Patent ID: 8073319

Claim:
A photographing apparatus for photographing an image of a subject focused on an imaging surface through an imaging lens, the photographing apparatus comprising: a discrimination information storing means for storing discrimination information for discriminating a face; a detecting means for detecting, based on the discrimination information, an image representing a face from images taken through the imaging lens; a precondition storing means for storing preconditions for efficiently using the result of the detection by the detecting means; a determining means for determining whether or not a photographing condition of the photographing apparatus satisfies the precondition; and a controlling means for exerting control such that, when it is determined a photographing mode is an automatic face detecting mode, the controlling means exerting control such that, if it is determined by the determining means that the photographing condition of the photographing apparatus satisfies the precondition, the detecting means carries out the detection, and if it is determined that the photographing condition of the photographing apparatus does not satisfy the precondition, the detecting means does not carry out the detection, and wherein the precondition comprises a backlit state where an amount of light received in a peripheral area of the imaging surface is larger than an amount of light received in a central area of the imaging surface and in the case that the preconditions are satisfied and face detection is executed by the detecting means, a focusing process that utilizes the results of the face detection is executed, and in the case that the preconditions are not satisfied and the face detection is not executed by the detecting means, a focusing process that utilizes focus evaluation values obtained at a plurality of different points of focus is executed.