Patent ID: 7936393

Claim:
An apparatus for controlling an aperture of a camera, comprising: a first determining device that determines an aperture range for a normal shooting which secures predetermined optical capability; a second determining device that determines an aperture range including an aperture out of the aperture range for the normal shooting; and a controlling device that controls a diaphragm mechanism to set an aperture within the aperture range determined by said second determining device for a shooting with electronic zoom, and controls the diaphragm mechanism to set an aperture within the aperture range determined by said first determining device for a shooting without the electronic zoom, wherein a first program line determines an aperture for taking, the size of the aperture being in a first aperture range defined in a range from a first aperture value to a second aperture value, wherein the aperture is used when shooting without the electronic zoom, and a second program line determines another aperture for taking, the size of said another aperture being in a second aperture range including a third aperture value smaller than said first aperture value, wherein said another aperture is used when shooting with the electronic zoom.