Patent ID: 8004599

Claim:
An automatic focus adjusting apparatus which adjusts a focus based on image signals in a preset focus detection area, the automatic focus adjusting apparatus comprising: an image acquisition device which acquires an image; a face detection device which detects a face from the image acquired by the image acquisition device; a backlight detection device which detects backlight based on the image acquired by the image acquisition device; and a focus detection area setting device which sets, when the face is detected by the face detection device, a first face area including the face detected by the face detection device as a focus detection area if backlight is not detected by the backlight detection device and a second face area in the first face area narrower than the first face area as the focus detection area if backlight is detected by the backlight detection device, wherein the face detection device includes a contour detection device which detects a contour of the face, and the focus detection area setting device calculates the second face area so that the second face area falls within the contour of the face detected by the contour detection device when calculating the second face area in the first face area narrower than the first face area after the backlight is detected by the backlight detection device.