Image pickup apparatus, operation apparatus, image pickup system, and image pickup method

An operation apparatus comprising:

• a CPU configured to generate a control signal for controlling an image pickup apparatus in accordance with an operation;
• and
• a communication circuit configured to wirelessly communicate with the image pickup apparatus,
• wherein the CPU determines based on information from the image pickup apparatus whether the image pickup apparatus accepts the control signal if the control signal is transmitted from the self apparatus, limits, if it is determined that the image pickup apparatus does not accept the control signal, generation of the control signal, and transmits, if it is determined that the image pickup apparatus accepts the control signal, the control signal to the image pickup apparatus by the communication circuit.

An image pickup system comprising an image pickup apparatus, and a first operation apparatus and a second operation apparatus each configured to control the image pickup apparatus,

• the image pickup apparatus including
• an imaging element configured to generate image data by picking up a target object image based on a plurality of control items,
• a first communication circuit configured to communicate with the first operation apparatus and the second operation apparatus, and
• a first CPU configured to discriminate, among the plurality of control items, between a control item which accepts a change by a control signal transmitted from the first operation apparatus and a control item which accepts a change by a control signal transmitted from the second operation apparatus, simultaneously transmit, to the first operation apparatus and the second operation apparatus, by the first communication circuit, information indicating the control item which accepts the change by the control signal and the control item which does not accept the change by the control signal, and control the control item in accordance with the control signal transmitted from the operation apparatus corresponding to the control item, and
• each of the first operation apparatus and the second operation apparatus including
• a second CPU configured to generate a control signal for controlling the image pickup apparatus in response to an operation, and
• a second communication circuit configured to wirelessly communicate with the image pickup apparatus,
• wherein the second CPU determines based on information from the image pickup apparatus whether the self apparatus is an operation enabling apparatus or an operation disabling apparatus, limits, if it is determined that the self apparatus is an operation disabling apparatus, generation of the control signal, and transmits, if it is determined that the self apparatus is an operation enabling apparatus, the control signal to the image pickup apparatus by the second communication circuit.