Focus control apparatus and method, image capturing apparatus, and recording medium with focus adjustment based on subject's movement and focus ring operation

An image capturing apparatus comprising:

• an image sensor;
• an operation member for operating a focus lens;
• and
• one or more processors and/or circuitry which function as:
• a first focus adjustment unit that performs autofocus adjustment based on an image signal obtained from the image sensor;
• a second focus adjustment unit that performs manual focus adjustment based on operation of the operation member;
• an acquisition unit that acquires operation information of the operation member for operating the focus lens;
• a detection unit that detects a subject based on an image signal obtained from the image sensor;
• and
• a control unit that selects the first focus adjustment unit or the second focus adjustment unit,
• wherein the control unit selects the first focus adjustment unit or the second focus adjustment unit based on movement of the subject and the operation information, and in a case where the second focus adjustment unit is selected and current operation information indicates that a focal position of the focus lens operated by the operation member is moving in a same direction as a current moving direction of the subject in an optical axis direction of the focus lens, the control unit switches from the second focus adjustment unit to the first focus adjustment unit.

A focus adjustment control method comprising:

• acquiring operation information of an operation member for operating a focus lens;
• detecting a subject based on an image signal obtained from an image sensor;
• and
• selecting a first focus adjustment unit that performs autofocus adjustment based on the image signal or a second focus adjustment unit that performs manual focus adjustment based on operation of the operation member,
• wherein the first focus adjustment unit or the second focus adjustment unit is selected based on movement of the subject and the operation information, and in a case where the second focus adjustment unit is selected and current operation information indicates that a focal position of the focus lens operated by the operation member is moving in a same direction as a current moving direction of the subject in an optical axis direction of the focus lens, selection is switched from the second focus adjustment unit to the first focus adjustment unit.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the storage medium storing a program that is executable by the computer, wherein the program includes program code for causing the computer to function as a focus control apparatus comprising:

• an acquisition unit that acquires operation information of an operation member for operating a focus lens;
• a detection unit that detects a subject based on an image signal obtained from an image sensor;
• and
• a control unit that selects a first focus adjustment unit that performs autofocus adjustment based on the image signal or a second focus adjustment unit that performs manual focus adjustment based on operation of the operation member,
• wherein the control unit selects the first focus adjustment unit or the second focus adjustment unit based on movement of the subject and the operation information, and in a case where the second focus adjustment unit is selected and current operation information indicates that a focal position of the focus lens operated by the operation member is moving in a same direction as a current moving direction of the subject in an optical axis direction of the focus lens, the control unit switches from the second focus adjustment unit to the first focus adjustment unit.