Patent ID: 8212918
Filing Date: 2012-07-03
Classification: G03B

Abstract:
1. An image pickup apparatus comprising: controlling means for moving an electronic front curtain in a simulated manner from an exposure start position towards an exposure end position by successively performing reset operations on a plurality of pixels in an image pickup element in a predetermined direction; a rear curtain that moves from the exposure start position towards the exposure end position by a biasing force of biasing means; and storage means for storing data indicating a change in movement characteristics of the rear curtain based on deterioration of the biasing means over time, wherein, based on the data, the controlling means changes movement characteristics of the electronic front curtain in accordance with the change in the movement characteristics of the rear curtain over time, wherein the change in the movement characteristics of the rear curtain is a change in the movement characteristics corresponding to a number of movements of the rear curtain, wherein the data based on the deterioration of the biasing means includes a plurality of predetermined threshold levels of the number of movements of the rear curtain, which predetermined threshold levels correspond to time-based movement curves of the rear curtain, and wherein the movement characteristics of the electronic front curtain are controlled based on one of the plurality of predetermined of predetermined threshold levels of the number of movements of the rear curtain.