Patent ID: 7868943

Claim:
An image pickup apparatus on which an interchangeable lens is detachably mounted comprising: a memory that stores information on an object distance obtained from a first interchangeable lens mounted on the image pickup apparatus; a memory controller that retains the information on the object distance in the memory also after the first interchangeable lens is removed from the image pickup apparatus; a focus controller that makes a second interchangeable lens operate in a direction of a lens position corresponding to the information on the object distance of the first interchangeable lens retained in the memory when the second interchangeable lens is mounted on the image pickup apparatus in a case where the information on the object distance of the first interchangeable lens is retained in the memory; and an image pickup device that photoelectrically converts an object image formed by one of the first and the second interchangeable lenses, wherein the focus controller performs a focus control on one of the first and the second interchangeable lenses based on a focus evaluation signal showing a contrast status of an image obtained using the image pickup device, and wherein the focus controller performs the focus control after making the second interchangeable lens operate in the direction of the lens position corresponding to the information on the object distance of the first interchangeable lens retained in the memory when the second interchangeable lens is mounted on the image pickup apparatus in the case where the information on the object distance of the first interchangeable lens is retained in the memory.