Patent ID: 8520130

Claim:
An image capturing apparatus that performs auto-focus control of a contrast method based on image data obtained by photoelectrically converting light from a subject entered through an imaging lens, the image capturing apparatus comprising: an image sensor that senses a subject at a predetermined period to acquire image data; a face detection unit that detects a face of a person from the image data when images based on the image data acquired by said image sensor are sequentially displayed on a display unit; an estimation unit that estimates a distance from said image sensor to the detected face in a real space; a calculation unit that obtains a first depth of field based on a focal length of the imaging lens, an f-number, and the distance estimated by said estimation unit, calculates a first scan range for driving a focus lens of the imaging lens in the auto-focus control based on the first depth of field and the distance, obtains a second depth of field based on the focal length, the f-number, and a distance in the real space to an in-focus point when the image data used to detect the face is acquired, and calculates a second scan range based on the second depth of field and the distance to the in-focus point; a selection unit that selects one of the first and second scan ranges calculated by said calculation unit; and a detection unit that detects the in-focus point based on a contrast signal acquired while driving the focus lens in the first or second scan range selected by said selection unit, wherein said selection unit selects the first scan range if at least part of the first and second scan ranges overlaps and does not select the first scan range if the first and second scan ranges do not overlap.