Patent ID: 8610979

Claim:
An image pickup apparatus in which a pixel area, including a plurality of pixels, each having a photoelectric conversion portion and a common output portion configured to amplify and output signals of the plurality of pixels included in the pixel area, are formed on a single semiconductor substrate, said apparatus comprising: a power supply unit configured to control power supply to the common output portion independently of controlling the power supply to the plurality of pixels; a determination unit configured to determine the length of a photo-charge accumulation period of the photoelectric conversion portion in accordance with an exposure detected by photometry processing and a photographing mode; and a control circuit configured to switch over power supply control of the power supply unit in accordance with a result of determination by the determination unit, wherein if the determined length of a photo-charge accumulation period is a first period, then the power supply unit stops power supply to the common output portion for a predetermined period which is determined according to the photo-charge accumulation period, and wherein if the determined length of the photo-charge accumulation period is a second period shorter than the first period, then the power supply unit continues to supply the power to the common output portion throughout the photo-charge accumulation period without switching the power supply thereto.