Patent ID: 7456875

Claim:
An image pickup apparatus comprising: video signal generating means for generating video signals in a first direction and a second direction; signal processing means for changing a first direction frame rate of said video signals and for changing a second direction frame rate of said video signals; detection means for detecting that a state of the apparatus matches a predetermined condition for changing the first direction frame rate and the second direction frame rate of the video signals; and controlling means for controlling said signal processing means to change the first direction frame rate and the second direction frame rate as a function of said predetermined condition corresponding to the state of the apparatus detected by said detection means, wherein the predetermined condition indicates a mode in which the video signals are generated, wherein the mode the video signals are generated comprises: a normal mode wherein the first direction frame rate and the second direction frame rate are equal at a given time; a first direction priority mode wherein the first direction frame rate is higher than the second direction frame rate at a given time; and a second direction priority mode wherein the second direction frame rate is higher than the first direction frame rate at given time.