Patent ID: 7656455

Claim:
An image pickup device comprising: (a) an optical system; (b) a photoelectric conversion element array for photo-electrically converting an optical image entering through the optical system and outputting the converted optical image in the form of pixel data; (c) a pixel data reading control unit for reading the pixel data from the photoelectric conversion element array in a still image-compliant entire pixel reading mode and a moving image-compliant pixel mixing reading mode; (d) an optical low pass filter provided between the optical system and the photoelectric conversion element array so as to advance and retreat therebetween; and (e) a control unit for controlling the advancement/retreat of the optical low pass filter, wherein the control unit makes the optical low pass filter advance into between the optical system and the photoelectric conversion element array in the moving image-compliant pixel mixing reading mode, wherein the control unit makes the optical low pass filter retreat from between the optical system and the photoelectric conversion element array in the still image-compliant entire pixel reading mode, wherein the pixel data reading control unit comprises a mode for pixel-mixing and reading pixel data only in one of vertical and horizontal directions in the pixel data of the photoelectric conversion element array (one-direction-only pixel mixing reading mode) at the time of an auto focus control in a still image photographing, and wherein the control unit judges if the still image photographing is a full-size photographing or a small-size photographing and makes the optical low pass filter retreat from between the optical system and the photoelectric conversion element array after the judgment is made.