Patent ID: 8018498

Claim:
An image pickup apparatus having an image sensor for picking up an object through a lens system to output an image signal, comprising: an illumination light source for applying auxiliary light to said object; an autofocus evaluator for autofocus control of setting said lens system in an in-focus position according to said image signal while said auxiliary light is applied; a brightness detector for carrying out first brightness detection of first object brightness according to an image signal from said image sensor without said auxiliary light, and for carrying out second brightness detection of second object brightness according to said image signal while said auxiliary light is applied; an exposure determiner for determining a first exposure value from said first object brightness, determining a second exposure value from said first exposure value, and determining a third exposure value from said second object brightness; and an exposure controller for controlling exposure of said image sensor in said first and second brightness detection, said autofocus control and still image pickup, wherein said exposure, in said second brightness detection, is controlled according to said second exposure value, and in said autofocus control, is controlled according to said third exposure value.