Image capture apparatus and method for controlling the same

A method for controlling an image capture apparatus, comprising:

• detecting a defocus amount in an imaging optical system based on a signal obtained from an image sensor;
• obtaining a reliability of the detected defocus amount;
• controlling exposure based on the signal obtained from the image sensor;
• and
• controlling driving of a focusing lens based on the defocus amount,
• wherein:
• the detecting and the controlling exposure are concurrently performed, and
• in a case where the reliability of the defocus amount detected by the focus detection unit is greater than or equal to a first reliability threshold value, and the defocus amount is smaller than or equal to a first defocus amount threshold value:
• if the defocus amount does not meet a first condition or a second condition, in the controlling driving, it is determined that the image capture apparatus is in an in-focus state and the control of driving of the focusing lens is ended;
• if the defocus amount meets the first condition or the second condition, in the controlling driving, it is not determined that the image capture apparatus is in an in-focus state;
• and
• the first condition is that it is determined that the defocus amount is based on a signal obtained before the exposure control is completed, and the second condition is that it is determined that the defocus amount is based on a signal affected by driving of an aperture in the exposure control,
• wherein the controlling exposure includes generating an evaluation value and determining an exposure condition based on the evaluation value, and also includes at least one of changing an exposure time and changing an f-number in accordance with the determined exposure condition.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program for causing a computer provided in an image capture apparatus to function as an image capture apparatus comprising:

• a focus detection unit configured to detect a defocus amount in an imaging optical system based on a signal obtained from an image sensor and to obtain a reliability of the detected defocus amount;
• an exposure control unit configured to control exposure based on the signal obtained from the image sensor;
• and
• a control unit configured to control driving of a focusing lens based on the defocus amount,
• wherein:
• the defocus amount detection and the exposure control are concurrently performed,
• in a case where the reliability of the defocus amount detected by the focus detection unit is greater than or equal to a first reliability threshold value, and the defocus amount is smaller than or equal to a first defocus amount threshold value:
• if the defocus amount does not meet a first condition or a second condition, the control unit determines that the image capture apparatus is in an in-focus state and ends the control of driving of the focusing lens;
• if the defocus amount meets the first condition or the second condition, the control unit does not determine that the image capture apparatus is in an in-focus state;
• and
• the first condition is that it is determined that the defocus amount is based on a signal obtained before the exposure control is completed, and the second condition is that it is determined that the defocus amount is based on a signal affected by driving of an aperture in the exposure control, and
• the exposure control includes generating an evaluation value and determining an exposure condition based on the evaluation value, and also includes at least one of changing an exposure time and changing an f-number in accordance with the determined exposure condition.