Patent ID: 7953318

Claim:
An imaging apparatus comprising: an imaging lens system including a focus lens for adjusting its focal point by moving said focus lens along an optical axis; a lens position detector for detecting the position of said focus lens on the optical axis; an operating member for inputting a command to prepare for capturing a still image; a display device a first focus control device for focusing said imaging lens system on a subject by moving said focus lens continuously at predetermined time intervals while said operating member is not operated and camera-through images are displayed on said display device; a second focus control device for focusing said imaging lens system on the subject by moving said focus lens in response to the command inputted through said operating member; a light projector for projecting an illumination light toward the subject to help said second focus control device detect the in-focus position; and a brightness detector for detecting a first subject brightness value without the illumination light and a second subject brightness value under the illumination light in response to an operation on said operating member, wherein said second focus control device decides an initial position and a direction to move said focus lens depending upon the position of said focus lens detected by said lens position detector at the time said operating member is operated as well as a relation in magnitude between the first and second subject brightness values, and moves said focus lens to detect an in-focus position of said focus lens by evaluating focusing condition of said imaging lens system at respective steps of said focus lens.