Patent ID: 7088390

Claim:
An imaging apparatus for photographing a photographic subject, comprising: an image pickup device for receiving light rays transferred from the subject, a photographic subject image being formed on the image pickup device, and the image being converted to an original image signal; designating means for designating one of first and second gradation modes; converting means for converting the original image signal from said image pickup device to an output image signal in accordance with the designated mode, said output image signal having a first gradation in accordance with a first gradation curve when the first gradation mode is designated, and a second gradation in accordance with a second gradation curve when the second gradation mode is designated; and adjusting means for adjusting a level of the original image signal inputted to said converting means in accordance with the designated mode, and maintaining an average level of the output image signal outputted from said converting means at a substantially constant level; wherein said first and second gradation property curves intersect each other at a certain target signal value, and the target signal value substantially corresponds to the average output level of the output image signal.