Patent ID: 7907201

Claim:
An image pickup apparatus comprising: image pickup means for generating an image signal associated with a subject optical image that has passed through a predetermined photo-taking optical system; display means capable of being switched between a display mode and a non-display mode; electronic finder means for causing the display means to display a preview image on the basis of image signals sequentially generated by the image pickup means before the image is actually recorded; optical finder means for leading the subject optical image that has passed through the predetermined photo-taking optical system to a finder window; eye proximity detecting means for detecting proximity of the eye to the finder window; shutter means capable of being switched between a light-blocking mode and a non-light-blocking mode, the shutter means blocking an external light ray from entering the image pickup apparatus through the finder window when in the light-blocking mode, the shutter means allowing an external light ray to enter the image pickup apparatus through the finder window when in the non-light-blocking mode; first control means for switching the display means to the non-display mode and switching the shutter means to the non-light-blocking mode so as to lead the subject optical image to the finder window when the eye proximity detecting means detects proximity of the eye to the finder window; and second control means for switching the shutter means to the light-blocking mode and switching the display means to the display mode so as to display the preview image when the eye proximity detecting means does not detect proximity of the eye to the finder window, wherein the display means includes a semi-transmissive liquid crystal display monitor capable of being switched between a function of a reflective liquid crystal display monitor that uses reflection of external light as a light source and a function of a transmissive liquid crystal display monitor that uses a backlight as a light source, the eye proximity detecting means includes light amount measuring means for measuring an amount of light in a surrounding area, and the second control means includes means for switching the semi-transmissive liquid crystal display monitor to the reflective liquid crystal display monitor and turning off the backlight if the amount of light measured by the light amount measuring means is higher than or equal to a predetermined amount of light and means for switching the semi-transmissive liquid crystal display monitor to the transmissive liquid crystal display monitor and turning on the backlight if the amount of light measured by the light amount measuring means is lower than the predetermined amount of light.