JPH09182012A - Electronic still camera and method for protecting image data - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To provide an electronic still camera and a method of protecting image data that can easily and surely erase a page while confirming the erase screen. [Structure] Image data picked up by a CCD 1 is stored in a flash memory 8, an image to be displayed on an LCD 18 is selected by operating a key input unit 10, and a page of a display image can be moved forward and backward. further,
While confirming the image displayed on the LCD 18, it is possible to set the erasure protection on / off of the image data stored in the flash memory 8 corresponding to the image.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic still camera for recording a still image on a recording medium and a method for protecting image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, an electronic still camera in which an optical still image captured by a lens is converted into an electric signal by a CCD and the electric signal is recorded in a recording medium such as a semiconductor memory or a floppy disk has been put into practical use. There is.

However, in such an electronic still camera, the number of images that can be photographed and recorded has greatly increased due to the increase in capacity of recording media and the progress of image compression technology. Therefore,
One method is to take a large number of images on the go, delete unnecessary images one by one, and then take more images.

[0004]

However, in the conventional electronic still camera, it is necessary to connect a monitor to the outside to reproduce an image and then delete the image.
It was very troublesome. Further, since a troublesome operation is performed, a necessary image may be erased.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic still camera and a method of protecting image data which can realize page erasure while confirming the erase screen easily and surely. To aim.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
An electronic still camera comprising an image pickup unit, a storage unit that stores image data captured by the image pickup unit, and a display unit that displays an image based on the image data stored in the storage unit. A selection unit for selecting an image to be displayed on the display unit and moving a page of the display image forward or backward by operating a key unit provided in the same housing as the display unit; By operating a key means provided in the same housing as the unit, the erase protector of the image data stored in the storage unit corresponding to the image selected by the selection unit and displayed on the display unit is turned on / off. The image data is provided while confirming the image to be erase-protected by operating the key means provided in the same casing as the display section, which is provided with erase-protection setting means for setting. Thereby enabling the on-off setting of the erase protection.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, storage means for storing the image data taken, a display portion for displaying an image based on the image data stored in the storage means, and an image to be displayed on this display portion. Selecting means, an erasing protect setting means for setting on / off of the erasing protection for the image data of the storage means corresponding to the image selected by the selecting means, and erasing protection setting by the erasing protection setting means. And a skip execution means for skipping the display of the displayed image on the display unit.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in an electronic still camera capable of storing and reproducing a plurality of captured images, erasing the stored images one by one, and setting erasure protection for each one, an erasing mode is provided. At this time, it comprises means for sequentially reproducing stored images while skipping images for which erasure protection has been set, and means for erasing reproduced images.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in an electronic still camera provided with a display means, an image pickup section, a header area and a data area are included, and image data picked up by the image pickup section is converted into header data of the header area. Storage means for storing in a data area designated by, a protect area prepared in the header area, a protect means for setting a protect flag in the protect area, an image to be erased, and When the data area is retrieved based on the header data in the header area of the storage means to read out the image data and displayed on the display means, the erasing instruction means for erasing, and the erasing instruction means for erasing , If the protected area of the above header area is detected and the protect flag is not set, The display of the image selected by the selection means and displayed on the display means is erased, the image data stored in the storage means for the erased image is erased, and the protect flag is set. In this case, the erasure control means does not erase the image.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect, the protect means selects an image, searches the data area based on the header data in the header area of the storage means, and reads the image data. The protection flag setting operation is performed while the display is being displayed on the display device.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in an electronic still camera in which a plurality of image data are stored in a flash memory, a first step of setting protection for each image data and an erasing process when erasing the image data are performed. In accordance with an operation, the image data is sequentially read from the flash memory to the dynamic memory and is transferred to the video memory to be displayed on the display means. A second step is performed; A third step of confirming whether or not the above protection is set for the image data of the image,
When the protection is not set, the image data stored in the flash memory corresponding to the displayed image is erased, and the next image data stored in the flash memory is read out. , The fourth step of transferring to the video memory, and if the protect is set, even if the erase operation,
It comprises a fifth step in which the fourth step is not performed.

As a result, according to the first aspect of the present invention,
An image pickup unit, a storage unit that stores image data picked up by the image pickup unit, and a display unit that displays an image based on the image data stored in the storage unit are integrated, and the same housing as the display unit The image to be displayed on the display unit is selected by operating the key means provided on the display unit, the page of the display image can be moved forward and backward, and the memory corresponding to the image displayed on the selected display unit is stored. Since the erase protector of the image data stored in the means can be set on / off, the erase protect can be set on / off one by one for the stored image, and erroneous erasure of the important image can be prevented.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the display unit has a display unit for displaying an image based on the image data stored in the storage unit, and the image to be displayed on the display unit is selected by the selection unit. The erasure protection setting means sets on / off of the erasure protection for the image data of the storage means corresponding to the selected image, and the display on the display section for the image for which the erasure protection is set is skipped by the execution means. I'm trying to skip it,
When selecting an image when erasing a page, this can be automatically skipped for an image for which erasure protection is set to ON.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in the erasing mode, the stored images are sequentially reproduced while skipping the images for which erasure protection is set, and the reproduced arbitrary image can be erased.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, when an erasing instruction is given to the image data read out from the storage means based on the header data, the image erasing is executed for the image for which the protect flag is not set, and the image is protected. Image deletion will be rejected for images for which a flag has been set, and it is possible to selectively delete only the images for which the protect flag is not set among the images for which deletion is desired.

According to the invention of claim 5, claim 4 is also provided.
The same effect as described can be expected. According to the sixth aspect of the invention, when the image which is not protected is erased, the next image is displayed, and the images can be erased continuously while selecting the images one after another.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. (First Embodiment) In the first embodiment, the recorded images are displayed one by one on the LCD so that they can be erased while being confirmed.

FIG. 1 shows a circuit configuration of an electronic still camera according to the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a CCD,
The CCD 1 converts a still image formed through a lens (not shown) into an electric signal.

Then, the electric signal from the CCD 1 is given to the buffer 2, where it is amplified to a predetermined level and then A /
It is supplied to the D conversion unit 3. The A / D converter 3 converts a still video signal into digital data (hereinafter referred to as a video signal), and the video signal is TG (Timing Ge).
Nerater) 4 is supplied.

The TG 4 is a drive circuit 4 for driving the CCD 1.
A timing signal for controlling the control signal is generated. The timing signal is supplied to the drive circuit 5, and the video signal is taken in according to the timing signal.

A DRAM (dynamic memory) 6, a compression / expansion unit 7 and a flash memory (image memory) 8 are connected to the TG 4. The DRAM 6 is a storage medium that temporarily stores a video signal taken in according to the timing signal of the TG 4. Further, in the DRAM 6, the video signal is read out by the control of the CPU 9 described later at the time when the photographing for one screen is completed, and the color calculation processing for separating the luminance signal and the color signal is performed. .

The compression / expansion unit 7 receives the luminance signal and the color signal separated by the color calculation processing from, for example, JPEG (Join).
t Photographic Coding Exp
The compression process such as the erts group) is performed while the process of expanding the compressed compressed video signal is performed. The flash memory 8 stores the compressed video signal (luminance signal and color signal).

On the other hand, 9 is a CPU.
In addition to the TC4, DRAM 6, compression / expansion unit 7, and flash memory 8 described above, a key input unit 10, ROM 11, RA
M12 and SG (Sinal Generator:
Video signal generator) 13 is connected.

The CPU 9 controls the operation of each section according to the program in the ROM 11 and the state of the switch of the key input section 10. The key input unit 10 is composed of a switch for setting an operation mode (video capture key or reproduction key) and various setting values, and the state of the key input unit 10 is captured by the CPU 9. RAM1
2 is used as a working area of the CPU 9. Further, the SG 13 superimposes a color signal on the luminance signal expanded by the compression / expansion unit 7 and adds a synchronization signal to create a digital video signal.

SG13 has a VRAM (video RAM).
14 and the D / A converter 15 are connected, and the D / A converter 1
5, output terminal 17 and LCD via buffer 16
(Liquid crystal display) 18 is connected.

The VRAM 14 is a storage medium for storing digital video signals. Further, the D / A converter 15 has an S
The digital video signal output by G13 is converted into an analog signal (hereinafter referred to as an analog video signal), which is output from the output terminal 17 via the buffer 16 and supplied to the LCD 18. LCD18
Displays an image in accordance with an analog video signal supplied via the buffer 16.

A serial I / O 20 is connected to the CPU 9 via an I / O port 19. The I / O port 19 functions as an interface for inputting and outputting a video signal converted into a serial signal.

In the electronic still camera thus constructed, when the erase mode is set by the key input unit 10, the flowchart shown in FIG. 2 is executed.
In this case, when the erase mode is set by the key input unit 10 from the state where the normal reproduced image is displayed on the LCD 18 as shown in a in FIG. 4A, the page erase “PAGE DEL” is set as shown in b in FIG. ", All erase" ALL DE
"L" and mode release "EXIT" are displayed on the menu, and an instruction from any of these menus is prompted.

Here, when the page erasure is instructed, YES is determined in step 201, and the process proceeds to step 202,
Display page deletion. In this case, the display on the LCD 18 is such that the page is erased as shown in FIG. 3 in which c is enlarged in FIG.
Each menu of "T" and +/- selection "SELECT" is displayed.

Here, if the "+" key is operated, YES is determined in the step 203, the flow proceeds to the step 204, the reproduced image of the next page is displayed, and if the "-" key is operated, the step 205 is executed. When YES is determined, the process proceeds to step 206, and the reproduction screen of the previous page is displayed.

When the "+" key or the "-" key is operated in this manner, reproduced images as shown by d in FIG. 4 are sequentially displayed on the LCD 18, and the image to be erased is selected while watching this. When the execute key is operated after the image to be erased is found and confirmed on the LCD 18, YES is determined in step 207, the corresponding page is erased in step 208, and in step 209, as shown by e in FIG. The image on the next page of the page is displayed on the LCD 18.

If the image to be erased is not found, if the cancel key is operated, step 210 returns YES.
Then, the erase mode is canceled, and step 211
Then, the normal mode shown in a in FIG. 4 is restored.

On the other hand, when "ALL DEL" is instructed from the display screen shown in b in FIG. 4, confirmation of all deletion is made on the LCD 18 as shown in f in FIG.
If “S” is instructed, YES is determined in step 212, the process proceeds to step 213, all pages are erased, and “NO ME ME” is displayed on the LCD 18 as indicated by g in FIG.
"MORY" is displayed and the normal mode of step 211 is restored.

Further, when an instruction to cancel the erasure mode "EXIT" is issued from the display screen shown in FIG.
Then, it is determined to be YES, and in step 211, the normal mode shown in a in FIG. 4 is restored.

Therefore, according to the first embodiment as described above, when the photographed image is erased, the reproduced image is selectively displayed on the LCD 18 integrally incorporated,
You can find the image you want to delete and confirm it, so you can execute the deletion.Compared with the conventional one that has an external monitor and connects it,
Not only does it require troublesome work such as connecting an external monitor, but even if you cannot prepare an external monitor for outdoor use, you can easily erase the page while confirming the erase screen. Also, the LCD 18
Since it is possible to obtain the desired page erase only by key operation on the key input unit 10 according to various instructions on the screen, good operability can be realized. (Second Embodiment) In the second embodiment, erasure protection can be applied to each recorded image.

In this case, the schematic structure of the electronic still camera is the same as that of FIG. 1 described above, and this figure is incorporated herein by reference. The flash memory 8 has header data 81, 82, ... 8n corresponding to each page image as a header table as shown in FIG. 5, and these header data 81, 82 ,. ,
A memory address 8a in which corresponding image data is stored and an erase protect flag 8b are stored.

In the electronic still camera constructed as described above, first, in the case where the protect is ON for erasure protection, the desired image is selected while looking at the image displayed on the LCD 18. When the protect key is operated from the key input unit 10 when the corresponding image is found, the flowchart shown in FIG. 6A is executed.

In this case, in step 601, the header data 8 of the header table stored in the flash memory 8 is stored.
8n are read out onto the DRAM 6. And
In step 602, the header of the image data currently displayed on the LCD 18 is searched. For example, LCD 1
If the image data of the page is displayed,
The header data 81 will be searched.

Then, the process proceeds to step 603, the erase protect flag in the searched header data is set, the header table of the flash memory 8 is erased at step 604, and the process proceeds to step 605, where the header table on the DRAM 6 is flash memory. The data is written back to 8, and the process is terminated.

In this case, in the case of the image data in the protect ON state that is erase-protected, for example, in the case of the image data of the 8th page, as shown in FIG. 7B, an “8P” is attached to the upper right corner of the screen. Information is displayed.

On the other hand, in the case of the protection OFF for canceling the erase protection, the desired image is selected while looking at the image displayed on the LCD 18. Then, when the corresponding image is found and the protect cancel key is operated from the key input unit 10, the flowchart shown in FIG. 6B is executed.

In this case, in step 606, the header data 8 of the header table stored in the flash memory 8 is stored.
8n are read out onto the DRAM 6. And
In step 607, the header of the image data currently displayed on the LCD 18 is searched. For example, LCD 1
If the image data of the page is displayed,
The header data 81 will be searched.

Then, in step 608, the erase protect flag in the searched header data is lowered, in step 604 the header table of the flash memory 8 is erased, and in step 605, the header table on the DRAM 6 is flash memory. The data is written back to 8, and the process is terminated.

In this case, in the case of the image data in the protect OFF state in which the erase protect is released, for example, in the case of the image data of the 8th page, the normal "8" is displayed in the upper right corner of the screen as shown in FIG. 7A. The supplementary information of is displayed.

Therefore, according to the second embodiment as described above, since the erase protection ON / OFF can be set for each recorded image in units of one sheet, the important image data is set to the erase protect ON. By doing so, it is possible to reliably prevent accidental erasure. (Third Embodiment) In the third embodiment, it is possible to select whether or not to display additional information such as the page number of an image and erase protection information together with a reproduced image, and to turn off the additional information display. Even when the erase protect process is performed in this state, the user can easily determine whether the erase protect is ON or OFF.

In this case as well, the schematic structure of the electronic still camera is the same as that of FIG. 1 described above, and this figure is incorporated herein by reference. Note that the flash memory 8 here also has header data 81, 82, ... 8 corresponding to each page image as a header table as shown in FIG.
8n, these header data 81, 82, ...
It is assumed that the memory address 8a in which the corresponding image data is stored and the erase protect flag 8b are stored.

In the electronic still camera configured as described above, first, in the case where the protect is ON for erasure protection, the desired image is selected while looking at the image displayed on the LCD 18, and when the corresponding image is found, the key is pressed. When you operate the protect key from the input section 10,
The flowchart shown in FIG. 8A is executed.

In this case, in step 801, an erase protect process for the image memory is executed. The erase protect process here is the same as that described with reference to FIG.

Next, in step 802, an instruction to turn on the display of the incidental information is prompted. Here, when the display ON is instructed from the key input unit 10, step 803
, The page number and “P” are displayed as supplementary information. In FIG. 9, a shows the case where the corresponding image is the eighth page, and the additional information “8P” is displayed in the upper right corner of the screen.

On the other hand, in step 802, the key input unit 10
When the display OFF is instructed, the process proceeds to step 804, and first, the page number and “P” are displayed as the supplementary information. In FIG. 9B, when the corresponding image is the 8th page, incidental information “8P” is displayed in the upper right corner of the screen. Then, after waiting for one second in step 805, step 806
Then, the page number and “P” as the supplementary information are erased. 9C shows a state in which the display of the incidental information at the upper right corner of the relevant screen is erased.

Next, even in the case of the protect OFF for canceling the erase protect, the desired image is selected while looking at the image displayed on the LCD 18, and when the corresponding image is found, the protect key is operated from the key input unit 10. The flowchart shown in FIG. 8B is executed.

In this case, in step 807, erase protection processing of the image memory is executed. The erase protect process here is the same as that described with reference to FIG.

Next, in step 808, an instruction to turn on the display of the incidental information is prompted. Here, when the display ON is instructed from the key input unit 10, step 809
Proceeding to 1, only the page number is displayed as additional information. In FIG. 9, d is the case where the corresponding image is the 8th page, and additional information “8” is displayed in the upper right corner of the screen.

On the other hand, in step 808, the key input unit 10
When the display OFF is instructed, the process proceeds to step 809, and first, only the page number is displayed as the supplementary information. In FIG. 9, e is the case where the corresponding image is the 8th page, and additional information “8” is displayed in the upper right corner of the screen. And
After waiting for 1 second in step 810, the process proceeds to step 811, and the display of the page number as supplementary information is erased. 9C shows a state in which the display of the incidental information at the upper right corner of the relevant screen is erased.

Therefore, according to the third embodiment as described above, it is possible to set the erasure protection ON / OFF for each recorded image on a sheet-by-sheet basis, and to set the erasure protection ON / OFF state. L as ancillary information
Since it is possible to select whether or not to display it together with the display image of the CD 18, it is possible to easily remove it from the screen of the LCD 18 according to the intention of the user when the display of the incidental information is not required. Moreover, when the supplementary information is not displayed, the supplementary information is erased after a predetermined time elapses. Therefore, even if the supplementary information is not displayed, the ON / OFF state of the erase protection can be temporarily checked. . (Fourth Embodiment) In the fourth embodiment, page erasure is realized when there is an image protected by erasure in a recorded image.

In this case, the schematic structure of the electronic still camera is the same as that of FIG. 1 described above, and this figure is incorporated herein by reference. In this case, when the erase mode is set by the key input unit 10, the flowchart shown in FIG. 10 is executed.

First, when the erase mode is set by the key input unit 10 from the state where the normal reproduced image is displayed, the page erase is displayed in step 1001. In this case, the display on the LCD 18 is executed "YES", together with the display of page deletion as shown in FIG.
The respective menus of release "EXIT" and +/- selection "SELECT" are displayed.

If the "+" key is operated here, YES is determined in the step 1002, and the step 1003 is executed.
Then, it is determined whether the erase protect of the next page is in the ON state. In this case, if NO, step 1004
Then, the reproduced image on the next page is displayed. Also, YE
If S, in step 1005, the next page is skipped, the process returns to step 1003, and it is further determined whether the erase protect of the next page is in the ON state. In this case, N
If it is O, the process proceeds to step 1004, and the reproduced image of the next page is displayed.

On the other hand, if the "-" key is operated, YES is determined in the step 1006, the process proceeds to a step 1007, and it is determined whether the erase protect of the previous page is in the ON state. In this case, if NO, the process proceeds to step 1008, and the reproduced image of the previous page is displayed. If YES, in step 1009, the previous page is skipped,
Returning to step 1007, it is further determined whether the erase protect of the previous page is in the ON state. In this case, if NO, the process proceeds to step 1008, and the reproduced image of the previous page is displayed.

That is, in this case, assuming that the images a, b, and c are recorded in the order of FIG. 11 and the second image b is erase-protected, the above-mentioned "+" key is operated. 12 (a) to 12 (b), image selection as shown in FIG. 12 (b) is performed, and conversely, when the above-mentioned “-” key is operated, FIG. 12 (b) to FIG. Image selection as shown in (a) is performed.

When an image to be erased is selected by operating the "+" key or "-" key and the image to be erased is found on the LCD 18 and confirmed, and the execute key is operated, YES is determined in step 1010. It is determined that the corresponding page is erased in step 1011 and the image of the next page of the erased page is displayed in the LCD in step 1012.
18 will be displayed.

If the image to be erased cannot be found, the release key is operated, and in step 1013, YE
If it is determined to be S, the erase mode is canceled, and step 101
At 4, the normal mode is restored.

Therefore, according to the fourth embodiment, when an image is selected at the time of page erasure, the image for which the erase protect is set ON is automatically skipped and the erase protect is turned ON. Since an image not set to is displayed on the LCD 18, efficient page erasing can be realized.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and can be carried out by appropriately modifying it within the scope of the invention. Although the expression "electronic still camera" is used in the present invention, it goes without saying that it also includes an image input device of a computer, for example.

[0065]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to set erasure protection ON / OFF for stored images in units of one sheet. Therefore, by setting erasure protection ON for important image data, It is possible to reliably prevent accidental erasure.

Further, at the time of selecting an image at the time of page erasing, it is possible to automatically skip this for an image for which erasure protection is set to ON, so that efficient page erasing can be realized.

Furthermore, when an erase instruction is given to the image data read out from the storage means based on the header data, the image erase is executed for the image for which the protect flag is not set, and for the image for which the protect flag is set. Since the image erasure is rejected, it is possible to selectively erase only the images for which the protect flag is not set among the images desired to be erased.

Furthermore, when erasing an image for which protection is not set is executed, the next image is displayed, and it is possible to successively erase images while displaying images one after another.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration of a digital still camera with an LCD according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display example of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of display transition according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a header table of a flash memory used in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a display example of the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a display example of the third embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a display example of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a display example of the fourth embodiment.

[Explanation of Codes] 1 ... CCD, 2 ... Buffer, 3 ... A / D converter, 4 ... TG, 5 ... Drive circuit, 6 ... DRAM, 7 ... Compression / decompression section, 8 ... Flash memory, 9 ... CPU, 10 ... Key input section, 11 ... ROM, 12 ... RAM, 13 ... SG, 14 ... VRAM, 15 ... D / A converter, 16 ... Buffer, 17 ... Output terminal, 18 ... LCD, 19 ... I / O port, 20 ... Serial I / O.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An electronic device integrally provided with an image pickup section, a storage section for storing image data picked up by the image pickup section, and a display section for displaying an image based on the image data stored in the storage section. A still camera, in which an image to be displayed on the display unit can be selected and a page of the display image can be moved back and forth by operating key means provided in the same housing as the display unit. Means and a key means provided in the same housing as the display unit, and stores image data stored in the storage unit corresponding to an image selected by the selection unit and displayed on the display unit. An erase protect setting means for setting on / off of the erase protect is provided, and an image to be erase protected cannot be confirmed by operating a key means provided in the same housing as the display section. The electronic still camera is characterized by enabling the erase protection of image data to be turned on and off. 2. Storage means for storing captured image data, a display section for displaying an image based on the image data stored in the storage means, and selection means for selecting an image to be displayed on this display section. An erasure protection setting means for setting erasure protection ON / OFF for the image data in the storage means corresponding to the image selected by the selection means, and an image for which erasure protection ON is set by the erasure protection setting means An electronic still camera, comprising: a skip execution unit that skips display on the display unit. 3. An electronic still camera capable of storing and reproducing a plurality of picked-up images, erasing the stored images one by one, and setting erasure protection for each one, and erasure protection is set in the erasure mode. An electronic still camera comprising: means for sequentially reproducing stored images while skipping reproduced images; and means for erasing reproduced images. 4. An electronic still camera provided with a display means, comprising: an image pickup section, a header area and a data area, wherein the image data picked up by the image pickup section is designated by the header data of the header area. Storage means, a protect area prepared in the header area, a protect means for setting a protect flag in the protect area, and an image to be erased are selected, and the protect area of the header area of the storage means is selected. When the data area is searched based on the header data and the image data is read out and displayed on the display means, the erasing instruction means for instructing erasure, and the erasing instruction means for erasing, the header area is protected. If the area is detected and the protect flag is not set, the above selection means When the display of the selected image displayed on the display means is erased, the erased image data stored in the storage means is erased, and the protect flag is set. An electronic still camera having a display unit, the erase control unit not erasing the image. 5. The protecting means selects an image, searches the data area based on the header data in the header area of the storage means to read out the image data, and displays the image data on the display device. The electronic still camera according to claim 4, wherein a protect flag setting operation is performed. 6. An electronic still camera having a plurality of image data stored in a flash memory, the first step of setting protection for each image data, and the image data being erased in response to an erasing operation when erasing the image data. Is sequentially read from the flash memory to the dynamic memory, and is transferred to the video memory to be displayed on the display means. When the displayed image is confirmed and the deletion is instructed, the image data of the image is described above. The third step of confirming whether or not protection is set, and if the image data stored in the flash memory corresponding to the displayed image is erased when the protection is not set, Together with the fourth step of reading the next image data stored in the flash memory and transferring it to the video memory. If the above-mentioned protection is applied, even the erasing operation, protection method of the image data, characterized by comprising a fifth step of not performing the fourth step.