Patent ID: 7907205

Claim:
An optical apparatus including a lens system having a focus lens and an image pickup element which converts an image formed by the lens system into an image signal, the apparatus comprising: a control unit configured to control operation of the apparatus; an auto-focus unit configured to move the focus lens to bring the image into an in-focus state; a displacement detection unit configured to detect a displacement of the optical apparatus in the direction of the optical axis of the lens system; and a focus-range setting unit configured to calculate an acceptable range of detected displacement within which it is assumed that the image remains in an in-focus state, wherein the control unit is operable to capture one or more images in a given time period from the pickup element when the detected displacement is within said acceptable range, wherein the control unit is operable, if the output of the displacement detection unit is not within the acceptable range for a predetermined time and if the image pickup element has acquired at least one image after an image pickup start switch is operated, to cause the sensitivity of the apparatus to be increased to obtain a single image.