To provide an image pickup device that can realize an image mute function at a low cost without extending the circuit scale.

Just after application of power, a microcomputer 30 respectively outputs first and second control signals 8, 10 to first and second signal level control circuits 4, 6 to limit both a luminance signal and a primary color signal respectively outputted from a luminance signal processing block 26 and a WB control circuit 40 to a zero level so that the luminance signal processing block 26 and the WB control circuit 40 output no luminance signal and primary color signal. After a lapse of a time by several fields after that, when automatic exposure control and automatic white balance control are stabilized, the first and second signal level control circuits 4, 6 stop outputting the first and second control signals 8, 10 so that the luminance signal processing block 26 and the WB control circuit 40 output the luminance signal and the primary color signal as usual.

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