Imaging device, imaging method and imaging program for producing image data on the basis of a plurality of signals transmitted from an image element

1. An imaging device for producing image data on the basis of a plurality of signals transmitted from an imaging element, the imaging device comprising:

a display unit for displaying an image; and

a display controller configured to carry out a plurality of display processes, the plurality of display processes comprising at least a first and second display process,

the first display process comprising:

obtaining a first signal from a first area of the imaging element at a first frame rate, and

displaying a first through-the-lens image on a first portion of the display unit on the basis of the first signal;

the second display process comprising:

obtaining a second signal from the first area of the imaging element at a second frame rate, wherein the second frame rate is lower than the first frame rate;

obtaining a third signal from a second area of the imaging element at the second frame rate, wherein the second area of the imaging element is different from the first area of the imaging element; and

displaying a second through-the-lens image on the display unit on the basis of the second and third signals;

wherein the first display process further comprises:

displaying a third through-the-lens image on a second portion of the display unit on the basis of the third signal, wherein the third through-the-lens image is displayed concurrently with the first through-the-lens-image;

wherein displaying the first through-the-lens image comprises displaying the first through-the-lens image at a first update rate, and wherein displaying the third through-the-lens image comprises displaying the third through-the-lens image at a second update rate, wherein the first update rate is higher than the second update rate.

2. The imaging device of claim 1 , further comprising a switching unit for switching the display controller between the first display process and the second display process.

3. The imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the first through-the-lens image comprises a higher magnification than the second through-the-lens image.

4. The imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the display controller starts to obtain the first signal at a position apart from a position at which the display controller starts to obtain the second signal.

5. The imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the second through-the-lens image is displayed at a frame rate lower than the first through-the-lens image.

6. The imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the second through-the-lens image is displayed at a frame rate equal to the first through-the-lens image, and wherein the second through-the-lens image is less frequently updated than the first through-the-lens image.

7. The imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the display controller starts displaying the first through-the-lens image upon finishing obtaining the first signal.

8. The imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the first display process further comprises obtaining the first signal from select pixels of the first area of the imaging element, and the second display process further comprises:

obtaining the second signal from select pixels of the first area of the imaging element, and

obtaining the third signal from select pixels of the second area of the imaging element.

9. An imaging method for producing image data on the basis of a plurality of signals transmitted from an imaging element, the imaging method comprising:

carrying out one of a plurality of display processes, the plurality of display processes comprising at least a first and a second display process,

the first display process comprising:

obtaining a first signal from a first area of the imaging element at a first frame rate; and

displaying a first through-the-lens image on a first portion of the display unit on the basis of the first signal;

the second display process comprising:

obtaining a second signal from the first area of the imaging element at a second frame rate, wherein the second frame rate is lower than the first frame rate;

obtaining a third signal from a second area of the imaging element at the second frame rate, wherein the second area of the imaging element is different from the first area of the imaging element; and

displaying a second through-the-lens image on the display unit on the basis of the second and third signals;

wherein the first display process further comprises:

displaying a third through-the-lens image on a second portion of the display unit on the basis of the third signal, wherein the third through-the-lens image is displayed concurrently with the first through-the-lens-image;

wherein displaying the first through-the-lens image comprises displaying the first through-the-lens image at a first update rate, and wherein displaying the third through-the-lens image comprises displaying the third through-the-lens image at a second update rate, wherein the first update rate is higher than the second update rate.

10. The imaging method of claim 9 , wherein the first display process starts to obtain the first signal at a position apart from a position at which the second display process starts to obtain the second signal.

11. The imaging method of claim 9 , wherein the step of displaying the first through-the-lens image starts upon finishing the step of obtaining the first signal.

12. The imaging method of claim 9 , wherein the first display process further comprises obtaining the first signal from select pixels of the first area of the imaging element, and the second display process further comprises:

obtaining the second signal from select pixels of the first area of the imaging element, and

obtaining the third signal from select pixels of the second area of the imaging element.

13. A non-transitory storage medium in which an imaging program is stored, the imaging program being capable of carrying out an imaging operation by means of a computer for producing image data on the basis of a plurality of signals transmitted from an imaging element, the imaging program comprising:

a displaying function for displaying an image;

a plurality of display controlling functions comprising at least a first display controlling function for carrying out a first display process and a second display controlling function for carrying out a second display process;

the first display process comprising:

obtaining a first signal from a first area of the imaging element at a first frame rate; and

displaying a first through-the-lens image on a first portion of the display unit on the basis of the first signal;

the second display process comprising:

obtaining a second signal from the first area of the imaging element at a second frame rate, wherein the second frame rate is lower than the first frame rate;

obtaining a third signal from a second area of the imaging element at the second frame rate, wherein the second area of the imaging element is different from the first area of the imaging element; and

displaying a second through-the-lens image on the display unit on the basis of the second and third signals;

wherein the first display process further comprises:

displaying a third through-the-lens image on a second portion of the display unit on the basis of the third signal, wherein the third through-the-lens image is displayed concurrently with the first through-the-lens-image;

wherein displaying the first through-the-lens image comprises displaying the first through-the-lens image at a first update rate, and wherein displaying the third through-the-lens image comprises displaying the third through-the-lens image at a second update rate, wherein the first update rate is higher than the second update rate; and

a selecting function for selecting between the plurality of display controlling functions.

14. The storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the first display controlling function starts to obtain the first signal at a position apart from a position at which the second display controlling function starts to obtain the second signal.

15. The storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the first display controlling function starts displaying the first through-the-lens image upon finishing obtaining the first signal.

16. The storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the first display controlling function further comprises obtaining the first signal from select pixels of the first area of the imaging element, and the second display process further comprises:

obtaining the second signal from select pixels of the first area of the imaging element, and

obtaining the third signal from select pixels of the second area of the imaging element.