Patent ID: 7746403

Claim:
An image capturing apparatus comprising: an image capturing device which outputs a captured signal of an object on the basis of incident light; an output interval control device which variably controls output intervals of captured signals output by said image capturing device per unit time; a plurality of focus detection devices which detect a focus; and a control device which controls focus detection by said plurality of focus detection devices; and a focusing degree calculating device which calculates a focusing degree on the basis of a captured signal output from said image capturing device, wherein said plurality of focus detection devices include a first focus detection device performing a focus detection based on a distance measurement result and a second focus detection device performing a focus detection based on a high frequency component of a captured signal, wherein said control device compares a focusing degree calculated by said focusing degree calculating device with a predetermined focusing degree, and choosing a timing for switching from said first focus detection device to said second focus detection device in accordance with a comparison result, and wherein said control device sets a first predetermined focusing degree as a comparison target for a focusing degree calculated by said focusing degree calculating device when captured signal output intervals are first predetermined output intervals, and sets a second predetermined focusing degree nearer to an in-focus point than the first predetermined focusing degree as a comparison target for a focusing degree calculated by said focusing degree calculating device when captured signal output intervals are second predetermined output intervals longer than the first predetermined output intervals.