Patent ID: 8493485

Claim:
An image pickup device comprising: a pixel array formed by a plurality of pixels including photoelectric conversion elements and arranged in a row direction and in a column direction; a pixel read-out unit configured to read out selected pixel signals from said pixel array; an amplifier unit configured to be capable of having at least two gains set therein, and amplify and output the pixel signals read out from said pixel array by said pixel read-out unit; a selecting unit configured to select a plurality of pixels from said pixel array in the row direction or in the column direction; and a gain-setting unit configured to alternately set different gains in said amplifier unit for a number of rows or columns where the number is less than the total number of complete rows or complete columns, selected from said pixel array by said selecting unit at intervals of a predetermined number of complete rows or complete columns such that the pixel signals amplified by the different gains can be obtained upon one-time read-out from said pixel array by said pixel read-out unit; wherein said gains are set in said amplifier unit such that said pixel signals read out from one said pixel array in the row direction or one said pixel array in the column direction are amplified and output by the same gain.