Patent ID: 7375758

Claim:
An electronic camera comprising: an image-capturing element that captures a subject image and outputs image-capturing signals each corresponding to a pixel; and a control device that executes gradation correction on the image-capturing signals output by the image-capturing element, wherein: the image-capturing element is split into a plurality of pixel areas each containing a plurality of pixels; and the control device calculates average values of image-capturing signal values in the pixel areas, which are output by the image-capturing element prior to a shutter release, determines an exposure quantity based upon the average values having been calculated each in correspondence to one of the plurality of pixel areas, determines gradation characteristics based upon a comparison of the average values having been calculated each in correspondence to one of the plurality of pixel areas with a predetermined threshold level, engages the image-capturing element to capture an image at the exposure quantity having been determined in response to the shutter release and executes gradation correction on image-capturing signals output by the image-capturing element in conformance to the gradation characteristics having been determined.