To increase brightness in an animation and performance such as AE, AF, etc., without deteriorating image quality due to blooming.

In an imaging method, signals outputted from light receiving elements arranged in the optical block area of an imaging element, is subjected to OB-clamping to acquire the signals as a reference level, and an image signal is obtained based on the reference level and respective pixel signals which are obtained by mixing, by each prescribed number, signals outputted from light receiving elements arranged in the photosensitive pixel area of the imaging element. When the number of pixel mixture is not less than a prescribed threshold, OB-clamp off driving without performing OB-clamping is performed.

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