Imaging element, imaging apparatus, and control method for imaging element

An imaging apparatus comprising:

• a buffer that has a plurality of areas disposed therein;
• an image producing unit that produces an image in a case where an empty capacity of any of the plurality of areas exceeds a predetermined threshold value;
• a managing unit that causes an area whose empty capacity exceeds the predetermined threshold value, of the plurality of areas to retain the image as a buffering image;
• an output unit that extracts the buffering image from the buffer and that outputs the buffering image, in order of the retention of the buffering image;
• and
• a recording unit that records the output image.

A control method for an imaging element, the control method comprising:

• an image producing procedure of producing an image in a case where an empty capacity of any of a plurality of areas in a buffer that has the plurality of areas disposed therein exceeds a predetermined threshold value;
• a managing procedure of causing an area whose empty capacity exceeds the predetermined threshold value, of the plurality of areas to retain the image as a buffering image;
• and
• an output procedure of extracting the buffering image from the buffer and outputting the buffering image, in order of the retention of the buffering image.