Patent ID: 8446501

Claim:
An image pickup apparatus comprising: an image pickup element configured to include image pickup pixels and focus detection pixels, the image pickup pixels photoelectrically converting an object image formed by a light flux from an image pickup optical system, and the focus detection pixels photoelectrically converting two images formed by two divided light fluxes of the light flux from the image pickup optical system; an image generator configured to generate an image based on first pixel signals; a focus controller configured to perform focus control for the image pickup optical system based on second pixel signals; and a signal processor configured to output signals read out from the image pickup pixels after each charge accumulation operation of the image pickup pixels for a predetermined time period as the first pixel signals, and to output signals read out from the focus detection pixels as the second pixel signals, wherein the signals read out from the focus detection pixels are obtained after plural charge accumulation operations in the image pickup element.