Patent ID: 7773129
Filing Date: 2010-08-10
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An imaging apparatus comprising: an image pickup element having an imaging area in which a plurality of light receiving elements are two-dimensionally placed; an amplifier that amplifies an output of said image pickup element; a zoom operation unit for a user to operate expansion or reduction of an image; and a controller that controls to drive said image pickup element with a first shutter speed of an electronic shutter and mix a first number of pixel signals in the image pickup element, which is output from the plurality of light receiving elements, and set said amplifier to a first amplification ratio, in a case that a first magnification is set by said zoom operation unit, to drive said image pickup element with a second shutter speed of the electronic shutter and mix a second number of pixel signals in the image pickup element, which is output from the plurality of light receiving elements, and set said amplifier to the first amplification ratio, in a case that a second magnification, which is larger than the first magnification, is set by said zoom operation unit, wherein the second shutter speed is lower than the first shutter speed and the second number is smaller than the first number, and to drive said image pickup element with the second shutter speed of the electronic shutter and not mix pixel signals in the image pickup element, which is output from the plurality of light receiving elements, and set said amplifier to a second amplification ratio, which is larger than the first amplification ratio, in a case that a third magnification, which is larger than the second magnification, is set by said zoom operation unit.