Patent ID: 7962027

Claim:
An image pickup apparatus, comprising: a zoom lens unit which moves during zooming; a focus lens unit which moves during focusing; a zoom operation switch which is operated for driving the zoom lens unit; a focus detection unit for detecting a focus state on an object located in a focusing area selected from multiple focusing areas within an imaging area; and a drive unit for driving the focus lens unit based on a result obtained by detection of the focus detection unit; wherein the zoom operation switch further has a function for switching the selected focusing area, and wherein a target area for detecting the focus state by the focus detection unit is switched from the selected focusing area to a focusing area located on a near side relative to the selected focusing area based on one operation of the zoom operation switch, and the target area is switched from the selected focusing area to a focusing area located on a far side relative to the selected focusing area based on the other operation of the zoom operation switch.