Patent ID: 8300136

Claim:
An imaging apparatus comprising: an imaging unit configured to receive an optical image transmitted through a lens unit and configured to convert the image into image data; a face image detection unit configured to detect a face image from the image data converted by the imaging unit; a size determination unit configured to determine whether the face image detected by the face image detection unit is larger than a predetermined size; and a focus control unit configured to move a focus position of the lens unit by a predetermined amount, wherein, in a case where the face image detection unit does not succeed in detecting the face image, the focus control unit moves the focus position of the lens unit by the predetermined amount and the face image detection unit detects the face image from image data converted by the imaging unit in the moved focus position, wherein, in a case where the face image detection unit does succeed in detecting the face image but the size determination unit determines that the face image detected by the face image detection unit is not larger than the predetermined size, the focus control unit moves the focus position of the lens unit by the predetermined amount and the face image detection unit detects the face image from image data converted by the imaging unit in the moved focus position, and wherein the focus control unit does not move the focus position of the lens unit by the predetermined amount and the face image detection unit ends detection of the face image, when the face image detection unit succeeds in detecting the face image and the size determination unit determines that the face image detected by the face image detection unit is larger than the predetermined size.