Imaging apparatus and method for controlling the same for focus detection using focus detection area based on defocus amount

An imaging apparatus comprising:

• an image sensor configured to periodically capture an image, the image sensor including a plurality of pixels each including a plurality of photoelectric conversion units with respect to a microlens;
• a processor;
• and
• a memory storing instructions that when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
• setting a plurality of focus detection areas, wherein each of the plurality of focus detection areas corresponds to respective areas of the image sensor,
• detecting a defocus amount based on an output signal from the pixels corresponding to the focus detection areas, and
• selecting a focus detection area for use in focus adjustment based on the defocus amount detected from the plurality of focus detection areas,
• wherein setting comprises providing a plurality of division patterns for forming a plurality of focus detection areas, and switching the division patterns each time an image is captured by the image sensor,
• wherein an easiness of switching the selected focus detection area is settable, and
• wherein if the easiness of switching the focus detection area is set to a first setting, the number of division patterns is greater than if the easiness of switching the focus detection area is set to a second setting at which the focus detection area is less easy to switch than at the first setting.

An imaging apparatus comprising:

• an image sensor including a plurality of pixels capable of photoelectrically converting light beams having passed through different pupil regions of an imaging optical system to output a pair of focus detection signals;
• a processor;
• and
• a memory storing instructions that when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
• setting a plurality of focus detection areas, wherein each of the plurality of focus detection areas corresponds to respective areas of the image sensor;
• detecting a defocus amount based on the focus detection signals output from the pixels corresponding to the focus detection areas;
• and
• selecting a focus detection area for use in focus adjustment based on the defocus amount detected from the plurality of focus detection areas,
• wherein setting comprises providing a plurality of division patterns for forming a plurality of focus detection areas, and switching the division patterns each time an image is captured by the image sensor,
• wherein the plurality of division patterns includes division patterns that are shifted with respect to one another by a shift amount such that the focus detection areas having same coordinate number overlap each other, and
• wherein number of the division patterns switched each time the image is captured by the image sensor is varied depending on a capturing condition.

A method for controlling an imaging apparatus including an image sensor configured to periodically capture an image, the image sensor including a plurality of pixels each including a plurality of photoelectric conversion units with respect to a microlens, the method comprising:

• setting a plurality of focus detection areas, wherein each of the plurality of focus detection areas corresponds to respective areas of the image sensor;
• detecting a defocus amount based on an output signal from the pixels corresponding to the focus detection areas;
• and
• selecting a focus detection area for use in focus adjustment based on the defocus amount detected from the plurality of focus detection areas,
• wherein the setting includes providing a plurality of division patterns for forming a plurality of focus detection areas, and switching the division patterns each time an image is captured by the image sensor,
• wherein the plurality of division patterns includes division patterns that are shifted with respect to one another by a shift amount such that the focus detection areas having same coordinate number overlap each other, and
• wherein number of the division patterns switched each time the image is captured by the image sensor is varied depending on a capturing condition.

A method for controlling an imaging apparatus including an image sensor including a plurality of pixels capable of photoelectrically converting light beams having passed through different pupil regions of an imaging optical system to output a pair of focus detection signals, the method comprising:

• setting a plurality of focus detection areas, wherein each of the plurality of focus detection areas corresponds to respective areas of the image sensor;
• detecting a defocus amount based on the focus detection signals output from the pixels corresponding to the focus detection areas;
• and
• selecting a focus detection area for use in focus adjustment based on the defocus amount detected from the plurality of focus detection areas,
• wherein the setting includes providing a plurality of division patterns for forming a plurality of focus detection areas, and switching the division patterns each time an image is captured by the image sensor,
• wherein the plurality of division patterns includes division patterns that are shifted with respect to one another by a shift amount such that the focus detection areas having same coordinate number overlap each other, and
• wherein number of the division patterns switched each time the image is captured by the image sensor is varied depending on a capturing condition.