Patent ID: 6992712

Claim:
An imaging apparatus comprising: an imaging device which includes a plurality of pixels arranged two-dimensionally, and which outputs an imaging signal; dark output level detecting means for detecting, for each of the plurality of pixels, a dark output level superposed on the imaging signal; dark output correction means for correcting the imaging signal based on the detected dark output level, and for setting a clip level for a subject component of the imaging signal, based on the detected dark output level; and test imaging means for capturing a test image by performing a charge storage and readout operation of said imaging device for a test imaging time while shielding said imaging device from exposure; wherein the dark output level detection means detects the dark output level by deriving a dark output level of an actual imaging based on said test imaging time, an imaging device output level obtained by said test imaging means, and a charge storage time for exposure control of the actual imaging; and wherein the test imaging time and the charge storage time of the actual imaging are different from each other, and the dark output level of the actual imaging is derived by multiplying the imaging device output level X obtained by said test imaging means by a ratio Y/Z of the test imaging time Y of said test imaging means to the charge storage time Z for exposure control at the actual imaging time.