Patent ID: 6864918

Claim:
An image pickup apparatus which records a digital image signal by taking a picture of an object and which transfers the recorded digital image signal to an external device, said apparatus comprising: a buffer memory for temporarily accumulating the digital image signal obtained by picture taking; an image saving memory for saving the digital image signal; digital image signal record state judgment means for judging whether the digital image signal obtained by picture taking has been recorded in said image saving memory; image memory accumulation state judgment means for judging whether a new digital image signal can be accumulated in said buffer memory; and transfer means for transferring to the external device the digital image signal accumulated in said buffer memory and corresponding to the digital image signal recorded in said image saving memory if said digital image signal record state judgment means determines that the digital image signal obtained by picture taking has been recorded in said image saving memory, and if said image memory accumulation state judgment means determines that any new digital image signal cannot be accumulated in said buffer memory.