Patent ID: 6930720

Claim:
An interchangeable lens-type video camera system comprising a camera and an interchangeable lens assembly, said camera including: image sensing means for converting an image of a subject to an image signal and outputting a picture represented by the image signal; pointing means for pointing to any position in the picture; first area setting means for setting a first focal-point detecting area at said any position pointed to by said pointing means; second area setting means for setting a second focal-point detecting area at a prescribed position in said picture; selecting means for selecting said first area setting means or said second area setting means; extracting means for extracting a prescribed signal component from an image signal contained in the first-mentioned image signal and corresponding to a focal-point detection area set by said first area setting means or second area setting means, whichever has been selected by said selecting means; and transmitting means for transmitting information relating to the focal-point detection area, information representing status of said first area setting means, an evaluation value and selection information from said selecting means to the lens assembly; said lens assembly including: receiving means for receiving information relating to the focal-point detection area, information representing status of said first area setting means, the evaluation value and selection information from said camera; drive means for driving a lens possessed by said lens assembly; and control means for controlling said drive means based upon the information relating to the focal-point detection area, information representing status of said first area setting means, the evaluation value and selection information from said camera received by said receiving means.