PURPOSE: To obtain a picture signal with proper level at all times by switching discontinuously the diaphragm state in response to object distance information output and changing the gain of an image pickup signal at each diaphragm state in response to the object distance information output.

CONSTITUTION: A lighting device LD is built in an image pickup device IPD and irradiates an object. The reflected light from the object is formed on a photodetector face of the image pickup element 3 via an optical system 1 and a diaphragm 2. An output of the element 3 is led to a gain control circuit 5 via a signal processing circuit 4, and a video signal with adjusted gain is recorded to a recorder 7 via a modulation circuit 6. A distance ring 8 adjusts that the light 100 from the object is formed to the photodetector face of the element 3, a potentiometer 11 is changed in response to the turning position of the ring 8, i.e., the object distance and an output voltage V11a at a voltage dividing terminal 11a is inputted to an operation circuit 12. The circuit 11 changes over discontinuously a diaphragm drive circuit 9 in response to the voltage V11a and also changes the gain of the circuit 5. Thus, proper picture information is obtained in this way.