Patent ID: 7561192

Claim:
An image capturing apparatus which includes an electronic zoom function, comprising: an image sensor which photo-electrically converts an object image; a selection unit that selects between a first read mode in which information amount of pixel signals within a first area in said image sensor is read out by reducing the information amount at a first information reduction ratio, and a second read mode in which information amount of pixel signals within a second area in said image sensor, that is narrower than the first area, is read out without reducing the information amount or by reducing the information amount at a second information reduction ratio lower than the first information reduction ratio; a signal processing unit that generates a first image on the basis of pixel signals within a third area narrower than the first area of pixel signals within the first area read out in the first read mode, and generates a second image on the basis of pixel signals within the second area read out in the second read mode; and a control unit that controls said selection unit to select between the first read mode and the second read mode in accordance with an enlargement ratio of the electronic zoom, wherein said control unit controls to change, in accordance with whether the electronic zoom operates toward a telephoto side or wide-angled side, a zoom enlargement ratio for selecting a read mode by said selection unit.