The determinations in S 13  and S 14  are performed on every terminal device  100 . 
       (6. Automatic Shooting Mode) 
       [0080]      FIG. 10  is a flowchart of the processing in the automatic shooting mode. In this example, all the terminal devices  100 A,  100 B, and  100 C are in the automatic shooting mode. In the automatic shooting mode, the imaging apparatus  1  sends the through image captured by the image sensor  4  to the terminal devices  100 A,  100 B, and  100 C through the communication unit  15  in S 21 . Each of the terminal devices  100  receives the through image via the communication unit  115 , and displays the through image on the display  118 . The terminal devices  100 A,  100 B, and  100 C receive the same through image. Thus, the through image captured by the image sensor  4  is displayed on the terminal devices  100 A,  100 B, and  100 C in real time. 
         [0081]    The imaging apparatus  1  performs face detection on the subject in the through image in S 22 . When a face is detected in the through image, the flow proceeds to S 23 . When the face is not detected, the flow repeats S 22 . 
         [0082]    In S 23 , the imaging apparatus  1  identifies the subject based on the detected face. Specifically, the imaging apparatus  1  extracts feature data from the detected face, and checks the extracted data against the face registration database  23 . When the extracted feature data coincides with feature data registered in the face registration database  23 , the imaging apparatus  1  determines that the subject is a person registered in the face registration database  23 . Thus, a particular subject is detected. In this example, faces of persons A, B, and C are registered in the face registration database  23 . Thus, when an image of the subjects shown in  FIG. 1  is captured, the persons A and B are identified. Then, information that the persons A and B are contained in the image is stored in the memory  28 . When the detected face does not coincide with the faces registered in the face registration database  23 , the flow returns to S 13 . 
         [0083]    When the face of the particular subject is detected, the imaging apparatus  1  identifies the terminal device  100  corresponding to the particular subject by referring to the identification information table  25  of the identification information storage unit  24 . Specifically, the imaging apparatus  1  identifies the terminal device  100 A as the terminal device corresponding to the person A, and the terminal device  100 B as the terminal device corresponding to the person B. 
         [0084]    When the particular subject registered in the database is detected, the imaging apparatus  1  adds a distance measurement frame surrounding the face of the subject to the through image sent to the terminal device  100  corresponding to the particular subject.  FIG. 11  shows the display  118  of the terminal device  100 A displaying the through image, and  FIG. 12  shows the display  118  of the terminal device  100 B displaying the through image. Specifically, the imaging apparatus  1  adds a distance measurement frame FA to the face of the subject A in the through image sent to the terminal device  100 A, and adds a distance measurement frame FB to the face of the subject B in the through image sent to the terminal device  100 B. The distance measurement frame is not added to the faces of subjects A and B in the through image sent to the terminal device  100 C. 
         [0085]    In S 24 , the imaging apparatus  1  automatically performs the shooting when the imaging apparatus  1  determines that the subject is the registered particular subject. When two or more registered particular subjects are contained in the image, the imaging apparatus  1  selects the shooting conditions relative to one of the subjects to which higher priority is given in advance. The order of priority can be stored in the identification information table  25 , for example. The higher priority is given to the subject registered in the higher column in the identification information table  25 . In the example shown in  FIG. 5 , the subject A is registered in the higher column in the identification information table  25  than the subject B. Thus, the higher priority is given to the subject A. Therefore, when the image shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12  is shot, the shooting conditions are set relative to the subject A. The priority can be set by storing the priority in association with the particular subject and the corresponding terminal device  100  in the identification information table  25 . The shooting conditions include various conditions associated with the shooting. For example, the imaging apparatus  1  can perform photometry and distance measurement relative to the subject A. In the photometry, the digital signal processing unit  8  calculates an exposure value based on an image signal from the face of the subject A and its vicinity output by the image sensor  4 . The microcomputer  3  determines a suitable shutter speed based on the calculated exposure value. The focus control unit  36  performs the focusing by moving the focus lens group L 2  so that the image signal in the distance measurement frame FA shows a peak contrast value. The shooting conditions may contain white balance, photographic sensitivity, zoom magnification, etc. 
         [0086]    When the imaging apparatus  1  automatically shoots the particular subject, the imaging apparatus  1  identifies the terminal device  100  associated with the particular subject based on the identification information table  25  in S 25 . In this example, the subjects A and B are shot. Thus, the terminal device  100 A associated with the subject A and the terminal device  100 B associated with the subject B are identified in the identification information table  25 . Then, the imaging apparatus  1  automatically sends the shot image to the terminal devices  100 A and  100 B in S 26 , and notifies the terminal devices  100 A and  100 B that the image is sent. The image sent to the terminal devices  100 A and  100 B is shot under the shooting conditions selected relative to the subject A. Then, the flow returns to S 21 . 
         [0087]    Upon receiving the shot image and the notice, each of the terminal devices  100 A and  100 B displays the shot image on the display  118 , and records the image in the image recording unit  112 . The shot image is not sent to the terminal device  100 C. 
         [0088]    In sending the shot image and the notice, the imaging apparatus  1  checks whether the terminal devices  100  are still in wireless connection. If the wireless connection has been shut down because the terminal devices  100  are turned off, or the communication environment is deteriorated, the imaging apparatus  1  temporarily records the shot image in the image recording unit  12 . When it is detected that the wireless connection with the terminal devices  100  becomes active again, the shot image is read out of the image recording unit  12 , and is sent to the terminal devices  100 . 
         [0089]    As described above, the imaging apparatus  1  includes the image sensor  4  configured to capture an image of the subject, the identification information storage unit  24  configured to store one or multiple particular subjects and one or multiple terminal devices  100  corresponding to the subjects, the face detection unit  21  and the face recognition unit  22  configured to detect the particular subject stored in the identification information storage unit  24  in the image captured by the image sensor  4 , and the microcomputer  3  configured to send the image to the terminal device  100 . The imaging apparatus  1  is configured to send the image to the terminal device  100 . When the face detection unit  21  and the face recognition unit  22  detect the particular subject, the microcomputer  3  sends the image to the terminal device  100  which is stored in the identification information storage unit  24  and corresponds to the particular subject. The imaging system S includes the terminal device  100 , and the imaging apparatus  1  which is configured to be remote-controlled by the terminal device  100 , and to send the image to the terminal device  100 . The imaging apparatus  1  includes the image sensor  4  configured to capture an image of the subject, the identification information storage unit  24  configured to store one or multiple particular subjects and one or multiple terminal devices  100  corresponding to the subjects, the face detection unit  21  and the face recognition unit  22  configured to detect the particular subject stored in the identification information storage unit  24  in the image captured by the image sensor  4 , and the microcomputer  3  configured to send the image to the terminal device  100 . When the face detection unit  21  and the face recognition unit  22  detect the particular subject, the microcomputer  3  sends the image to the terminal device  100  which is stored in the identification information storage unit  24  and corresponds to the particular subject. Specifically, the imaging system S includes the single imaging apparatus  1  to which the multiple terminal devices  100  are wirelessly connected. When the subject is identified by the imaging apparatus  1  in the automatic shooting mode, the captured image can automatically be sent to the terminal device  100  associated with the identified subject. Thus, the user no longer needs to classify the shot images according to the subject. This can improve usability of the imaging system. 
         [0090]    When the face detection unit  21  and the face recognition unit  22  detect the multiple particular subjects, the microcomputer  3  performs the shooting under a shooting condition set relative to one of the detected particular subjects, and sends a shot image to the multiple terminal devices  100  which are stored in the identification information storage unit  24  and correspond to the detected multiple particular subjects. Specifically, when the multiple particular subjects are present in the image, the shooting is performed under the shooting conditions set relative to one of the particular subjects. The same shot image is sent to the multiple terminal devices corresponding to the multiple particular subjects present in the image. Thus, even when the multiple particular subjects are present in the image, the image is shot only once, thereby simplifying the shooting. For example, relative to which one of the multiple particular subjects present in the image the shooting conditions are set may be determined based on the predetermined priority of the particular subjects. Alternatively, the shooting conditions may be selected relative to the particular subject selected through the terminal device  100 . In this case, the shooting conditions are automatically set by the imaging apparatus  1  based on the through image etc. 
         [0091]    In the above-described example, the shot image is sent to the terminal device  100 . However, only the notice may be sent to the terminal device  100 , and the shot image may be sent to a server specified in advance. In this case, an URL of the stored image may be sent from the server to the terminal device  100  via an e-mail etc. 
         [0092]    The imaging apparatus  1  is configured to send the through image to all the terminal devices  100 . However, the sending of the through image is not limited to this example. When the imaging apparatus  1  detects the particular subject in the through image, the through image may be sent only to the terminal device  100  corresponding to the detected particular subject. 
         [0093]    When the particular subject corresponding to the terminal device  100 C is not present in the shot image, the shooting conditions used for the shooting may be sent to the terminal device  100 C. Specifically, the microcomputer  3  performs the shooting when the particular subject is detected in the image captured by the image sensor  4 , and may send the used shooting conditions to the terminal device  100  which is stored in the identification information storage unit  24  and does not correspond to the detected particular subject. Thus, the terminal device  100 C can obtain the shooting conditions for the current situation. Since brightness of background may probably not change immediately, the terminal device  100 C can set the shooting conditions suitable for the current situation in advance. This is advantageous when the terminal device  100 C performs the manual shooting. 
         [0094]    When one or more terminal devices  100  wirelessly connected to the imaging apparatus  1  are not in the automatic shooting mode, the above-described processing is performed only for the terminal device  100  in the automatic shooting mode. 
         [0095]    The subject A and the user a may be the same person, e.g., in shooting the user himself in memory of a special occasion. 
       (7. Manual Shooting Mode) 
       [0096]    A manual shooting mode will be described below.  FIG. 13  is a flowchart of processing in the manual shooting mode.  FIG. 14  shows the display  118  of the terminal device  100 A in the manual shooting mode. In this example, only the terminal device  100 A is in the manual shooting mode. In the manual shooting mode, an automatic/manual selector button  138 A of the terminal device  100 A displays “manual.” 
         [0097]    In the manual shooting mode, the imaging apparatus  1  sends the through image captured by the image sensor  4  to the terminal device  100 A in the manual shooting mode via the communication unit  15  in S 31 . 
         [0098]    In S 32 , the imaging apparatus  1  sets various shooting conditions upon receiving the shooting conditions from the terminal device  100 A. Specifically, the user touches a MENU button  132 A of the terminal device  100 A to manually select the shooting conditions of the imaging apparatus  1 . For example, the shutter speed is set to 1/100, and the f/number is set to F2.8. When the shooting conditions are set, the selected shooting conditions are displayed on a shooting condition display part  140 A on an upper left part of the display  118 A. When the setting of the shooting conditions on the terminal device  100 A is finished, the set shooting conditions are sent from the terminal device  100 A to the imaging apparatus  1 . At this time, the terminal device  100 A also sends identification information thereof. Upon receiving the shooting conditions from the terminal device  100 A, the imaging apparatus  1  determines whether the shooting conditions are sent from the terminal device  100  in the manual shooting mode based on the identification information. When it is determined that the shooting conditions are those from the terminal device  100  in the manual shooting mode, the imaging apparatus  1  sets the sent shooting conditions as the shooting conditions of the imaging apparatus  1 . 
         [0099]    In S 33 , the shooting is performed. The shooting is executed when the user operates the terminal device  100 A. Specifically, when the user lightly touches the shutter button  134 A displayed on the display  118 A, a signal indicating this event is sent from the terminal device  100 A to the imaging apparatus  1 . When the imaging apparatus  1  receives the signal, the microcomputer  3  performs the focusing by controlling the focus control unit  36  to move the focus lens group L 2  so that a peak contrast value of the image signal is obtained. Then, when the user presses the shutter button  134 A displayed on the display  118 A for a long time, a signal indicating this event is sent from the terminal device  100 A to the imaging apparatus  1 . When the imaging apparatus  1  receives the signal, the microcomputer  3  controls the CCD drive control unit  5  and the shutter control unit  31  to perform the shooting. Thus, the manual shooting is performed under the exposure and distance conditions set through the terminal device  100 A. 
         [0100]    Then, in S 34 , the imaging apparatus  1  automatically sends the shot image to the terminal device  100 A which output the shooting command, and notifies the terminal device  100 A of this event. Upon receiving the shot image and the notice, the terminal device  100 A displays the shot image on the display  118 A. 
         [0101]    In S 35 , the imaging apparatus  1  automatically sends the shot image and the used shooting conditions to the terminal devices except for the terminal device  100 A which output the shooting command, i.e., to the terminal devices  100 B and  100 C. Upon receiving the shot image and the shooting conditions, the terminal devices  100 B and  100 C display the shot image and the shooting conditions on the displays  118 B and  118 C, and store the image in the image recording unit  112 B and  112 C. At this time, the terminal devices  100 B and  100 C may automatically set the received shooting conditions as their shooting conditions. 
         [0102]    As described above, the imaging apparatus  1  includes the image sensor  4  configured to capture an image of the subject, the identification information storage unit  24  configured to store the particular terminal devices  100 , and the microcomputer  3  configured to perform the shooting using the image sensor  4 . The imaging apparatus  1  is configured to be remote-controlled by the terminal device  100 , and to send the image to the terminal device  100 . When the shooting is performed in response to the remote control by the particular terminal device  100 , the microcomputer  3  sends a shooting condition used for the shooting to the terminal device  100  which is stored in the storage unit  24  and does not correspond to the shot particular subject. The imaging system S includes the terminal device  100 , and the imaging apparatus  1  which is configured to be remote-controlled by the terminal device  100 , and to send the image to the terminal device  100 . The imaging apparatus  1  includes the image sensor  4  configured to capture an image of the subject, the identification information storage unit  24  configured to store the particular terminal devices  100 , and the microcomputer  3  configured to perform the shooting using the image sensor  4 . When the shooting is performed in response to the remote control by the particular terminal device  100 , the microcomputer  3  sends the shooting condition used for the shooting to the terminal device  100  which is stored in the storage unit  24  and does not correspond to the shot particular subject. Specifically, in the imaging system S including the single imaging apparatus  1  to which multiple terminal devices  100  are wirelessly connected, the shooting conditions set for the shooting by a certain user can automatically be sent to the terminal devices  100  of the other users in the manual shooting mode. Thus, when the other user performs the shooting successively, the user can employ the received shooting conditions. Therefore, time for setting the shooting conditions can be saved, and the suitable shooting conditions can be set. This can improve usability in setting the shooting conditions. 
         [0103]    When the shooting is performed in response to the remote control by the terminal device  100 , the microcomputer  3  can set the shooting conditions based on the remote control by the terminal device  100 . Specifically, the shooting conditions can be set by the remote control. 
         [0104]    In addition to the shooting conditions, the microcomputer  3  also sends the shot image to the terminal devices  100  except for the terminal device  100  which performed the remote control. Thus, the shooting conditions can suitably be set by referring to the shot image and the used shooting conditions. Specifically, when the shooting is performed in the similar environment, time for setting the shooting conditions can be saved. When the shot image does not match the user&#39;s taste, the shooting conditions different from the used shooting conditions may be set to perform the shooting based on the user&#39;s taste. This can reduce a probability of taking failed pictures. 
         [0105]    When the imaging apparatus  1  is configured to be operated only in the manual shooting mode, the identification information storage unit  24  does not need to store the identification information table  25 , and may store particular terminal devices  100 . The face detection unit  21  and the face recognition unit  22  can be omitted. 
         [0106]    In the above example, the shot image and the used shooting conditions are sent to the other terminal devices  100 B and  100 C. However, only the shooting conditions may be sent to the other terminal devices  100 B and  100 C, and the terminal devices  100 B and  100 C may automatically set the received shooting conditions. Specifically, the other users b and c do not set their own shooting conditions, i.e., the shooting conditions for the terminal devices  100 B and  100 C of the other users b and c are automatically set based on the taste of the user a. In this way, the other users can save time for setting the shooting conditions when a particular user has set the shooting conditions. 
         [0107]    When the terminal devices  100 B and  100 C are in the manual shooting mode, the same processing described above is performed. 
       (8. Playback Mode) 
       [0108]    A playback mode will be described below.  FIG. 15  is a flowchart of processing in the playback mode, and  FIG. 16  shows the display  118  of the terminal device  100 A in the playback mode. In this example, the terminal devices  100 A,  100 B, and  100 C are in the playback mode. In the playback mode, a playback mode button  136 A is displayed on an upper left part of the display  118 . 
         [0109]    In the playback mode, the terminal device  100 A displays the shot image read from the image recording unit  112 A on the display  118 A. The imaging apparatus  1  keeps capturing the through image. 
         [0110]    In S 41 , the imaging apparatus  1  performs face detection on the subject in the through image. When a face is detected in the through image, the flow proceeds to S 42 . When the face is not detected, the flow repeats S 41 . In S 42 , the imaging apparatus  1  identifies the subject based on the detected face. When it is determined that the subject is a registered particular person, the imaging apparatus  1  automatically performs the shooting in S 43 . When the particular subject is automatically shot, the imaging apparatus  1  identifies the terminal device  100  associated with the subject based on the identification information table  25  in S 44 . In this example, the subjects A and B are shot, and the terminal device  100 A associated with the subject A and the terminal device  100 B associated with the subject B in the identification information table  25  are identified. Then, the imaging apparatus  1  automatically sends the shot image to the terminal devices  100 A and  100 B in S 45 , and notifies the terminal devices  100 A and  100 B of the event. The processing of S 41 -S 45  is the same as the processing in S 22 -S 26  in the automatic shooting mode. 
         [0111]    Upon receiving the shot image and the notice, the terminal devices  100 A and  100 B change the playback mode to the automatic shooting mode. Specifically, each of the terminal devices  100 A and  100 B cancels the playback of the shot image etc., and displays the shot image sent from the imaging apparatus  1  on the display  118 , and then records the sent image in the image recording unit  112 . 
         [0112]    The shot image and the notice are not sent to the terminal device  100 C. Thus, the terminal device  100 C remains in the playback mode. 
         [0113]    As described above, the imaging apparatus  1  is configured to be remote-controlled by the terminal device  100 , and to send the image to the terminal device  100 . The imaging apparatus  1  includes the image sensor  4  configured to capture an image of the subject, the identification information storage unit  24  configured to store one or multiple particular subjects and one or multiple terminal devices  100  corresponding to the subjects, the face detection unit  21  and the face recognition unit  22  configured to detect the particular subject stored in the identification information storage unit  24  in the image captured by the image sensor  4 , and the microcomputer  3  configured to notify the terminal device  100  which is stored in the identification information storage unit  24  and corresponds to the particular subject that the particular subject is detected by the face detection unit  21  and the face recognition unit  22 . The imaging system S includes the terminal device  100 , and the imaging apparatus  1  which is configured to be remote-controlled by the terminal device  100 , and to send the image to the terminal device  100 . The imaging apparatus  1  includes the image sensor  4  configured to capture an image of the subject, the identification information storage unit  24  configured to store one or multiple particular subjects and one or multiple terminal devices  100  corresponding to the subjects, the face detection unit  21  and the face recognition unit  22  configured to detect the particular subject stored in the identification information storage unit  24  in the image captured by the image sensor  4 , and the microcomputer  3  configured to notify the terminal device  100  which is stored in the identification information storage unit  24  and corresponds to the particular subject that the particular subject is detected by the face detection unit  21  and the face recognition unit  22 . Specifically, the imaging system S includes the single imaging apparatus  1  to which multiple terminal devices  100  are wirelessly connected. When the particular subject is detected by the imaging apparatus  1  in the playback mode, the imaging apparatus  1  notifies the terminal device  100  previously associated with the particular subject of the event even when the through image is not displayed on the terminal device  100 . The notified user can allow the terminal device  100  to display the through image to perform the shooting. This can prevent missing of the right moment to take a picture. Thus, the convenience in use of the single imaging apparatus by the plurality of users can be improved. 
         [0114]    In notifying the terminal device  100  corresponding to the particular subject that the particular subject is detected, the microcomputer  3  sends the image to the terminal device  100 . Upon receiving the notice and the image from the imaging apparatus  1 , the terminal device  100  including the display  118  configured to display the image displays the image on the display  118 . Thus, when the particular subject is detected, the terminal device  100  corresponding to the particular subject is automatically changed from the playback mode to the shooting mode. This can quickly bring the terminal device  100  into a state ready for shooting the subject. 
         [0115]    In the above example, the playback mode is changed to the automatic shooting mode. However, the playback mode may be changed to the manual shooting mode. In this case, S 44  is performed without performing the shooting in S 43 , and then the through image is sent only to the particular terminal devices  100 A and  100 B. Then, the processing of S 31 -S 35  in the manual shooting mode is performed. 
         [0116]    When the particular subject is detected, the terminal device  100  corresponding to the detected particular subject is changed from the playback mode to the shooting mode. However, the terminal device  100  may remain in the playback mode. Specifically, when the terminal device  100  is notified that the particular subject is detected, the terminal device  100  may notify the user of the event. For example, the event may be displayed on the display  118 , or the event may be notified by making a sound. Then, the user may select the playback mode or the shooting mode, or the user may select the automatic shooting mode or the manual shooting mode in selecting the shooting mode. 
         [0117]    In the playback mode, a subscreen for displaying the through image captured by the imaging apparatus  1  may simultaneously be displayed on part of the display  118  of the terminal device  100 . 
         [0118]    When one or more terminal devices  100  wirelessly connected to the imaging apparatus  1  are not in the playback mode, the above-described processing is performed only for the terminal device  100  in the playback mode. 
         [0000]    (9. Automatic Shooting Mode according to Alternative) 
         [0119]    An automatic shooting mode according to an alternative will be described below.  FIG. 17  is a flowchart of processing in the automatic shooting mode. This mode may be referred to as an automatic continuous shooting mode. 
         [0120]    Processing in S 51 -S 53  and S 55  in the automatic continuous shooting mode is the same as that in S 21 -S 23  and S 25  in the automatic shooting mode shown in  FIG. 10 . Specifically, S 54  related to the shooting and S 56  related to the sending of the shot image are different from S 24  and S 26  in the automatic shooting mode shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         [0121]    Specifically, in the shooting in S 54 , the shooting conditions are set relative to each of the detected particular subjects. First, an exposure value is calculated on the subject A, and a shutter speed for the subject A is determined based on the exposure value. The focusing is performed based on a distance measurement frame FA. Then, the shooting is performed under the exposure and distance conditions optimum to the subject A. The same processing is performed on the subject B, and the shooting is performed under the exposure and distance conditions optimum to the subject B. In this way, the shooting is continuously performed under the shooting conditions suitable for each of the identified subjects. As a result, images of the same number as the identified subjects are shot. The shooting conditions changed in accordance with the subject may include white balance, photographic sensitivity, zoom magnification, etc., as described above. 
         [0122]    Then, in S 55 , the terminal devices  100  associated with the particular subjects are identified. 
         [0123]    Then, in S 56 , the imaging apparatus  1  automatically sends the shot images to the terminal devices  100 A and  100 B, respectively, and notifies the terminal devices  100 A and  100 B of the event. At this time, the imaging apparatus  1  sends the image shot under the shooting conditions set relative to the subject A to the terminal device  100 A, and sends the image shot under the shooting conditions set relative to the subject B to the terminal device  100 B. 
         [0124]    As described above, the imaging apparatus  1  includes the image sensor  4  configured to capture an image of the subject, the identification information storage unit  24  configured to store one or multiple particular subjects and one or multiple terminal devices  100  corresponding to the subjects, the face detection unit  21  and the face recognition unit  22  configured to detect the particular subject stored in the identification information storage unit  24  in the image captured by the image sensor  4 , and the microcomputer  3  configured to send the image to the terminal device  100 . The imaging apparatus  1  is configured to send the image to the terminal device  100 . When the face detection unit  21  and the face recognition unit  22  detect the multiple particular subjects, the microcomputer  3  performs the shooting multiple times under different shooting conditions set relative to the detected particular subjects, respectively, and sends the images shot under the different shooting conditions to the terminal devices  100  which are stored in the identification information storage unit  24  and correspond to the particular subjects, respectively. Specifically, in the imaging system S including the single imaging apparatus  1  to which multiple terminal devices  100  are wirelessly connected, the shooting conditions are adjusted relative to each of the subjects identified by the imaging apparatus  1  to perform the shooting, and the shot images are automatically sent to the terminal devices  100  associated with the particular subjects, respectively, in the automatic continuous shooting mode. Thus, all the particular subjects can be shot under the suitable shooting conditions. 
       (10. Manual Shooting Mode of Alternative) 
       [0125]    A manual shooting mode according to an alternative will be described below.  FIG. 18  is a flowchart of processing in the manual shooting mode according to the alternative. This mode may be referred to as a preferential manual shooting mode. 
         [0126]    Processing in S 61 -S 63  in the preferential manual shooting mode is the same as the processing in S 21 -S 23  in the automatic shooting mode shown in  FIG. 10 . Specifically, the processing of sending the through image from the imaging apparatus  1  to each of the terminal devices  100 , and performing the face detection on the through image to identify the subject is the same as that in the automatic shooting mode. 
         [0127]    In S 64 , the imaging apparatus  1  determines to which terminal device  100  priority in performing the various operations is given. The preferentially performed various operations may be zooming, shutter operation, panning and tilting of the tripod  50 , etc. The terminal device  100  to which the priority is given is determined based on the detected particular subject. Specifically, the imaging apparatus  1  gives the priority to the terminal device  100  corresponding to the detected particular subject. The terminal device  100  corresponding to the particular subject is identified by referring to the identification information table  25 . When two or more particular subjects are detected, the imaging apparatus  1  determines one terminal device  100  to which the priority is given based on the order of priority of the particular subjects. For example, when an image shown in  FIG. 11  is shot, the subjects A and B are detected as the particular subjects. Suppose that the subject A has a higher priority than the subject B, the priority is given to the terminal device  100 A corresponding to the subject A. The order of priority of the subjects may be determined in advance using the identification information table  25  as described above. 
         [0128]    When two or more particular subjects are detected, the terminal device  100  to which the priority is given may not be limited to a single terminal device. The priority may be given to two or more terminal devices  100  corresponding to the two or more particular subjects. 
         [0129]    In S 65 , the imaging apparatus  1  notifies the terminal device  100 A that the subject A is detected and the priority in performing the various operations is given. Then, the terminal device  100 A is operable for performing the various operations. The imaging apparatus  1  does not notify the terminal devices  100 B and  100 C that the priority is given. Thus, the terminal devices  100 B and  100 C are prohibited to perform the various operations. Note that the terminal devices  100  may not be permitted or prohibited to perform the operations. For example, each of the terminal devices  100  may be allowed to output a command to perform the various operations, and the imaging apparatus  1  may handle only the command from the terminal device  100  to which the priority is given as a valid command, and may handle the commands from the other terminal devices as invalid commands. 
         [0130]    In S 66 , the imaging apparatus  1  receives the shooting conditions from the terminal device  100 A, and sets various shooting conditions. Specifically, the user sets the shooting conditions using the terminal device  100 A. The setting of the shooting conditions can be done in the same manner as in S 32 . When the setting of the shooting conditions of the terminal device  100 A is finished, the shooting conditions are sent from the terminal device  100 A to the imaging apparatus  1 . At this time, the terminal device  100 A also sends the identification information thereof. Upon receiving the shooting conditions from the terminal device  100 A, the imaging apparatus  1  determines whether the shooting conditions are sent from the terminal device  100  to which the priority is given based on the identification information. When it is determined that the shooting conditions are sent from the terminal device  100  to which the priority is given, the imaging apparatus  1  sets the sent shooting conditions as the shooting conditions thereof. 
         [0131]    In S 67 , the shooting is performed. The shooting is executed when the user operates the terminal device  100 A. The shooting operations are the same as in S 33 . Upon receiving a control signal, the imaging apparatus  1  determines whether the control signal is sent from the terminal device  100  to which the priority is given based on the identification information. When it is determined that the control signal is sent from the terminal device  100  to which the priority is given, the imaging apparatus  1  performs the focusing and the shooting based on the control signal. Thus, the manual shooting is performed under the exposure and distance conditions set by the terminal device  100 A. 
         [0132]    In S 68 , the imaging apparatus  1  automatically sends the shot image to the terminal device  100 A to which the priority is given, and notifies the terminal device  100 A of this event. Upon receiving the shot image and the notice, the terminal device  100 A displays the shot image on the display  118 A. 
         [0133]    The shot image and/or the shooting conditions may be sent to the terminal devices  100 B and  100 C to which the priority is not given. 
         [0134]    When the terminal device  100 A relinquishes the priority, the priority of the terminal device  100 A is canceled. The priority can be relinquished by operating the terminal device  100 A. When the priority of the terminal device  100 A is canceled, and the particular subject except for the subject A is shot, the priority may be determined again from the shot image of the particular subject. 
         [0135]    Thus, the imaging system S includes the terminal device  100 , and the imaging apparatus  1  which is configured to be remote-controlled by the terminal device  100 , and to send the image to the terminal device  100 . The imaging apparatus  1  includes the image sensor  4  configured to capture an image of the subject, the identification information storage unit  24  configured to store one or multiple particular subjects and one or multiple terminal devices  100  corresponding to the subjects, the face detection unit  21  and the face recognition unit  22  configured to detect the particular subject stored in the identification information storage unit  24  from the image captured by the image sensor  4 , and the microcomputer  3  configured to notify the terminal device  100  which is stored in the identification information storage unit  24  and corresponds to the particular subject that the face detection unit  21  and the face recognition unit  22  detected the particular subject. When the face detection unit  21  and the face recognition unit  22  detect the particular subject, the microcomputer  3  accepts only the remote control by the terminal device  100  which is stored in the identification information storage unit  24  and corresponds to the particular subject. Specifically, in the remote imaging system S including the imaging apparatus  1  to which multiple terminal devices  100  are wirelessly connected, the priority for operating the imaging apparatus  1  is given to the terminal device  100  associated with the subject identified by the imaging apparatus  1  in the preferential manual shooting mode. Thus, the terminal device  100  which can perform the various operations of the imaging apparatus  1  is limited. This can avoid the imaging apparatus  1  from being out of control due to operation by the multiple terminal devices. 
         [0136]    When the face detection unit  21  and the face recognition unit  22  detect two or more particular subjects, the microcomputer  3  accepts the remote control only by the terminal device  100  which is stored in the identification information storage unit  24  and corresponds to the particular subject having the highest priority among the detected particular subjects. Thus, the terminal device  100  which can perform the various operations of the imaging apparatus  1  can be limited to the single terminal device, and the imaging apparatus  1  can properly be remote-controlled. 
       (11. Imaging Apparatus and Terminal Device Joined Together) 
       [0137]    The imaging apparatus  1  and the terminal device  100  joined in use will be described below.  FIG. 19  is a perspective view showing appearance of the imaging apparatus  1  and the terminal device  100  joined in use. 
         [0138]    The general configurations of the imaging apparatus  1  and the terminal device  100  have already been described with reference to  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  6 , and  7 . Thus, the same components will be indicated by the same reference characters, and they are not described in detail again. 
         [0139]    For example, a magnet is attached to a rear surface of the terminal device  100  (a surface opposite the display  118 ). Then, a rear surface of the imaging apparatus  1  (a surface opposite the lens barrel  41 ) is joined to the rear surface of the terminal device  100  through the magnet. The terminal device  100  includes the proximity sensor  17 . Thus, the proximity sensor  17  detects a magnetic field of the magnet to detect that the imaging apparatus  1  and the terminal device  100  are joined. When the imaging apparatus  1  and the terminal device  100  are in proximity to each other, they are automatically P2P-connected. Thus, the imaging apparatus  1  and the terminal device  100  can easily constitute a display-equipped imaging apparatus  200 . In the display-equipped imaging apparatus  200 , the imaging apparatus  1  can be operated by operating the operation unit  131  of the terminal device  100 . The through image and the shot image of the imaging apparatus  1  are sent to the terminal device  100  through the communication unit  15 ,  115 , and displayed on the display  118 , or recorded in the image recording unit  112 . 
         [0140]    As described above, the imaging apparatus  1  and the terminal device  100  can be used as a single imaging device  200  equipped with the display. Thus, the operation unit and the display required in general digital cameras can be removed from the imaging apparatus  1 , or can be simplified. Accordingly, the imaging apparatus  1  can be downsized, and costs of the imaging apparatus  1  can be reduced. Since the smartphones and cellular phones are more useful in uploading or modifying an image processing software than the imaging apparatus  1 , the usability can be improved. 
         [0141]    The imaging apparatus  1  and the terminal device  100  are joined using the magnet attached to the terminal device  100 . However, the imaging apparatus  1  and the terminal device  100  may be joined in different ways. For example, the imaging apparatus  1  and the terminal device  100  may be joined with a hook or a band. The proximity sensor of the imaging apparatus  1  detects that the imaging apparatus  1  and the terminal device  100  are joined. However, the detection is not limited thereto. For example, the terminal device  100  may have the proximity sensor, or the imaging apparatus  1  and the terminal device  100  may have the proximity sensors, respectively. Further, the joining of the imaging apparatus  1  and the terminal device  100  may not automatically be detected, but the user may input information that the imaging apparatus  1  and the terminal device  100  are joined. 
       Other Embodiments 
       [0142]    The embodiment may be modified in the following manner. 
         [0143]    The number of the terminal devices  100  included in the imaging system S is not limited to three. Any number of the terminal devices  100  may be included in the imaging system S. 
         [0144]    The smartphone has been described as an example of the terminal device  100 . However, the terminal device is not limited thereto. The terminal device may be an information terminal, such as a cellular phone, a tablet PC, etc. The type of the terminal device is not limited as long as the terminal device has particular identification information, and can be recognized by the imaging apparatus  1 . Thus, the terminal device may be a television set or a personal computer for home use which is connected to the imaging apparatus  1  through an external communication device, such as an access point. Specifically, the imaging apparatus  1  can be remote-controlled by operating the television set or the personal computer for home use, and the shot image can be viewed in a large screen of the television set or the personal computer. When an application software for processing the shot image is installed in the terminal device, the application software can easily be upgraded, thereby improving convenience of the system. A camera may additionally be provided in the terminal device. 
         [0145]    The particular identification information of the terminal device  100  is not limited to the Wi-Fi® address. Any information can be used as the identification information as long as the terminal device can be identified by the information. For example, the identification information may be a mail address or a phone number of the terminal device, or a character string selected by the user. 
         [0146]    The digital camera has been described as an example of the imaging apparatus  1 . However, the imaging apparatus  1  is not limited thereto. The type of the imaging apparatus is not limited as long as the apparatus can communicate with the terminal device, can identify the terminal device, and can associate the particular subject with the terminal device. Thus, any imaging apparatus can be used as long as it includes an optical system, an image sensor, a communication unit, and a storage unit. For example, the imaging apparatus may be a robot, a Web camera, or a surveillance camera. When the imaging apparatus is the robot, the robot can be remote-controlled by the triaxial gyro sensor and the triaxial acceleration sensor of the terminal device. 
         [0147]    The image data is compressed and sent to the terminal device. However, the image data may be sent without compression. The shot image may be a still image (including continuously shot images), or a moving image. 
         [0148]    The imaging apparatus  1  performs the face detection and identification of the subject. However, in place of the imaging apparatus  1 , the terminal device  100  may perform the face detection and the identification of the subject. In this case, the terminal device  100  is provided with a face registration database similar to the face registration database  23 . In this configuration, the through image is temporarily sent to the terminal device  100 , and the terminal device  100  performs the detection and identification of the subject based on the through image. The terminal device  100  sends the results of the identification of the subject and the identification information to the imaging apparatus  1 . Based on the results of the identification, the imaging apparatus  1  performs the exposure and the distance measurement described above. The shot image is also temporarily sent to the terminal device  100 , and the terminal device  100  performs the detection and identification of the subject. The terminal device  100  sends the results of the identification of the subject and the identification information to the imaging apparatus  1 . Based on the results of the identification, the imaging apparatus  1  sends the shot image and the shooting conditions described above. The image compression unit  10  may be provided not in the imaging apparatus  1 , but in the terminal device  100 . 
         [0149]    The shot image is directly sent from the imaging apparatus  1  to the terminal devices  100 . However, the sending is not limited thereto. For example, the shot image may be sent from the imaging apparatus  1  to a particular terminal device, and the shot image may be transferred to the other terminals from the particular terminal device. 
         [0150]    The multiple terminal devices  100  are wirelessly connected to the single imaging apparatus  1 . However, for example, the multiple terminal devices  100  may wirelessly be connected to multiple imaging apparatuses  1 . When the terminal devices are connected to the multiple imaging apparatuses  1 , the two or more imaging apparatuses  1  may simultaneously be controlled, a single subject may be shot from different locations, or the single subject may chronologically be shot. The number of the terminal devices  100  is not limited to three. For example, two terminal devices, or four or more terminal devices may be used. 
         [0151]    A single subject is associated with a single terminal device  100 . However, two or more subjects may be associated with the single terminal device  100 . The subject to be registered is not limited to a person, and may be an animal such as a pet, a vehicle, etc. 
         [0152]    The optical system L of the lens barrel  41  may be a single focus system or a pan-focus system. The imaging apparatus  1  may include an image stabilization device. The lens barrel  41  may be detachable from the camera body  40 . 
         [0153]    The electric pan head  51  including a motor may be installed not in the tripod  50 , but in the imaging apparatus  1 . The electric pan head  51  may be configured to automatically follow the subject in combination with the face detection unit  21  and the face recognition unit  22  of the imaging apparatus  1 . 
         [0154]    The operation unit  131 , such as the shutter button  134 , is provided on the display  118 . However, the operation unit may be a mechanically operated button provided on the terminal device  100 . 
         [0155]    In the automatic shooting mode, the shooting is automatically performed when the particular subject is detected in the through image. However, a trigger for the automatic shooting is not limited to this event. For example, the automatic shooting may be performed at predetermined time intervals, or may be performed when a predetermined event has occurred, e.g., when the subject moves in a particular way. In this case, the imaging apparatus  1  detects the particular subject in the shot image. When the particular subject is detected, the shot image is sent to the corresponding terminal device  100  by referring to the identification information table  25 . 
         [0156]    In the manual shooting mode, when the particular subjects are detected, the terminal device  100  to which the priority is given is determined from the terminal devices  100  corresponding to the particular subjects. However, the giving of the priority is not limited thereto. The priority may be determined in advance irrespective of whether the particular subject is detected or not. Specifically, the imaging apparatus  1  can register multiple terminal devices  100 , and the priority can be set together. Among the terminal devices  100  which are turned on, and in wireless connection with the imaging apparatus  1 , the priority is given to the terminal device  100  having the highest priority. The terminal device  100  to which the priority is given can preferentially operate the imaging apparatus  1  irrespective of whether the corresponding particular subject is detected in the image or not. 
         [0157]    In the manual shooting mode, the shot image and the shooting conditions are sent to the other terminal devices  100  than the terminal device  100  which performed the remote control. However, only the shooting conditions may be sent to the other terminal devices  100  without sending the shot image. In this configuration, the terminal devices  100  which received the shooting conditions set the received shooting conditions as their shooting conditions. Thus, the shooting conditions in the current situation can automatically be set. 
         [0158]    The disclosed technology is useful for imaging apparatuses and imaging systems. 
         [0159]    The above-described embodiment has been set forth merely for the purposes of preferred examples in nature, and is not intended to limit the scope, applications, and use of the invention. The specific configurations described above can be modified and corrected in various ways within the scope of the invention.