Patent ID: 7466348

Claim:
A digital camera having a viewfinder, for recording a captured image as digital image data, comprising: a digital image data generator for digitizing an output signal from an image sensor disposed in a focal plane; an obtainment unit configured to obtain iris information of a photographer by turning on a light emitting unit in the viewfinder for informing the photographer of a focus detecting area of said digital camera; a first interface for connecting an ID card on which iris information has been recorded, wherein said first interface is configured to accept a plurality of ID cards, each with the iris information of a different digital camera user; an iris information registration unit configured to record the iris information of a photographer obtained by said obtainment unit in the ID card; a check unit that checks whether iris information newly obtained by said obtainment unit and iris information having been recorded in the ID card connected with said first interface match, when the power is turned on and immediately after the ID card is changed; a second interface for connecting a memory card that records digital image data; and a controller that: i) determines whether an ID card has been connected to the first interface in response to the turning on of the supply of power to said digital camera; ii) determines whether the ID card connected to the first interface has iris information recorded thereon in the event said controller determines that an ID card has been connected to the first interface; iii) voids processing relating to the recording of iris information from the ID card connected to the first interface onto a memory card, which has been connected to said second interface, together with image data that has been generated by said digital image data generator, in response to the controller determining that the ID card connected to the first interface contains no iris information recorded thereon; and iv) records the iris information read from the ID card connected to the first interface on the memory card, which has been connected to said second interface, together with image data that has been generated by said digital image data generator in the event that: a) said controller determines that an ID card has been connected to the first interface; b) said controller determines that the ID card connected to the first interface has iris information recorded thereon; and c) said check unit determines that the iris information newly obtained by said obtainment unit and the iris information having been recorded in the ID card match.