To prevent surreptitious photographing by using portable equipment provided with a photographing means.

Depressing a shutter button provided on the operation section 27 of a digital camera 2 detects whether or not the optical axis direction of a photographing lens 5 is upwardly declined by a specified angle or greater with respect to the horizontal direction by means of a mercury switch 16. A determination section 30 determines whether or not the optical axis direction is included in a specified direction range based on a detection signal from the mercury switch 16. When the determination section 30 determines that the optical axis direction is included in the specified direction range, determination is made that the photographing lens 5 is directed to the upper direction allowing the surreptitious photographing. Thereby warning is generated from a buzzer 32, and photographing is inhibited. Thus, the surreptitious photographing is prevented or inhibited.