Patent ID: 7443425

Claim:
An image pickup apparatus comprising: an image pickup unit that picks up a subject image; a focus detection control unit that carries out focus detection control on the subject image in a plurality of control modes which include a first control mode in which the focus detection control is carried out once every time a photography preparation operation is carried out, and a second control mode in which the focus detection control is consecutively carried out a plurality of times every time the photography preparation operation is carried out; a feedback exposure control unit that repeatedly carries out feedback exposure control of the subject image so as to maintain proper brightness of an image obtained from said image pickup unit; and an execution control unit that controls said feedback exposure control unit to carry out the feedback exposure control before executing the focus detection control when said focus detection control unit carries out the second control mode and to not carry out the feedback exposure control before executing the focus detection control when said focus detection control unit carries out the first control mode.