Patent ID: 8866948

Claim:
An imaging apparatus comprising an image sensor including a plurality of pixels, a plurality of signal output lines which output signals of the plurality of pixels, and a voltage source configured to apply a predetermined voltage, wherein each of the pixels includes a conversion element converting light into electrical charges, a floating diffusion unit accumulating the electrical charges, an amplification unit amplifying signals according to the electrical charges of the floating diffusion unit, a transfer switch transferring the electric charges from the conversion element to the floating diffusion unit, a reset switch which resets the floating diffusion unit; and a control unit configured to control the sensor and perform selectively an image capture mode using a first reading operation and a second reading operation, and a photometric operation mode using the second reading operation, wherein, in the first reading operation, first signals are output from the amplification unit to the signal output line after the reset switch is turned on in a case that the transfer switch is off, and in the second reading operation, second signals are output from the amplification unit to the signal output line after the transfer switch is turned on in a case that the reset switch is off, and wherein in the photometric operation mode, the control unit controls the voltage source to apply the predetermined voltage instead of the first signals.