JP2000324433A - Electronic camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely obtain a high-definition still picture without missing a shutter chance and to efficiently record consecutively photographed pictures in a recording medium. SOLUTION: This electronic camera is provided with still picture releasing switches 31, 32 for instructing photographing of a still picture and a moving picture release switch 33 for instructing photographing of an animation. When photographing of the still picture is instructed by the switches 31, 32 in the state of photographing the animation by an instruction given by the switch 33 under the control of a system controller 29, the camera sets a flag to a corresponding still picture in the animation recorded in a recording medium. Then, after segmenting the still picture to which this flag is set from the animation to additionally record it in the medium 28 as a new still picture, each still picture in the animation recorded in the medium 28 is rewritten to be a picture of reduced number of pixels.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic camera having a continuous shooting function, and more particularly, to a high-definition still image without missing a shutter chance and efficiently recording a continuous shot image. The present invention relates to an electronic camera capable of recording on a digital camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an image of a subject is formed on a solid-state image sensor, for example, a CCD two-dimensional image sensor by an imaging optical system and converted into an electric signal. A so-called electronic camera that records data on a recording medium such as a magnetic disk has been widely used.

With the increase in the capacity of a memory used as a recording medium and the improvement in image processing speed, not only a still image but also a continuous image consisting of a plurality of temporally continuous still images has been taken. An electronic camera having a so-called continuous shooting function has been developed. With such a continuous shooting function, this type of electronic camera can capture a still image without missing a photo opportunity.

[0004]

By the way, when the continuous shooting function is operated, if each still image constituting the continuous shot image is made high definition, the required capacity of the recording medium becomes enormous, or The continuous shooting time is limited. Therefore, the only way to deal with this is to reduce the amount of data per still image at the time of recording or to further compress the continuous shot image according to the correlation between frames as in an MPEG file. .

However, this method of reducing the amount of data per still image does not pose any problem when used in a video camera that obtains and displays continuously shot images as moving images. In the case where it is used in order not to escape the image, there arises a disadvantage that a high-definition still image cannot be obtained.

On the other hand, a method of performing data compression in accordance with the correlation between frames is that, for example, a motion JPEG format image file obtained by a continuous shooting function must be converted into an MPEG format image file. It is not realistic because it imposes a heavy load on a control system circuit having a small processing capability mounted on the electronic camera in terms of cost and the like, and requires a great deal of time.

The present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and a high-definition still image is reliably obtained without missing a photo opportunity, and a continuous shot image is efficiently recorded on a recording medium. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic camera capable of doing so.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an electronic camera according to the present invention has a flag added from a motion JPEG file obtained by a continuous shooting function according to a still image release timing. Cut out, JP
Recording medium as EG file (for example, memory card)
In this case, the motion JPEG file is recorded separately in an area different from that of the motion JPEG file, and the cut-out motion JPEG file is rewritten with a reduced number of pixels. First release means for instructing, and second release means for instructing photographing of a continuous image composed of a plurality of temporally continuous still images;
Recording means for recording, on a recording medium, a still image photographed according to an instruction from the first release means and a continuously shot image photographed according to an instruction from the second release means;
When shooting of a still image is instructed by the first release means in a state where shooting of a continuously shot image is being performed by an instruction of the second release means, the continuous shooting image recorded on the recording medium is Identification information adding means for adding identification information to a corresponding still image of the recording medium, and extracting the still image to which the identification information is added from the continuous shot images recorded on the recording medium as an independent still image, Still image clipping means to be recorded in, and rewriting means for rewriting the contents of the recording medium by changing the number of pixels of each still image constituting a continuous shot image in which a still image is cut out by the still image cutting means, It is characterized by having.

In the electronic camera of the present invention, first,
To obtain a continuous shot image composed of a plurality of high-definition still images including a desired still image, and then to cut out the desired still image and rewrite each still image to a low-definition one,
Without placing a heavy burden on control system circuits with small processing capacity,
Further, it is possible to reliably obtain a high-definition still image without losing a shutter chance without taking a lot of time, and to efficiently record a continuous shot image on a recording medium.

Further, the electronic camera according to the present invention is characterized in that the still image cutout means and the rewriting means execute a process immediately after taking a continuous shot image.

In the electronic camera according to the present invention, since the recording medium is arranged immediately after the continuous image is shot, it is possible to secure a larger number of images that can be shot.

Further, in the electronic camera according to the present invention, the still image cutout means and the rewriting means execute a process when a continuously shot image is selected during a display operation of an image recorded on the recording medium. Features.

In the electronic camera according to the present invention, since the recording medium is not arranged immediately after shooting, the user's consciousness at the time of shooting can be concentrated on only shooting.

Further, the electronic camera according to the present invention is characterized in that the electronic camera further comprises a confirmation means for confirming the execution of the processing by the rewriting means.

In the electronic camera according to the present invention, since each still image constituting the continuous shot image is rewritten after an explicit instruction from the user, it is possible to prevent the rewriting from being performed carelessly. I do.

Further, the electronic camera according to the present invention is characterized in that the confirmation means avoids the execution of the processing by the rewriting means when there is no execution instruction for a predetermined time.

In the electronic camera according to the present invention, the risk of inadvertently rewriting can be reduced.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an external view of an electronic camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, this electronic camera is roughly divided into a camera body 1 and a lens barrel 2. In addition to the optical viewfinder 3, the camera body 1 includes a still image release button 4, a moving image release button 5, a mode button 6, a plus / minus key 7, an execution button 8, and a cancel / clear button 9 as operation units. A color liquid crystal display (LCD) 23, which will be described later, and a still image recording / display L
An ED 24 and a moving image recording / display LED 25 are provided.

Next, a detailed internal structure of the electronic camera according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 2, the light quantity of the subject light is controlled by a diaphragm 12 after passing through an imaging lens 11 provided in the lens barrel 2. The imaging lens 11 is an AF motor 13
The aperture 12 is driven by an aperture motor 14. The subject light that has passed through the imaging lens 11 and the aperture 12 is guided into the camera body 1, and is a CCD two-dimensional color image sensor (hereinafter simply referred to as C), which is a color solid-state imaging device.
CD 15). Thereby, CCD1
A subject image is formed on the imaging surface 5.

The CCD 15 constitutes an imaging surface by arranging a plurality of pixels for performing photoelectric conversion in a two-dimensional matrix.
Furthermore, a color filter is arranged on the imaging surface,
By being driven and controlled by the CCD driver 16, signal charges corresponding to the subject image formed on the imaging surface are accumulated. The signal charges accumulated on the imaging surface are read out from the CCD 15 as electric signals called pixel signals.

The pixel signal read from the CCD 15 is
After being converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 17,
An AE (automatic exposure) processing unit 18, an AF (automatic focus adjustment) processing unit 19, and an image processing unit 20 are input.

The AE processing section 18 receives the digitized pixel signal output from the A / D converter 17, performs arithmetic processing mainly on the cumulative addition of the pixel signals from each pixel, and calculates the cumulative added value. A according to the brightness of the subject based on
Find the E evaluation value.

The AF processing section 19 receives the digitized pixel signal output from the A / D converter 17, extracts a high-frequency component of the pixel signal for one screen by a high-pass filter, and accumulates the extracted high-frequency component. By performing arithmetic processing such as addition, an AF evaluation value corresponding to the contour component amount on the high frequency side is calculated.

The image processing section 20 performs auto white balance, color signal separation, CDS (correlated double sampling) and other processes on the pixel signals,
A color image signal of a predetermined format is generated.

The color image signal generated by the image processing section 20 is temporarily stored in a buffer memory 21 composed of, for example, a DRAM. The color image signal read from the buffer memory 21 is guided to the display processing unit 22,
Here, after being converted into a form suitable for display output, it is supplied to a color liquid crystal display (LCD) 23 of a TFT system or the like, and is displayed as an image. The display processing unit 22 is also connected with a still image recording display LED 24 and a moving image recording display LED 25.

The buffer memory 21 is further connected to a compression / decompression processing unit 26, which is connected to a recording / reproduction processing unit 27. The recording / reproducing processing unit 27 performs processing of recording image data and accompanying data on the recording medium 28 and reproducing image data and accompanying data from the recording medium 28. As the recording medium 28, a memory card formed of a semiconductor memory such as a card-type flash memory is generally used, but is not limited to the memory card, and may be a magnetic recording medium such as a hard disk or a floppy disk. And various forms can be used.

The compression / expansion processing section 26 reads out the image signal stored in the buffer memory 21 and compresses (encodes) it.
By performing the processing, a compression processing unit for making a form suitable for recording on the recording medium 28 and a decompression processing unit for reading out image data recorded on the recording medium 28 and performing decompression (decoding) processing Become. As a method of this compression processing, for example, a motion JPEG method is used.
However, it is not limited to this. The decompressed image signal is temporarily stored in the buffer memory 21,
Are displayed on the color liquid crystal display 23 as appropriate.

The system controller 29 controls each unit based on the processing results of the AE processing unit 18 and the AF processing unit 19 and commands from the operation unit 30, and is configured using a CPU. Specifically, the system controller 29 includes an image processing unit 20, a buffer memory 21, a display processing unit 22, a compression / decompression processing unit 26, and a recording / reproduction processing unit 2.
7. Control the motor drivers 41 and 42 that drive the AF motor 13 and the aperture motor 14.

That is, the system controller 29
The motor driver 42 is controlled based on the AE evaluation value obtained by the AE processing unit 18, and the aperture 1 is controlled via the aperture motor 14.
2 to control the amount of light, and even CCD
An automatic exposure (AE) process is performed by controlling the charge accumulation time of the CCD 15 via the driver 16. Further, the system controller 29 controls the motor driver 41 based on the AF evaluation value obtained by the AF processing unit 19, moves the imaging lens 11 in the optical axis direction via the AF motor 13, and performs automatic focus adjustment (AF ) Perform processing.

The operation unit 30 generates a command signal for performing various operations based on the operation of the camera user and transmits the command signal to the system controller 29. Specifically, the operation unit 30 has a switch for instructing photography,
A first-stage release switch 31, a second-stage release switch 32, and a moving image release switch 33 are provided.

The first-stage release switch 31 generates a command signal for starting AE processing and AF processing, which are preliminary operations performed prior to a still image capturing operation. Second
The stage release switch 32 is a first stage release switch 3
In response to the command signal generated by step 1, the command signal for starting the actual imaging operation of the still image is generated. The moving image release switch 33 is for instructing shooting of a moving image.

Further, a mode switch 34 for instructing an operation mode of the electronic camera, such as a photographing mode and a reproduction mode, and an instruction for selecting a desired image file from a plurality of image files are given to the operation unit 30. Switch 35 for instructing execution of processing in response to an inquiry for confirmation, and instructing to avoid processing in response to an inquiry for confirmation, or A cancel / clear switch 37 for giving an instruction to return the menu to the top is provided.

The correspondence with FIG. 1 will be described. A first-stage release switch 31 and a second-stage release switch 32, which are still image release switches, are turned on when the still image release button 4 is pressed. When the still image release button 4 is half-pressed, the first
Only the step release switch 31 is turned on to instruct shooting of a still image, and AE processing and AF, which are preliminary operations prior to the shooting operation, are controlled by the system controller 29.
Processing is started.

When the still image release button 4 is fully pressed, the second-stage release switch 32 is also turned on,
Recording of a still image is instructed under the control of the system controller 29, and the compressed still image data is recorded on the recording medium 28. At this time, the still image recording / display LED 24 is turned on by the control of the display processing unit 22 by the system controller 29, so that the user can confirm that the still image is being captured and recorded.

The moving image release switch 33 is a switch that is turned on by operating the moving image release button 5. When the moving image release switch 33 is turned on, a plurality of temporally continuous still image images are displayed. An instruction to capture image data of a moving image including data is issued. The image data of the moving image captured under the control of the system controller 29 based on this instruction is compressed in the same manner as the image data of the still image, and then recorded on the recording medium 28. At this time, under the control of the display processing unit 22 by the system controller 29, the moving image recording / display LED 2
5 is turned on, whereby the user can confirm that shooting and recording of a moving image are being performed.

The mode switch 34 is turned on when the mode button 6 is pressed. When the mode switch 34 is turned on, the operation mode of the electronic camera is set under the control of the system controller 29. The operation modes include at least a photographing mode for photographing and a reproduction mode for reproducing an image recorded on a recording medium.

The plus / minus switch 35 is a switch operated by operating the plus / minus key 7, thereby instructing selection of a desired image file from a plurality of image files indexed by thumbnail images, for example. You can do things.

The execution switch 35 is a switch that is turned on when the execution button 8 is pressed. By turning on the execution switch 35, for example, it is possible to instruct execution of a process in response to an inquiry for confirmation.

The cancel / clear switch 36 is turned on when the cancel / clear button 9 is pressed. When the cancel / clear switch 35 is turned on, for example, an instruction to avoid processing is given in response to an inquiry for confirmation. Or return the operation menu to the top.

The system controller 29 has, in addition to the various controls described above, (a) recording control for adding identification information to a desired still image in a moving image, and (b) identification information. It has a function of performing control unique to the present invention, such as clipping control for cutting out only a still image from a moving image, and (c) rewriting control of each still image in the moving image after cutting. Hereinafter, these controls (a), (b) and (c) will be briefly described.

First, in the recording control of (a), a still image is instructed by operating the still image release button 4 while a moving image is being shot by an instruction by operating the moving image release button 5. Sometimes the recording medium 28
The recording / playback processing unit 2 controls the addition of identification information to the corresponding still image in the moving image recorded in the camera, that is, the still image shot at the moment when the still image release button 4 is operated.
7 is performed. In this embodiment, the addition of the identification information is performed by setting a predetermined flag for the corresponding still image.

In the clipping control (b), the still image to which the identification information in the moving image recorded on the recording medium 28 is added, that is, the flag is set, is additionally recorded on the recording medium 28 as a new still image. Recording / playback processing unit 27
Perform for

In the rewriting control of (c), (b)
The recording / playback processing unit 27 performs control to rewrite each still image in the moving image after the new still image has been additionally recorded by the cutout control, with a reduced number of pixels.

Next, the procedure of photographing (recording) of a still image and a moving image in the electronic camera of this embodiment will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. The control of these operations is performed by the system controller 29.

In the photographing mode, first, it is checked whether or not the moving image release switch 33 is turned on (step A1). If the moving image release switch 33 is turned on (step A1)
Yes), capturing a moving image, that is, capturing a plurality of temporally continuous still images with high definition (step A)
2). Then, during shooting of the moving image, it is checked whether or not the still image release switches 31 and 32 are on (step A).
3) If both the still image release switches 31 and 32 are ON (Yes in step A3), a flag is set for the corresponding still image in the moving image (step A4).

That is, in step A4, when the still image release switches 31 and 32 are turned on, that is, at the moment when the still image release button 4 is fully pressed, a desired still image is captured as a moving image. A flag that is identification information indicating a still image is set. This flag is added to the data of the corresponding still image in the moving image data (moving image file) obtained by compressing the moving image under the control of the system controller 29 and recorded on the recording medium 28. The processing in steps A2 to A4 is repeated while the moving image release switch 33 is on (No in step A5).

In this way, when a moving image is captured, a still image desired by the user is obtained as shown in FIG.
By pressing the still image release button 4 at the timings of>, <2>, and <3>, a flag is set for the still image, so that a desired still image can be shot.

When the moving image release switch 33 is turned off (Yes in step A5), for example, the motion JP
Post-processing of a motion JPEG file such as setting of a file name as an EG and creation of a thumbnail image is performed (step A6). And this motion JPE
It is checked whether or not there is a still image with a flag set in the G file (step A7). If there is a still image with the flag set (step A7: Yes)
s) The still image with the flag set is cut out and additionally recorded on the recording medium 28 as a new still image, that is, a JPEG file with high definition (step A8).

When the extraction of the still image is completed, a message is displayed to confirm with the user whether or not each still image constituting the moving image is to be rewritten with a reduced number of pixels (step A9). Here, when rewriting is instructed (Yes in step A10), each still image in the motion JPEG file is rewritten with a reduced number of pixels (step A11), and the motion JPE
The G file post-processing is executed again (step A12). This rewriting instruction is performed, for example, by pressing the execution button 8 (cancel / clear button 9 to avoid rewriting processing). If no instruction is given for a predetermined time after the message is displayed, the rewriting instruction is automatically issued. To avoid rewriting. This rewriting process may be simply thinned out or may be performed on each pixel.

As described above, a continuous shot image composed of a plurality of high-definition still images including a desired still image is obtained, and then the desired still image is cut out, and each still image is converted to a low-resolution image. Therefore, it is possible to reliably obtain a high-definition still image without missing a photo opportunity and efficiently record a continuous shot image on a recording medium.

Further, since the recording medium is arranged immediately after the continuous shot image is shot, it is possible to secure a larger number of shootable images.

Next, with reference to the flow charts shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, other procedures of the photographing (recording) operation of a still image and a moving image in the electronic camera of this embodiment will be described.

In the photographing (recording) operation of the still image and the moving image described above, the recording medium is arranged immediately after the photographing of the continuous photographed image to secure a larger number of photographable images. An example in which the recording medium is arranged at the time of a continuous shooting image reproducing operation, that is, the recording medium is not arranged immediately after the shooting of the continuous shooting image so that the user's consciousness at the time of shooting is concentrated only on shooting. Will be described. The control of these operations is performed by the system controller 29.

In the photographing mode, first, it is checked whether or not the moving image release switch 33 is on (step B1). If the moving image release switch 33 is on (step B1)
Yes), capturing a moving image, that is, capturing a plurality of temporally continuous still images with high definition (step B)
2). Then, during shooting of the moving image, it is checked whether or not the still image release switches 31, 32 are on (step B).
3) If both the still image release switches 31 and 32 are on (Yes in step B3), a flag is set for the corresponding still image in the moving image (step B4).

That is, in step B4, when the still image release switches 31 and 32 are turned on, that is, at the moment when the still image release button 4 is fully pressed, a desired still image is captured as a moving image. A flag that is identification information indicating a still image is set. This flag is added to the data of the corresponding still image in the moving image data (moving image file) obtained by compressing the moving image under the control of the system controller 29 and recorded on the recording medium 28. The processing in steps B2 to B4 is repeated while the moving image release switch 33 is on (No in step B5).

When the moving picture release switch 33 is turned off (Yes in step B5), post-processing of a motion JPEG file such as setting of a file name as a motion JPEG or creation of a thumbnail image is executed (step B6).

On the other hand, in the reproduction mode, first, an index based on the thumbnail image is displayed (step C1).
It is determined whether or not a selection operation has been performed by the user based on the index (step C2 to step C).
4). This selection operation is performed by switching the image file to be selected by operating the plus / minus key 7 and pressing the still image release button 4 with the desired image file being selected. When a selection operation is performed (Yes in step C4), a corresponding image file is selected (step C5), and it is checked whether the image file is a moving image, that is, a motion JPEG file (step C6).

If it is a motion JPEG file moving image (Yes in step C6), the motion JP
It is determined whether or not a flag-set still image exists in the EG file (step C7). If there is a flag-set still image (step C7: Yes)
s) The still image with the flag set is cut out and additionally recorded on the recording medium 28 as a new still image, that is, a JPEG file with high definition (step C8).

When the extraction of the still images is completed, a message is displayed for asking the user whether to rewrite each still image constituting the moving image with a reduced number of pixels (step C9). Here, when rewriting is instructed (Yes in step C10), each still image in the motion JPEG file is rewritten with a reduced number of pixels (step C11), and post-processing of the motion JPEG file is executed again (step C11). C12). This rewriting instruction is performed, for example, by pressing the execution button 8 (cancel / clear button 9 to avoid rewriting processing). If no instruction is given for a predetermined time after the message is displayed, the rewriting instruction is automatically issued. To avoid rewriting. This rewriting process may be simply thinned out or may be performed on each pixel.

Then, the still image or the moving image in the selected and instructed state is displayed (step C13), and every time the plus / minus key 7 is operated during this display (Yes in step C14), the operation result is displayed. Therefore, the image is switched (step C4), and the processing from step C6 to step C13 is repeated.

When the cancel / clear button 9 is pressed while the screen is displayed (YE in step C16).
S), the process returns to the display of the index by the thumbnail image (step C1).

As described above, by not arranging the recording medium immediately after shooting the continuous shot image, the user's consciousness at the time of shooting can be concentrated on only shooting.

[0065]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, a motion JPEG file obtained by the continuous shooting function, to which a flag is added in accordance with a still image release timing, is cut out and recorded as a JPEG file. In order to separately record the motion JPEG file on a medium (for example, a memory card) in an area different from the motion JPEG file and rewrite the cut-out motion JPEG file with a reduced number of pixels, a control system with a small processing capacity is used. To obtain a high-definition still image without missing a photo opportunity without placing a great burden on a circuit and taking a lot of time, and to efficiently record a continuous shot image on a recording medium. Is possible.

Further, by arranging the recording medium immediately after shooting the continuous shot images, it is possible to secure a larger number of shootable images. On the other hand, by arranging the recording medium during the image reproducing operation, that is, by not arranging the recording medium immediately after shooting the continuous shot image, the user's consciousness at the time of shooting can be concentrated on only shooting. .

Further, the rewriting of each still image constituting the continuous shot image is performed after an explicit instruction from the user, thereby preventing the rewriting from being performed carelessly. By avoiding the execution of the rewriting process when there is no such information, the risk of inadvertently executing the rewriting is further reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exemplary view showing the appearance of an electronic camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of the electronic camera according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary flowchart for explaining a procedure of a shooting (recording) operation of a still image and a moving image in the electronic camera of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary view for explaining timings of a moving image release and a still image release of the electronic camera of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary flowchart (in a shooting mode) for explaining another procedure of a shooting (recording) operation of a still image and a moving image in the electronic camera of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an exemplary flowchart (during a playback mode) for explaining another procedure of a shooting (recording) operation of a still image and a moving image in the electronic camera of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 camera body 2 lens barrel 3 optical viewfinder 4 still image release button 5 moving image release button 6 mode button 7 plus / minus key 8 cancel / clear button 11 imaging lens 12 aperture 13 AF motor 14 ... Aperture motor 15 ... CCD (solid-state imaging device) 16 ... CCD driver 17 ... A / D converter 18 ... Automatic exposure processing unit 19 ... Automatic focus adjustment processing unit 20 ... Image processing unit 21 ... Buffer memory 22 ... Display Processing unit 23 ... Color liquid crystal display 24 ... Still image recording display LED 25 ... Moving image recording display LED 26 ... Compression / decompression processing unit 27 ... Recording / reproduction processing unit 28 ... Recording medium 29 ... System controller 30 ... Operation unit 31 , 32: Still image release switch 33: Moving image release switch 34: Mode switch Chi 35 ... plus / minus switch 36 ... Cancel / clear switch 41, 42 ... motor driver

Claims (5)

[Claims] A first release means for instructing the photographing of a still image; a second release means for instructing the photographing of a continuous image composed of a plurality of temporally continuous still images; and the first release. Recording means for recording, on a recording medium, a still image taken in accordance with an instruction from the means and a continuous shot image taken in accordance with the instruction from the second release means; Identification information adding means for adding identification information to a corresponding still image in a continuous image recorded on the recording medium when an instruction to shoot a still image by the first release means is given in a state where the operation is being performed; A still image to be cut out as an independent still image only of the still image to which the identification information is added from the continuous shot images recorded on the recording medium, and additionally recorded on the recording medium Rewriting means for rewriting the contents of the recording medium by changing the number of pixels of each still image forming a continuous shot image from which a still image is cut out by the still image cutting means. Electronic camera featuring. 2. The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the still image clipping unit and the rewriting unit execute a process immediately after capturing a continuous shot image. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the still image clipping unit and the rewriting unit execute a process when a continuously shot image is selected during a display operation of the image recorded on the recording medium. Electronic camera. 4. The electronic camera according to claim 1, further comprising a confirmation unit for confirming execution of processing by said rewriting unit. 5. The electronic camera according to claim 4, wherein said confirmation means avoids execution of processing by said rewriting means when there is no execution instruction for a predetermined time.