Image capturing apparatus capable of performing photographing at desired photographing timing, method of controlling image capturing apparatus, and storage medium

1 . An image capturing apparatus having a pre-capture function, comprising:

a live view image capturing unit configured to acquire a plurality of frame images each captured at a predetermined image capturing interval by live view image capturing,

at least one processor; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to function as:

a position information acquisition unit configured to acquire position information of the image capturing apparatus;

a moving speed calculation unit configured to calculate a moving speed of the image capturing apparatus based on the position information;

a switching unit configured to switch the pre-capture function to ON in a case where the moving speed is equal to or higher than a predetermined speed,

configured to calculate a motion vector of a main object included in an angle of view of the image capturing apparatus based on the plurality of frame images, and to determine, in a case where an amount of the motion vector is smaller than a first predetermined amount, that the main object is not moving as viewed from the image capturing apparatus, and

configured to set, in a case where it is determined that the main object is not moving as viewed from the image capturing apparatus, the pre-capture function to OFF; and

a setting unit configured to compare the amount of the motion vector and a second predetermined amount larger than the first predetermined amount, and to perform setting of the pre-capture function according to a result of the comparison.

2 . The image capturing apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the switching unit calculates a movement amount per unit time of the main object included in the angle of view of the image capturing apparatus, based on the predetermined image capturing interval and a movement amount of the main object in the angle of view captured in the plurality of frame images, and

determines, in a case where the movement amount per unit time is smaller than a first predetermined value, that the main object is not moving as viewed from the image capturing apparatus.

3 . The image capturing apparatus according to claim 2 ,

wherein the setting unit compares the movement amount per unit time and a second predetermined value larger than the first predetermined value and perform setting of the pre-capture function according to a result of the comparison.

4 . The image capturing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the setting unit sets a shutter speed of the image capturing apparatus at the time of pre-capture.

5 . The image capturing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the setting unit sets a shutter speed of the image capturing apparatus at the time of pre-capture.

6 . The image capturing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the image capturing apparatus is mounted on a moving body and wirelessly connected to an external photographing instruction device, and

wherein the photographing instruction device includes a reception unit configured to receive respective user operations for a pre-capture start instruction and a normal photographing instruction, and

wherein in a case where the pre-capture function is set to ON,

the image capturing apparatus starts pre-capture upon receipt of the pre-capture start instruction by an associated one of the user operations from the photographing instruction device, and

performs normal photographing upon receipt of the normal photographing instruction based on an associated one of the user operations from the photographing instruction device.

7 . The image capturing apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the photographing instruction device further includes a display unit configured to display a live view image received from the image capturing apparatus.

8 . The image capturing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising an object detection unit configured to detect a specific object from within an angle of view of the image capturing apparatus, and

wherein the switching unit detects the main object included in the angle of view using a result of the detection performed by the object detection unit.

9 . An image capturing apparatus having a pre-capture function, comprising:

a live view image capturing unit configured to acquire a plurality of frame images each captured at a predetermined image capturing interval by live view image capturing;

at least one processor; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to function as:

a vector calculation unit configured to calculate respective motion vectors of a plurality of objects included in an angle of view of the image capturing apparatus based on the plurality of frame images; and

a switching unit configured to switch the pre-capture function to ON in a case where out of the calculated motion vectors, a predetermined number or more of motion vectors each have a magnitude equal to or larger than a predetermined value and are in the same direction.

10 . The image capturing apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein in a case where it is determined that a main object is not moving as viewed from the image capturing apparatus, the switching unit sets the pre-capture function to OFF.

11 . The image capturing apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the switching unit calculates a movement amount per unit time of the main object included in the angle of view of the image capturing apparatus, based on the predetermined image capturing interval and a movement amount of the main object in the angle of view, which is included in the plurality of frame images, and

determines, in a case where the movement amount per unit time is smaller than a first predetermined value, that the main object is not moving as viewed from the image capturing apparatus.

12 . The image capturing apparatus according to claim 11 , further comprising a setting unit configured to compare the movement amount per unit time and a second predetermined value larger than the first predetermined value and perform setting of the pre-capture function according to a result of the comparison.

13 . The image capturing apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the setting unit sets a shutter speed of the image capturing apparatus at the time of pre-capture.

14 . The image capturing apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the switching unit calculates a motion vector of the main object included in the angle of view of the image capturing apparatus based on the plurality of frame images, and

determines, in a case where an amount of the motion vector is smaller than a first predetermined amount, that the main object is not moving as viewed from the image capturing apparatus.

15 . The image capturing apparatus according to claim 14 , further comprising a setting unit configured to compare the amount of the motion vector and a second predetermined amount larger than the first predetermined amount and perform setting of the pre-capture function according to a result of the comparison.

16 . The image capturing apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the setting unit sets a shutter speed of the image capturing apparatus at the time of pre-capture.

17 . The image capturing apparatus according to claim 9 , further comprising a reception unit configured to receive respective user operations for a pre-capture instruction and a normal photographing instruction in a case where the pre-capture function is set to ON.

18 . The image capturing apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the image capturing apparatus is mounted on a moving body and wirelessly connected to an external photographing instruction device, and

further comprises a reception unit configured to receive respective user operation for a pre-capture start instruction and a normal photographing instruction, and

wherein in a case where the pre-capture function is set to ON,

the image capturing apparatus starts pre-capture upon receipt of the pre-capture start instruction based on an associated one of the user operations from the photographing instruction device, and

performs normal photographing upon receipt of the normal photographing instruction based on an associated one of the user operations from the photographing instruction device.

19 . The image capturing apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein the photographing instruction device further includes a display unit configured to display a live view image received from the image capturing apparatus.

20 . The image capturing apparatus according to claim 19 , further comprising an object detection unit configured to detect a specific object from within the angle of view of the image capturing apparatus, and

wherein the switching unit detects the main object included in the angle of view using a result of the detection performed by the object detection unit.

21 . A method of controlling an image capturing apparatus having a pre-capture function, comprising:

acquiring a plurality of frame images each captured at a predetermined image capturing interval by live view image capturing;

acquiring position information of the image capturing apparatus;

calculating a moving speed of the image capturing apparatus based on the position information;

switching the pre-capture function to ON in a case where the moving speed is equal to or higher than a predetermined speed,

calculating a motion vector of a main object included in an angle of view of the image capturing apparatus based on the plurality of frame images, and determining, in a case where an amount of the motion vector is smaller than a first predetermined amount, that the main object is not moving as viewed from the image capturing apparatus,

setting, in a case where it is determined that the main object is not moving as viewed from the image capturing apparatus, the pre-capture function to OFF, and

comparing the amount of the motion vector and a second predetermined amount larger than the first predetermined amount, and performing setting of the pre-capture function according to a result of the comparison.

22 . A method of controlling an image capturing apparatus having a pre-capture function, comprising:

acquiring a plurality of frame images each captured at a predetermined image capturing interval by live view image capturing;

calculating respective motion vectors of a plurality of objects included in an angle of view of the image capturing apparatus based on the plurality of frame images; and

switching the pre-capture function to ON in a case where out of the calculated motion vectors, a predetermined number or more of motion vectors each have a magnitude equal to or larger than a predetermined value and are in the same direction.

23 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a method of controlling an image capturing apparatus having a pre-capture function,

wherein the method comprises:

acquiring a plurality of frame images each captured at a predetermined image capturing interval by live view image capturing;

acquiring position information of the image capturing apparatus;

calculating a moving speed of the image capturing apparatus based on the position information; and

switching the pre-capture function to ON in a case where the moving speed is equal to or higher than a predetermined speed;

calculating a motion vector of a main object included in an angle of view of the image capturing apparatus based on the plurality of frame images, and determining, in a case where an amount of the motion vector is smaller than a first predetermined amount, that the main object is not moving as viewed from the image capturing apparatus;

setting, in a case where it is determined that the main object is not moving as viewed from the image capturing apparatus, the pre-capture function to OFF; and

comparing the amount of the motion vector and a second predetermined amount larger than the first predetermined amount, and performing setting of the pre-capture function according to a result of the comparison.

24 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a method of controlling an image capturing apparatus having a pre-capture function,

wherein the method comprises:

acquiring a plurality of frame images each captured at a predetermined image capturing interval by live view image capturing;

calculating respective motion vectors of a plurality of objects included in an angle of view of the image capturing apparatus based on the plurality of frame images; and

switching the pre-capture function to ON in a case where out of the calculated motion vectors, a predetermined number or more of motion vectors each have a magnitude equal to or larger than a predetermined value and are in the same direction.