Patent ID: 8692922

Claim:
An image pickup apparatus comprising: an apparatus body; a display unit configured to be provided with a screen for displaying an image; a two-axis hinge configured to be provided with a first bearing that supports said display unit rotatably in right and left directions from a center retracted position viewed from a rear side of said apparatus body, and a second bearing that supports said display unit in rotated states in the right and left directions rotatably so as to direct the screen to front and rear sides of said apparatus body; a first axial rotation detector configured to detect the rotation of said display unit by the first bearing in the right and left directions; a second axial rotation detector configured to detect the rotation of said display unit in the rotated states by the second bearing to direct the screen to the front and rear sides; and a control unit configured to switch display orientation of an image displayed on said display unit based on detection results from said first axial rotation detector and said second axial rotation detector, wherein said control unit switches the display orientation of an image displayed on said display unit according to the rotation direction of said display unit between right and left that is detected by said first axial rotation detector, and wherein said control unit switches the display orientation of an image displayed on said display unit according to the rotation direction of said display unit in the rotated states in the right and left direction between front and rear that is detected by said second axial rotation detector.