Patent ID: 7515200
Filing Date: 2009-04-07
Classification: G02B,H04N

Abstract:
1. An apparatus capable of executing still picture photography comprising: a focus adjusting device configured to detect a position of a focus lens in accordance with movement of the focus lens; a designating device which designates the still picture photography; a control device which causes said focus adjusting device to operate in one of a first mode in which said focus adjusting device maintains a current in-focus position when said designating device is operated and a second mode in which said focus adjusting device adjusts the position of the focus lens to obtain an in-focus position when said designating device is operated, wherein said control device selects the first mode when the focus lens stays within a predetermined focusing area more than a predetermined period of time during a moving image auto focus, and said control device selects the second mode when the focus lens moves out of said predetermined focusing area in the predetermined period of time during said moving image auto focus, and wherein said control device determines that the focus lens stays within said predetermined focusing area, when the focus lens repeats direction reversal operations a predetermined number of times larger than a number of direction reversal operations performed after fine driving processing for newly detecting an in-focus position.