Object detecting apparatus

An object detecting apparatus comprising:

• an image sensor for capturing a plurality of object images in time sequence;
• a first detection start signal generator for generating a signal to start detection of an object, included in a first area, of the object images captured by the image sensor;
• a first detector for detecting a characteristic of the object included in the first area in response to the signal from the first detection start signal generator;
• a second detector for detecting an object similar to the characteristic detected by the first detector, within a second area larger than the first area;
• a second detection start signal generator for generating a signal to start detection by the second detector;
• a detection end signal generator for generating a signal to end the detection by the second detector;
• and
• a controller for performing focusing for the object detected by the second detector in response to the signal from the detection end signal generator.