A photoacoustic apparatus comprising: a receiver configured to include a plurality of conversion elements which receive acoustic waves and output reception signals and a supporting member including the conversion elements disposed therein; a movement mechanism configured to move the receiver; and a controller configured to input a driving signal in the movement mechanism, wherein the conversion elements are disposed in the supporting member such that directional axes of a number of the conversion elements are converged, wherein the apparatus further comprises: an input unit configured to input information on a portion to be examined, and wherein the controller is configured to control the movement mechanism so that a center position of a scanning trajectory of the receiver is changed in accordance with the information on the portion to be examined, input from the input unit, the apparatus being characterized by further comprising: an examination portion detector configured to automatically detect a type, a position or a shape of a breast as the information on a portion to be examined, wherein the input unit allows an operator to directly input information and also allows input of an output of the examination detector as an automatic input mode, and the two modes may be switched from one another. a receiver configured to include a plurality of conversion elements which receive acoustic waves and output reception signals and a supporting member including the conversion elements disposed therein; a movement mechanism configured to move the receiver; and a controller configured to input a driving signal in the movement mechanism, wherein the conversion elements are disposed in the supporting member such that directional axes of a number of the conversion elements are converged, wherein the apparatus further comprises: an input unit configured to input information on a portion to be examined, and wherein the controller is configured to control the movement mechanism so that a center position of a scanning trajectory of the receiver is changed in accordance with the information on the portion to be examined, input from the input unit, the apparatus being characterized by further comprising: an examination portion detector configured to automatically detect a type, a position or a shape of a breast as the information on a portion to be examined, wherein the input unit allows an operator to directly input information and also allows input of an output of the examination detector as an automatic input mode, and the two modes may be switched from one another. an input unit configured to input information on a portion to be examined, and wherein the controller is configured to control the movement mechanism so that a center position of a scanning trajectory of the receiver is changed in accordance with the information on the portion to be examined, input from the input unit, the apparatus being characterized by further comprising: an examination portion detector configured to automatically detect a type, a position or a shape of a breast as the information on a portion to be examined, wherein the input unit allows an operator to directly input information and also allows input of an output of the examination detector as an automatic input mode, and the two modes may be switched from one another. an examination portion detector configured to automatically detect a type, a position or a shape of a breast as the information on a portion to be examined, wherein the input unit allows an operator to directly input information and also allows input of an output of the examination detector as an automatic input mode, and the two modes may be switched from one another.