Patent ID: 8502878

Claim:
An imaging apparatus comprising: an imaging unit that includes a shooting lens for collecting an image of subject to be shot; and an imaging element that forms the image collected by the shooting lens and generates image data through photoelectric conversion of formed image; an inclination detector that detects an inclination of the imaging apparatus from a predetermined first orientation, through a rotation around a shooting optical axis of the shooting lens; and a control unit that (1) operates the imaging apparatus in a first operating mode, with the imaging apparatus being in a first orientation, (2) changes an operating mode of the imaging apparatus from the first operating mode to a second operating mode responsive to (i) a determination that the imaging apparatus is inclined at least a predetermined angle from the first orientation, and (ii) a further determination that the imaging apparatus is returned to the first orientation, and (3) operates the imaging apparatus in the second operating mode, with the imaging apparatus being in the first orientation.