Patent ID: 8218065

Claim:
An imaging device operable to perform a normal operation in a normal operation period and perform an automatic focusing operation in a focusing operation period, comprising: a control unit that sets a read frame rate and a thinning rate; and an imaging element that generates image signals at the read frame rate set by the control unit, thins the generated image signals in accordance with the thinning rate set by the control unit, and outputs an image signal obtained by the thinning, wherein when changing from the normal operation to the automatic focusing operation, or changing from the automatic focusing operation to the normal operation, the control unit changes the read frame rate so that the read frame rate in the focusing operation period is different from the read frame rate in the normal operation period, and the thinning rate so that the thinning rate in the focusing operation period is different from the thinning rate in the normal operation period, wherein when changing the read frame rate and the thinning rate, the control unit changes the thinning rate, and reading the image signal from the imaging element in accordance with the changed thinning rate is completed prior to changing to the automatic focusing operation, or to the normal operation, and thereafter the read frame rate is changed.