Display device and display method

1. A display device having a display, comprising:

a display control circuit for causing either a first operation screen, for selection of setting items to be used from among a plurality of provided setting items, or a second operation screen, including at least one setting item that is different to those of the first operation screen, and in which arrangement positions of the setting items are different to those of the first operation screen, to be displayed on the display, and causing switching from the first operation screen to the second operation screen to be displayed, wherein the first operation screen displays a plurality of setting items on almost all portions within a screen, and the second operation screen displays a plurality of setting items only at portions close to one or more edges within the screen; and

an operation member for operating in order to switch from the first operation screen to the second operation screen in response to selecting one of the plurality of setting items, wherein the operation member is a button or touch screen, and wherein the selection of the one of the plurality of setting items is performed by pressing the button or touching a setting item displayed on the first operation screen,

wherein the display control circuit causes display of change in display appearance of the setting items, when there is a switch from the first operation screen to the second operation screen, by (1) generating a plurality of transition screens that are different from both the first operation screen and the second operation screen, in order to show change from the first operation screen to the second operation screen, and (2) sequentially displaying the plurality of transition screens.

2. The display device of claim 1 , wherein:

the display control circuit also displays transition states for position of the setting items of the first operation screen to positions of setting items corresponding to the second operation screen, when operation screens are switched.

3. The display device of claim 1 , wherein:

the display control circuit displays setting items, for which display position of the setting items changes, differently to other setting items when the first and second operation screens are switched.

4. The display device of claim 1 , wherein:

together with changing display position of the setting items when the first and second operation screens are switched, the display control circuit also displays those setting items by changing size.

5. The display device of claim 1 , wherein:

the first and second operation screens belong to a plurality of operation screens, and the plurality of operation screens are screens in which at least some setting items are the same, but display format is different.

6. The display device of claim 5 , wherein:

when the plurality of operation screens are simultaneously displayed, at least some or all of regions of the operation screens before and after switching are displayed at the same time.

7. The display device of claim 5 , wherein:

the plurality of operation screens are screens in which at least some setting items are the same, but the number or display position of setting items displayed on the operation screen are different.

8. The display device of claim 5 , wherein:

among the plurality of operation screens, at least one is an operation screen with which it is possible to set a plurality of shooting parameters at the same time by changing a single setting item.

9. The display device of claim 5 , wherein:

the operation member is operated in order to directly switch to a designated operation screen.

10. The display device of claim 5 , wherein:

the display control circuit switches display by rotating the operation screens about a rotational axis.

11. The display device of claim 5 , wherein:

the display control circuit switches display by sliding the first and second operation screens.

12. The display device of claim 5 , wherein:

a third operation screen that is different to the first and second operation screens is further provided, and when switching from the among one of the first, second, and third operation screens to another of the first, second, and third operation screens, the display control circuit switches screens in a direction that requires a fewest number of switches.

13. The display device of claim 5 , wherein:

the display control circuit displays change in display appearance of the setting items when the first and second operation screens are switched, and causes display of transition states.

14. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the display device is provided on a back surface of a digital camera and covers most of the back surface of the digital camera.

15. The display device of claim 1 , wherein a setting item selected in the first screen is depicted in each of the plurality of transition screens.

16. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the transition screens cannot be operated on by the operation member.

17. A display method for a display device having a display, comprising:

causing a first operation screen, for selection of setting items to be used from among a plurality of provided setting items, to be displayed on the display, the first operation screen displaying a plurality of setting items on almost all portions within a screen, detecting whether there has been an operation to switch from the first operation screen to a second operation screen that includes at least one setting item that is different to those of the first operation screen, and in which arrangement position of the setting items is different to that of the first operation screen, the second operation screen displaying a plurality of setting items only at portions close to one or more edges within the screen, and

when detecting whether the operation has been performed, if it is detected that the operation for switching has been performed responsive to receiving a user selection of one of the plurality of setting items via a button press or touching of a setting item displayed on the first operation screen, causing display of switching from the first operation screen to the second operation screen, wherein when there is a switch from the first operation screen to the second operation screen, change in display appearance of the setting items is displayed by (1) generating a plurality of transition screens that are different from both the first operation screen and the second operation screen, in order to show change from the first operation screen to the second operation screen, and (2) sequentially displaying the plurality of transition screens.