Camera capable of taking movie

1. An imaging apparatus, comprising:

an imaging unit configured to repeatedly capture images of a subject;

a movie taking directing unit configured to direct starting and finishing of picture-taking for a movie in a movie mode based on the captured images, wherein the movie mode includes any one or more of a short movie mode, a simple movie mode, a movie mode with manual still-picture, and a movie mode with automatic still-picture;

a timing information generating unit configured to generate timing information that indicates a specific time point within an imaging period of the movie in response to one of a manual operation by a user and a change in a picture-taking condition when the imaging unit is repeatedly capturing the images for the movie, the timing information being additional information to movie data of the movie to be used to display an image corresponding to the timing information;

a recording unit configured to record the movie in response to the movie taking directing unit and to record the timing information in response to the timing information generating unit when the imaging unit is repeatedly capturing the images for the movie;

a display unit; and

a display control unit configured to cause the display unit to automatically display an image corresponding to the timing information, which is extracted partially from the movie recorded by the recording unit, just when picture-taking for the movie directed by the movie taking directing unit is finished.

2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an information generating operation unit configured to be manually operated by the user to cause the timing information generating unit to generate the timing information when the imaging unit is repeatedly capturing the images for the movie.

3. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein

a still-picture taking operation unit configured to designate a recording time of a still image based on the captured images is provided as the timing information generating unit.

4. The imaging apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the recording unit records still image, in response to an operation of the still-picture taking operation unit.

5. The imaging apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the recording unit records the still image independently of the movie, based on the operation of the still-picture taking operation unit.

6. The imaging apparatus according to claim 4 , further comprising:

a detecting unit configured to detect the change in the picture-taking condition when the imaging unit is repeatedly capturing the images for the movie, wherein

the timing information is generated based on a result of detection of the detecting unit.

7. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the display control unit causes the display unit to display the movie spanning a given period of time including a time corresponding to the timing information.

8. The imaging apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein

the display control unit changes a reproduction speed of the movie spanning the given period of time to cause the display unit to display the movie at the changed reproduction speed.

9. The imaging apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein

the display control unit extracts a plurality of pieces of the movie each spanning the given period of time including a time corresponding to each of a plurality of pieces of the timing information, based on the timing information recorded, and connects the extracted pieces of the movie together for display on the display unit.

10. The imaging apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein

the display control units extracts a plurality of pieces of the movie each spanning the given period of time including a time corresponding to each of a plurality of pieces of the timing information, based on the timing information recorded, and causes the display unit to display sets of images provided by the extracted pieces of the movie at the same time.

11. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the display control unit causes the display unit to display a still image over a given period of time, based on the movie captured at a time corresponding to the timing information.

12. The imaging apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein

the display control unit causes the display unit to successively display still images captured at times corresponding to a plurality of pieces of the timing information, at predetermined time intervals, based on the plurality of pieces of the timing information recorded.

13. The imaging apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein

the display control unit causes the display unit to display still images captured at times corresponding to a plurality of pieces of the timing information, at the same time, based on the plurality of pieces of the timing information recorded.

14. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a manual operation unit configured to be operated by the user during display of the image by the display control unit, wherein

the display control unit causes the display unit to display the movie spanning a given period of time including a time corresponding to the timing information, and causes the display unit to display a still image having a larger amount of information than a corresponding image of the movie, in place of the movie that are being displayed on the display unit, when the manual operation unit is operated.

15. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an operation switching unit configured to cause the display control unit to operate in a selected one of a plurality of modes.

16. An image displaying method, comprising:

repeatedly capturing images of a subject and recording the images;

directing starting and finishing of picture-taking for a movie in a movie mode based on the captured images, wherein the movie mode includes any one or more of a short movie mode, a simple movie mode, a movie mode with manual still-picture, and a movie mode with automatic still-picture;

generating timing information that indicates a specific time point within an imaging period of the movie in response to one of a manual operation by a user and a change in a picture-taking condition when repeatedly capturing the images for the movie, the timing information being additional information to movie data of the movie to be used to display an image corresponding to the timing information;

recording the movie in response to directing starting and finishing of picture-taking for the movie;

recording the timing information in response to generating of the timing information when repeatedly capturing the images; and

displaying, automatically, an image corresponding to the timing information, which is extracted partially from the recorded movie, just when picture-taking for the movie is finished.

17. The image displaying method according to claim 16 , wherein

the timing information is generated in response to the change in the picture-taking condition when the images for the movie are being repeatedly captured.

18. The image displaying method according to claim 16 , wherein

the movie spanning a given period of time including a time corresponding to the timing information is displayed, as the image corresponding to the timing information.

19. The image displaying method according to claim 18 , wherein

the movie spanning the given period of time is displayed, as the image corresponding to the timing information, at a reproduction speed that is changed.

20. The image displaying method according to claim 18 , wherein

a plurality of pieces of the movie each spanning the given period of time including a time corresponding each of a plurality of pieces of the timing information are connected together, and are displayed as the image corresponding to the timing information.

21. The image displaying method according to claim 16 , wherein

a still image is displayed as the image corresponding to the timing information.