Patent ID: 8310586

Claim:
A photographing apparatus, in which an object image is formed on an image pickup element through a photographing lens, and a desired frequency component is extracted from an image signal obtained by an auto focus (AF) region of the image pickup element through a filter so that the extracted frequency component is integrated to calculate a focus evaluation value and, based on the calculated focus evaluation value, an in-focus position of the photographing lens is searched, the apparatus comprising: a scene discrimination section which discriminates a backlit photographing scene of an object image; a control section which restricts a searching range of the in-focus position of the photographing lens within a particular range with reference to a reference position based on the backlit photographing scene discriminated by the scene discrimination section, and thereafter moves the photographing lens to search the in-focus position; and wherein when no peak of the focus evaluation value is found after restricting the searching range of the in-focus position of the photographing lens within the particular range with reference to the reference position based on the backlit photographing scene discriminated by the scene discrimination section, and thereafter moving the photographing lens to search an in-focus position, the control section does not perform a full range search by which an in-focus position is searched within a full range of the movement of the photographing lens between an end of an infinity side and an end of a nearest side.