MULTI-EYE CAMERA AND METHOD FOR DISTINGUISHING THREE-DIMENSIONAL OBJECT

A stereo camera captures a pair of R and L viewpoint images. Upon a half press of a shutter release button, a preliminary photographing procedure is carried out. A binary image generator applies binary processing to each image, and a shadow extracting section extracts a shadow of a main subject from each binary image. A size calculating section calculates a size of each shadow, and a difference calculating section calculates a difference in size of the shadow between the images. If an absolute value of the difference is a size difference threshold value or more, the main subject is distinguished as a three-dimensional object suited to a 3D picture mode. Otherwise, the main subject is distinguished as a printed sheet suited to a 2D picture mode. Upon a full press of the shutter release button, an actual photographing procedure is carried out in the established 3D or 2D picture mode.