Image processing apparatus for changing a priority category for object detection, image pickup apparatus, image processing method, and storage medium

An image pickup apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor or circuit configured to function as:
• an image pickup unit configured to obtain an object image;
• an object detection unit configured to detect objects categorized as at least two categories from the object image obtained by the image pickup unit;
• a setting unit configured to set a first category as a main category so that an object of the main category is to be tracked by a tracking unit;
• and
• a region designation unit configured to designate a predetermined region on a display screen as a region including a main object;
• wherein the setting unit is configured to change the main category from the first category to a second category different from the first category in a case where the object detected by the object detection unit on the predetermined region designated by the region designation unit is the second category, and
• wherein the setting unit is configured to set the second category as an initial main category in a case where an image pickup operation is started by a predetermined operation unit after the setting unit changes the main category from the first category to the second category.

An image processing method comprising:

• detecting objects categorized as at least two categories from an image;
• setting a first category as a main category so that an object of the main category is to be tracked by a tracking unit;
• and
• designating a predetermined region on a display screen as a region including a main object;
• wherein the main category is changed from the first category to a second category different from the first category in a case where the object detected by the detecting on the predetermined region designated by the designating is the second category, and
• wherein the second category is set as an initial main category in the setting in a case where an image pickup operation is started by a predetermined operation unit after the main category is changed from the first category to the second category.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores a computer program for executing the following:

• detecting objects categorized as at least two categories from an image;
• setting a first category as a main category so that an object of the main category is to be tracked by a tracking unit;
• and
• designating a predetermined region on a display screen as a region including a main object;
• wherein the main category is changed from the first category to a second category different from the first category in a case where the object detected by the detecting on the predetermined region designated by the designating is the second category type, and
• wherein the second category is set as an initial main category in the setting in a case where an image pickup operation is started by a predetermined operation unit after the main category is changed from the first category to the second category.