PURPOSE: To always guarantee photographing of correct luminance, by automatically operating a flash device, in case when a signal reset time of an image pickup means exceeds a prescribed time.

CONSTITUTION: If an output of a signal integral type image pickup means IS does not reach a prescribed level for guaranteeing photographing even after a prescribed reset time by a duty ratio controlling circuit DC has passed, an output of a recording signal generating circuit VP does not become a high level, and an output of a comparator CP1 becomes a low level. Subsesquently, an output of an NOR gate NG is inverted to a high level, a flash device FL is triggered through a monostable multivibrator OS1, and the device FL is operated automatically. Accordingly, photographing of correct luminance is always guaranteed.