Patent ID: 7719602

Claim:
An electronic device having an optical system for capturing an image comprising: a focusing mechanism for moving said optical system to an auto-focusing position or a fixed focus position; a switch that functions as a focusing switch and also functions as a shutter switch, wherein said switch when operated orders a focusing action or orders capturing of the image; and a controller that decides whether the optical system is in a final lens position or not during a focusing action of said focusing mechanism due to said switch, and in the case where a shutter operation of said switch is performed under a state that the optical system is not in the final lens position, shifts said optical system to a fixed focus position from an auto-focusing position and takes a fixed focus image, wherein, during the focusing action, a focusing value is measured with an origin at a lens position where a focus position becomes an infinity, and if the measured focusing value is not smaller than a maximum focusing value, the decision is performed with making the measured focusing value into the maximum focusing value, and wherein said controller compares between a time required for bringing into focus in said focusing mechanism and a time from starting of the focusing action until starting of said shutter operation, and changes said optical system to said auto-focusing position or said fixed focus position based on a result of the comparison.