Patent ID: 8351777

Claim:
An image pickup apparatus comprising: a first focus detector configured to detect a focus state of a focus lens using a phase detection method; an image pickup device configured to generate image data through a photoelectrical conversion of light from an object; a second focus detector configured to detect the focus state of the focus lens using a contrast method that uses the image data; an optical path switch configured to switch a path of the light from the object between a first optical path used to lead the light to the first focus detector and a second optical path used to lead the light to the image pickup device; a face detector configured to detect a face of the object from the image data; a display configured to display an image during a live view mode; a setting part configured to set the live view mode that sequentially displays the image data on the display; and a controller configured to, when a shutter switch is turned on in the live view mode, allow: (1) the optical path switch sets the first optical path after the detection of the focus state using the contrast method is ended, (2) the first focus detector detects the on-focus state using the phase difference method after the optical path switch sets the first optical path, (3) the optical path switch sets the second optical path after the focus detector detects the on-focus state using the phase difference method, and (4) the face detector detects the face of the object after the optical path switch sets the second optical path.