Patent ID: 8587694

Claim:
An imaging apparatus comprising: an imaging unit which sequentially outputs frame image data at given time intervals; a buffer which has a plurality of areas that temporarily hold a given plurality of frames of image data output from the imaging unit; and an imaging instruction unit which gives imaging instructions; wherein the imaging apparatus transfers to and stores in a recording medium the plurality of frames of image data held in the buffer that are not thinned when an imaging instruction is given by the imaging instruction unit; and wherein the imaging apparatus further comprises: a deleting unit which deletes frame image data in the buffer in a manner such that some frame image data that is deleted is newer than other frame image data that is held, such that older frame image data is thinned at a higher thinning rate, and such that newest frame image data output from the imaging unit is held regardless of a size of free area in the buffer, wherein the deleting unit performs two types of deletions including a first deletion type which is a newer frame image data thinning deletion in which some frame image data that is deleted is newer than other frame image data that is held, and a second deletion type which is an older frame image data thinning deletion in which some frame image data that is deleted is older than other frame image data that is held, and wherein the deleting unit deletes the frame image data by periodically performing the two types of deletions such that the older frame image data is thinned more frequently than the newer frame image data; and a writing unit which writes the newest frame image data in the area where the frame image data deleted by the deleting unit had been held.