Patent ID: 7283161

Claim:
An image-taking apparatus which is operated through a network from a terminal apparatus and which distributes taken images over the network, comprising: an image-taking optical system; an image-pickup device which photoelectrically converts an object image formed by the image-taking optical system; and a controller which performs, by using the image-pickup device, image-taking in a first mode and image-taking in a second mode in which image-taking is carried out with more pixels or at a lower frame rate than in the first mode; wherein the controller determines whether a condition relating to image-taking matches a predetermined restriction condition, and performs a restriction operation which restricts image-taking in the second mode or distribution of an image taken in the second mode when the restriction condition is met; wherein a focal length of the image-taking optical system is variable; wherein the controller determines whether the focal length is equal to or longer than a predetermined focal length, and performs the restriction operation when the focal length is equal to or longer than the predetermined focal length; and wherein the controller further determines whether an object distance is equal to or shorter than a predetermined object distance, and performs the restriction operation when the focal length is equal to or longer than the predetermined focal length and the object distance is equal to or shorter than the predetermined object distance.