1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a digital camera having a self-timer shooting function and an image display function.
2. Description of the Related Art
In resent years, digital cameras have rapidly been becoming widespread, and various types of digital cameras are supplied to the market. Generally, a digital camera frequently has an image display device comprising a liquid crystal display (hereinafter, referred to as an LCD) or the like on its back. Because of the LCD, the photographer can confirm the image to be shot without viewing through the finder. Therefore, it is possible to shoot the subject at an extremely free angle. Moreover, a conventional digital camera is provided with a function to continue displaying the shot image on the image display device for a predetermined time every time one frame is shot, that is, a function to hold the shot image for a predetermined time. Because of this function, the photographer can check whether the shot image is desired or not without performing any complicated operations.
Whether silver halide film cameras or digital cameras, cameras are frequently provided with a function to perform shooting by use of a self-timer (hereinafter, referred to as a self-timer function). According to the self-timer function which is used, for example, when the photographer himself or herself is the subject to be shot, shooting is on standby for a predetermined time after the depression of the release button, and shooting is performed after the predetermined time has elapsed. Because of this function, the photographer can shoot himself or herself by moving to the position of shooting within the predetermined time after depressing the release button.
However, since the photographer is the subject when self-timer shooting is performed as mentioned above, it takes time for the photographer to return to the camera after shooting is performed. Therefore, even though the digital camera has the image display device and the function to display the shot image for a predetermined time, it frequently occurs that the display of the shot image ends before the photographer returns to the camera to check the display device on the back of the camera. That is, the photographer cannot check the shot image. Since recorded images can be read out from a recording medium and played back, the shot image can be checked by playing it back. However, complicated operations-such as switching to a reproduction mode and specification of the frame to be played back are necessarily performed every time, which is inconvenient.
In view of the above-mentioned problem, an object of the present invention is to provide a digital camera in which the photographer can easily check whether the shot image is desired or not without performing any complicated operations even when self-timer shooting is performed.