JP3903046B2 - Imaging apparatus and imaging method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus such as a video camera or a still video camera.

  In the field of consumer imaging devices such as video-integrated cameras, inner focus type lens systems that make use of the features of being compact and lightweight and capable of continuous shooting up to a short distance are widely used.

  On the other hand, in terms of function, an autofocus function (AF) is provided as standard, thereby reducing the burden on the operator and improving operability.

  The automatic focus adjustment function normally used in a video camera or the like performs so-called hill-climbing control by driving a focus lens (focus compensator) so that a high-frequency component in a video signal is extracted and maximized. Systems that are combined with the inner focus type lens system are becoming mainstream.

In such an inner focus type lens system, when zooming is performed by driving a zoom lens, the focal position changes as the zoom lens is driven. Therefore, the in-focus state can be maintained even during the zoom operation by driving the compensator lens and correcting the changing focal point position. The resulting pulse motor is used as a driving means for each lens.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-308596 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-337341 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 02-136098 JP-A-60-170083 JP 05-168295 A Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 07-087377 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 07-030800 JP 07-005356 A

  However, in the above-described conventional example, even when the pulse motor is stopped, current is passed to maintain the rotational position (phase), so there is a disadvantage that the power consumption is large. It became a big problem with video cameras.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus that eliminates the above-described problems and reduces current consumption.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first and second aspects of the present invention, a pulse motor that moves the focus lens 105 in the focus lens embodiment (in the focus motor 126 in the embodiment). with the corresponding), and instruction means for instructing a zooming operation by moving the variable power lens (corresponding to Zumusuitsuchi 130 in the embodiment), the focus due to the zooming operation while instructing the zooming operation by said instructing means and control means for supplying current to the pulse motor for moving the focusing lens so as to correct the movement of the surface (corresponding to the lens control microcomputer 125 in the embodiment), the control means, automatic focusing In the mode, the current is supplied to the pulse motor in order to move the focus lens in focus after the zooming operation. Performs feeding supplies at an earlier timing than in the case that is not moved is an automatic focus adjustment mode as if not automatic focus adjustment mode to focus the focus lens after the zooming operation to the pulse motor Reduce or cut off current.

As described above, according to the invention described in the present application, when not in the auto focus adjustment mode, the current supplied to the pulse motor is reduced or cut off at an earlier timing than in the auto focus adjustment mode. As a result, the power consumption is reduced without impairing the performance of the focus adjustment operation, which is particularly effective for devices using batteries.

  Embodiments of an image pickup apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an embodiment in which an image pickup apparatus according to the present invention is applied to a video camera apparatus, and uses an inner focus type lens system 100.

  In the figure, the light from the subject includes a fixed first lens group 101, a second lens group (hereinafter referred to as a variable magnification lens) 102 for performing variable magnification, a diaphragm 103, and a fixed third lens. A CCD or the like constituting the imaging means of the present application passes through a lens group 104 and a fourth lens group (hereinafter referred to as a focus lens) 105 having both a focus adjustment function and a competition function for correcting movement of the focal plane due to zooming. The image is formed on the image sensor 106.

  The subject image formed on the imaging surface of the image sensor is photoelectrically converted by the image sensor 106, sampled and held by a CDS (double correlation sampling circuit) 107, amplified to an optimal level by the AGC 108, and the A / D converter 109. And converted from an analog signal to a digital signal.

  The video signal converted into the digital signal is input to the camera signal processing circuit at the subsequent stage, converted into a standard television signal, and simultaneously input to the AF signal processing circuit 121. The AF signal processing circuit 121 constitutes extraction means for extracting a specific frequency component that changes in accordance with the focus state from the video signal of the present invention and detecting the focus.

  In the AF signal processing circuit 121, only the high frequency component in the luminance signal is extracted by the BPF 122, converted into an absolute value by the ABS (absolute value) circuit 123, and only the focus detection area in the screen is peak-held by the peak hold circuit 224. An autofocus sharpness signal (AF evaluation value) is generated.

  The lens control microcomputer 125 constituting the control means of the present invention reads the zoom switch 130 constituting the instruction means of the present invention for driving the zoom lens 102 to the telephoto side or the wide side, and the switch is pressed. When the zoom lens is driven, a signal is sent to the zoom motor driver 129 so as to drive in the tele or wide direction. And the focus lens 105 is moved via the focus motor to correct the movement of the focal plane accompanying the zooming operation.

  The AF switch 131 is a switch for turning on / off the autofocus operation. When the switch is turned on, the AF operation mode is set. When the switch is turned off, the manual focus adjustment mode is set. This AF switch corresponds to the focus control means of the present invention.

  When the AF switch 131 is on and the zoom switch 130 is not pressed, the lens control microcomputer 125 sends a signal to the focus motor driver 127 so that the autofocus sharpness signal is maximized. An automatic focus adjustment operation is performed by moving the focus lens 105 via the configured focus motor 126.

  Here, the algorithm of the autofocus operation will be described with reference to FIG. First, if the AF switch 131 is on (S201), the process proceeds to S202 to perform an AF operation, and if it is off (S201), the focus lens is stopped (S206).

  The AF evaluation value from the AF signal processing circuit 121 is read (S202) and compared with the previously acquired AF evaluation value (S203). If the AF evaluation value is larger than the previous time, the current driving direction of the focus motor 126 is maintained while being larger than the previous time. If it is smaller, the focus motor 126 composed of a pulse motor is reversely rotated (S204), and the process proceeds to S205. The focus motor 126 is controlled so that the AF evaluation value becomes maximum, and the focus ( It is determined whether or not the AF evaluation value is maximum (S205). If it is in focus, the focus motor 126 is stopped (S206). If it is not in focus, the focus motor 126 is continuously driven (S207).

  Next, the relationship between the movement of the variable power lens 102 and the focus lens 105 when performing the variable power operation, and how to refer to the sharpness signal for autofocus during the variable power operation from the wide side to the tele side will be described. To do.

  In the inner focus lens system configured as shown in FIG. 1, as described above, the focus lens 105 has both a competition function and a focus adjustment function. The position of the focus lens 105 for focusing differs depending on the subject distance.

  When the subject distance is changed at each focal length, if the position of the focus lens 105 for focusing on the imaging surface is continuously plotted, a complicated locus is obtained as shown in FIG.

  During zooming, if the locus shown in FIG. 3 is selected according to the subject distance, and the focus lens 105 is moved so as to trace along the locus, the in-focus state is always maintained, and the blurred state is maintained. No zoom operation is possible.

  On the other hand, the front lens type lens system that adjusts the focus by driving the front lens has a compensator lens that is independent of the variable power lens, and the variable power lens and the compensator lens are mechanical cams. They are connected by a ring.

  Therefore, for example, when a knob for manual zooming is provided on this cam ring, and the focal length is changed manually, the cam ring will follow the rotation no matter how fast the knob is moved, and the zoom lens and the compensator Since the lens moves along the cam groove of the cam ring, the above operation does not cause blurring if the focus lens is in focus.

  However, in the control of the inner focus type lens system having the above-described features, when the zooming operation is to be performed while maintaining the in-focus state, the locus information of FIG. Or a function with the lens position as a variable may be stored), and the locus information must be read according to the position or moving speed of the zoom lens, and the focus lens must be moved based on the information. .

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an example of a trajectory tracking method proposed by the present applicant. In the figure, Z0, Z1, Z2,. . . Z6 indicates the zoom lens position, and a0, a1, a2,. . . a6 and b0, b1, b2,. . . b6 are representative trajectories stored in the lens control microcomputer 125, respectively.

P0, p1, p2,. . . p6 is a trajectory calculated based on the two representative trajectories. The calculation formula of this locus is described below.
p (n + 1) = | p (n) −a (n) | / | b (n) −a (n) | * | b (n + 1) −a (n + 1) | + a (n + 1) (1)

  According to the equation (1), for example, in FIG. 4, when the focus lens is at p0, a ratio that p0 internally divides the line segment b0-a0 is obtained, and a point that internally divides the line segment b1-a1 according to this ratio is obtained. p1. From the position difference of p1 to p0 and the time required for the variable magnification lens to move from Z0 to Z1, the moving speed of the focus lens for maintaining the in-focus is known.

  Next, a description will be given of a case where there is no restriction on the stop position of the zoom lens only on the boundary where the stored representative trajectory data is owned.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an interpolation method in the direction of the zoom lens position. A part of FIG. 4 is extracted and the zoom lens is optional.

In FIG. 5, the vertical axis indicates the focus lens position, and the horizontal axis indicates the zoom lens position. The representative locus position (the focus lens position with respect to the zoom lens position) stored in the lens control microcomputer is represented by the zoom lens position. Z0, Z1,. . . Zk-1, Zk. . . With respect to Zn, the focus lens position at that time is classified by subject distance,
a0, a1,. . . ak-1, ak. . . an
b0, b1,. . . bk-1, bk. . . bn
It is represented by

Now, when the zoom lens position is at Zx not on the zoom boundary and the focus lens position is Px, ax and bx are obtained as follows:
ax = ak− (Zk−Zx) * (ak−ak−1) / (Zk−Zk−1) (2)
bx = bk− (Zk−Zx) * (bk−bk−1) / (Zk−Zk−1) (3)
It becomes.

  That is, according to the internal ratio obtained from the current zoom lens position and two zoom boundary positions (for example, Zk and Zk-1 in FIG. 7), the stored four representative trajectory data (in FIG. 7). , Ak, ak-1, bk, bk-1) of the same subject distance is internally divided by the internal division ratio to obtain ax, bx.

  Then, according to the internal ratio obtained from ax, Px, bx, among the four representative data stored (ak, ak-1, bk, bk-1 in FIG. 5), those having the same focal length (1 Pk, pk-1 can be obtained by performing internal division using the internal division ratio as shown in equation (1).

  When zooming from the wide side to the tele side, the focus for maintaining the focus from the position difference between the follow-up focus position pk and the current focus position px and the time required for the zoom lens to move from Zx to Zk. You can see the moving speed of the lens.

  Further, when zooming from the tele side to the wide side, focusing is performed from the position difference between the follow-up focus position pk-1 and the current focus position Px and the time required for the zoom lens to move from Zx to Zk-1. You can see the moving speed of the focus lens to keep.

  The trajectory tracking method as described above has been proposed.

  When the zoom lens moves in the wide direction from the tele side, as shown in FIG. 3, since the scattered trajectory converges, focusing can be maintained by the trajectory tracking method described above.

  However, in the wide-to-tele direction, it is not possible to know which locus the focus lens at the convergence point should follow, so that the focus cannot be maintained by the similar locus following method.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an example of a trajectory tracking method devised for the above-described problem. In both (a) and (b), the horizontal axis indicates the position of the zoom lens, and the vertical axis indicates the level of the high-frequency component (sharpness signal) of the video signal in which (a) is the AF evaluation signal. (B) shows the position of the focus lens.

  In FIG. 6, it is assumed that the focus cam locus at the time of zooming with respect to a certain subject is 604. Here, the in-focus cam track following speed on the wide side from the zoom position 606 (Z14) is positive (moves in the direction closer to the focus lens), and the in-focus cam track following speed moving in the infinite direction on the tele side from 606 is negative. .

  When the focus lens follows the cam trajectory 604 while maintaining focus, the magnitude of the sharpness signal becomes 601.

  In general, it is known that the sharpness signal level is substantially constant in zooming while maintaining in-focus.

  In FIG. 5B, the focus lens moving speed for tracing the focusing cam locus 604 during zooming is Vf0. When the actual moving speed of the focus lens is Vf and zooming is performed with respect to Vf0 tracing the cam locus 604, the locus becomes a zigzag locus like 605.

  At this time, the sharpness signal level changes so as to generate peaks and valleys as in 602. Here, at the position where the trajectories 604 and 605 cross each other, the size of 603 is the maximum (even points of Z0, Z1,... Z16), and Z0, Z1,. . . At an odd point of Z16, the level of 603 is minimum.

  602 is the minimum value of 603. Conversely, if the level TH1 of 602 is set and the moving direction vector of the locus 605 is switched every time the size of 603 becomes equal to TH1, the focus lens moving direction after switching is changed. Can be set in a direction approaching the in-focus locus 604.

  In other words, each time the image is blurred by the difference between the sharpness signal levels 601 and 602 (TH1), zooming can be performed with the blur amount suppressed by controlling the moving direction and speed of the focus lens so as to reduce the blur.

By using the above-described method, even if the in-focus speed Vf0 is not known in the wide-to-tele zooming in which the cam trajectory diverges from convergence as shown in FIG. In contrast to (calculated using p (n + 1) obtained from the above equation (1)), by repeating the switching operation as in 605 while controlling the focus lens moving speed Vf (according to the change in the sharpness signal level), sharpness is improved. The trajectory can be selected so that the degree signal level does not fall below 602 (TH1), that is, no blur of a certain amount or more occurs. Here, the moving speed Vf of the focus lens is Vf + as the correction speed in the positive direction and Vf− as the correction speed in the negative direction.
Vf = Vf0 + Vf + (4)
Vf0 + Vf- (5)
At this time, the correction speeds Vf + and Vf− are the inner angles of the two direction vectors of Vf obtained by the equations (4) and (5) so that the deviation is not caused when the tracking locus is selected by the zooming method. Is bisected by the direction vector of Vf0.

  In addition, by changing the amount of correction based on the correction speed according to the subject, focal length, and depth of field, the method for changing the sharpness signal increase / decrease period and improving the tracking locus selection accuracy is also available. It has been devised.

  Next, operations of the motor drivers 127 and 129 and the motors 128 and 126 will be described with reference to FIG.

  Each of the pulse motors 128 and 126 is constituted by two coils CA811 and CB812 and a rotor 813 of a rotating portion, and is rotated by passing sinusoidal currents having a phase difference of 90 degrees through the two coils.

  Each of the motor drivers 227 and 229 includes two H bridge circuits and a control circuit 814.

  Reference numerals 801, 802, 803, and 804 denote MOS transistors, and the gate inputs A 1, A 2, A 3, and A 4 are connected to the control circuit 814.

  The sources of the MOS transistors 801 and 803 are connected to the power source, and the drain is connected to the coil CA811.

  The drains of the MOS transistors 804 and 802 are connected to the ground via a resistor 809 and the source is connected to the coil CA811. Similarly, 805, 806, 807, and 808 are also MOS transistors, and the gate inputs B1, B2, B3, and B4 are also connected to the control circuit 814.

  The sources of the MOS transistors 805 and 807 are connected to the power supply, and the drain is connected to the coil CB812.

  The drains of the MOS transistors 808 and 806 are connected to the ground via a resistor 810 and the source is connected to the coil CB812.

  FIG. 9 shows the signals applied to the gates A1 to A3 and B1 to B3 of the MOS transistors and the current waveforms flowing in the coils CA811 and CB812 when the control circuit 814 rotates in the direction as commanded by the lens control microcomputer 125.

  First, S0 to S4 will be explained. A2 (902) is H, A3 (903) is L, A4 (904) is L, and A1 (901) repeats H / L and gradually increases the ratio of the H period. By increasing and decreasing step by step, the MOS transistor 802 is turned on, 803 and 804 are turned off, 801 is repeatedly turned on / off according to the waveform 901, and a sinusoidal positive current flows in the coil CA (909 ), The coil CA attracts the north pole of the rotor 813.

  From S2 to S6, B2 (906) is H, B3 (907) is L, B4 (908) is L, and B1 (905) increases the ratio of the period of H step by step while repeating H / L. By gradually decreasing, the MOS transistor 806 is turned on, 807 and 808 are turned off, 805 is turned on / off repeatedly, a sinusoidal positive current flows in the coil CB (910), and the coil CB is in the S of the rotor 913. Attract the poles.

  Next, S4 to S8 will be described. A4 (904) is H, A1 (901) is L, A2 (902) is L, and A3 (903) repeats H / L and gradually increases the ratio of the period of H. And gradually decreasing, the MOS transistor 804 is turned on, 801 and 802 are turned off, 803 is turned on / off, a negative current of sine wave flows through the coil CA (909), and the coil CA is turned into a rotor. Attract the 813 south pole.

  From S6 to S10, B4 (908) is H, B1 (905) is L, B2 (906) is L, and B3 (907) increases the ratio of the H period gradually while repeating H / L. By gradually decreasing, the MOS transistor 808 is turned on, 805 and 806 are turned off, 807 is turned on / off, a positive current of a sine wave flows through the coil CB (910), and the coil CB is the N pole of the rotor 813 Attract. The rotation continues by repeating this.

  When a motor stop command is received from the microcomputer 225, the coil CA and CB current values are also set at the positions S1 to S16 by moving from the positions S1 to S16 and maintaining the voltage and PWM duty as they are. Stops while holding the current value.

  Next, the characteristic configuration and operation algorithm of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The processing shown in this flowchart is executed by the lens control microcomputer 125.

  In the same figure, it is a figure explaining the algorithm of an Example. Starting from S101, the AF switch 131 is viewed at S102 to determine whether or not the automatic focus adjustment mode is set.

  If the determination result in S102 is not the automatic focus adjustment mode, it is determined in S103 whether the tele zoom key of the zoom switch 130 has been pressed.

  If the tele zoom key is pressed, it is determined in S104 whether the current zoom lens position is a position where the zoom lens such as the telephoto end cannot move.

  If it is determined in step S103 that the tele zoom key has not been pressed, it is determined in step S105 whether or not the wide zoom key has been pressed. In step S106, the current zoom lens position is set to the wide position. It is determined whether or not the zoom lens at the end or the like cannot move.

  If it is determined in S104 and S106 that the zoom lens can move, the zooming operation is performed in the direction in which the zoom key is pressed in S109. At this time, the focus lens is moved in accordance with a locus for maintaining a focused state as shown in FIGS.

  However, if it is determined in S104 and S106 that the zoom lens cannot be moved, the zoom motor and the focus motor are stopped at the stoppable position (stoppable phase) in S107, and the zoom is immediately performed in S108. The coil current of the motor and focus motor is cut off. Even when the wide zoom key is not pressed in S105, the process proceeds to S107, and each motor is stopped.

  If it is determined in step S102 that the automatic focus adjustment mode is set, it is determined in step S110 whether or not the tele zoom key has been pressed.

  If it is determined in S110 that the tele zoom key has been pressed, it is determined in S111 whether the current zoom lens position is at a position where the zoom lens such as the telephoto end cannot move.

  If the tele zoom key is not pressed in S110, it is determined in S112 whether or not the wide zoom key is pressed. Next, in S113, the zoom lens whose current zoom lens position is the wide end or the like is determined. It is determined whether or not it is in a position where it cannot move.

  If it is determined in S111 and S113 that the zoom lens can be moved, a zooming operation is performed by referring to the AF evaluation value in the direction in which the zoom key is pressed in S114 (114).

  However, if it is determined in S111, S113 that the zoom lens cannot be moved, or if it is determined in S105 that the wide-side zoom key has not been pressed, in S115, the AF evaluation value is viewed to determine the current state. It is determined whether or not it is in focus.

  If it is determined that the subject is out of focus, an AF climbing operation is performed in a direction in which the AF evaluation value increases in S119 (119).

  However, when it is determined that the in-focus state is determined in S115, the zoom motor and the focus motor are stopped at the stoppable position while the motor coil is energized in S116. After the stop, the elapse of a predetermined time is monitored in S117, and if the predetermined time has not elapsed, the operation from S102 is repeated, but when the predetermined time elapses, the current of each motor coil is cut off in S118. .

  The motor stoppable position here refers to a position in a phase where the motors such as S1, S2, and S16 in FIG. 9 can be stopped. Further, to cut off the coil current means that all of A1 to A4 and B1 to B4 in FIG. 8 are set to the L level to bring the coil into a high impedance state.

  As a result, when the zoom lens reaches the movement limit region while instructing the magnification operation, or when the instruction means instructs to stop the magnification operation, the motor is stopped at a predetermined stop position and then the pulse motor Current to be supplied can be limited, and power consumption is reduced.

  In the autofocus mode, when the zoom lens reaches the movement limit region during the zoom operation instruction or when the zoom operation is stopped, the focus is based on the output of the extraction means. The lens is driven to the in-focus point, the current flowing to the pulse motor is limited a predetermined time after reaching the in-focus point, and the power consumption is reduced without impairing the performance of the automatic focus adjustment operation.

  In the above embodiment, the motor coil current is completely cut off. Of the base inputs of the MOS transistors 804, 802, 808, and 806, the base input that is at the H level in the stopped state is lowered to the intermediate potential. The current flowing through the coil may be limited by increasing the resistance value of the MOS transistor.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of one Example of the imaging device of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the characteristic curve which plotted the change of the in-focus position accompanying operation | movement of a zoom lens for every object distance. It is a figure for demonstrating the focus lens position control operation | movement accompanying the movement of a variable magnification lens. It is a figure for demonstrating the focus lens position control operation | movement accompanying the movement of a variable magnification lens. It is a figure for demonstrating the control operation | movement of the focus lens in auto focus mode and zooming lens operation | movement. It is a figure for demonstrating AF operation | movement. It is a figure for demonstrating the drive circuit of a pulse motor. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the drive circuit of the pulse motor by the microcomputer for lens control.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 102 Variable magnification lens 105 Focus lens 106 Image pick-up element 121 AF signal processing circuit 125 Microcomputer for lens control 126 Focus motor 127 Focus motor driver 128 Zoom motor 129 Zoom motor driver 130 Zoom switch 131 AF switch

Claims (5)

A pulse motor that moves the focus lens;
Instruction means for instructing a magnification operation by movement of the magnification lens;
And control means for supplying current to the pulse motor for moving the focusing lens to compensate for movement of a focal plane caused by the zooming operation while instructing the zooming operation by the instruction means,
The control means, when in the automatic focus adjustment mode, supplies a current to the pulse motor to move the focus lens so as to be in focus after the zoom lens reaches the movement limit region, When not in the automatic focus adjustment mode, the pulse motor is moved at a timing earlier than in the automatic focus adjustment mode by not moving the focus lens so as to be in focus after the zoom lens reaches the movement limit region. An imaging device characterized by reducing or interrupting a current supplied to the device. A pulse motor that moves the focus lens;
Instruction means for instructing a magnification operation by movement of the magnification lens;
And control means for supplying current to the pulse motor for moving the focusing lens to compensate for movement of a focal plane caused by the zooming operation while instructing the zooming operation by the instruction means,
In the automatic focus adjustment mode , the control means supplies current to the pulse motor to move the focus lens so as to focus after the zooming operation according to the zooming operation instruction. When the focus adjustment mode is not set , the focus lens is not moved so as to be focused after the zooming operation according to the zooming operation instruction, so that the pulse motor is supplied to the pulse motor at an earlier timing than in the automatic focus adjustment mode. An imaging device characterized by reducing or interrupting a current to be generated. In the automatic focus adjustment mode, the control means moves the focus lens to the in-focus point, and even if there is no new zooming operation instruction until a predetermined time elapses after reaching the in-focus point, The current continues to be supplied to the motor and the state of in-focus state is continuously detected. If the in-focus state is not in focus, the focus lens is moved to the in-focus point, and there is no new zooming operation instruction. The current supplied to the pulse motor is supplied before the predetermined time has elapsed when the predetermined time after the in-focus state has been reached while the in-focus state is maintained by detecting the state of in-focus. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the imaging device is smaller than or cut off from an electric current. An instruction step for instructing a magnification operation by movement of a magnification lens in an imaging method of an imaging apparatus having a pulse motor for moving a focus lens;
And a control step of supplying a current to the pulse motor for moving the focusing lens to compensate for movement of a focal plane caused by the zooming operation of the zoom operation in instruction in the instruction step,
In the control step, in the automatic focus adjustment mode, after the variable power lens reaches the movement limit region, a current is supplied to the pulse motor to move the focus lens so as to focus, When not in the automatic focus adjustment mode, the pulse motor is moved at a timing earlier than in the automatic focus adjustment mode by not moving the focus lens so as to be in focus after the zoom lens reaches the movement limit region. An imaging method comprising reducing or interrupting a current supplied to the device. An instruction step for instructing a magnification operation by movement of a magnification lens in an imaging method of an imaging apparatus having a pulse motor for moving a focus lens;
And a control step of supplying a current to the pulse motor for moving the focusing lens to compensate for movement of a focal plane caused by the zooming operation of the zoom operation in instruction in the instruction step,
In the control step, when the auto focus adjustment mode is selected, a current is supplied to the pulse motor to move the focus lens so that the focus lens is brought into focus after the zooming operation according to the zooming operation instruction. When the focus adjustment mode is not set , the focus lens is not moved so as to be focused after the zooming operation according to the zooming operation instruction, so that the pulse motor is supplied to the pulse motor at an earlier timing than in the automatic focus adjustment mode. An imaging method comprising reducing or interrupting a current to be performed.

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