To provide a camera capable of photographing in focus while making it difficult to restart a focusing operation in the camera for using an imaging signal of an image pickup device to perform a focusing operation with a contrast method.
An image pickup device 103 images a subject image through a photographing lens 101. A focus evaluation value is calculated on the basis of an imaging signal outputted from a focus detection area in a photographed image. A focusing operation of the photographing lens 101 is stopped at a lens position where the focus evaluation value shows a peak value. If the focus evaluation value later fluctuates equally to or more than prescribed quantity, the focusing operation is restarted. If the focus evaluation value is within a release allowable range, photographing is allowed, and when a release signal is outputted, a photographing operation is performed.
HIBINO HIDEOMI
MAEDA TOSHIAKI
OTA MASA
NIKON GIJUTSU KOBO KK