Automatic focusing apparatus detecting focus for a plurality of areas and using contrast levels

A focus detection apparatus or a camera having said focus detection apparatus which includes a plurality of sensor sections for receiving light from different areas of a scene and which detects a focus state, comprising:

• (a) a calculating circuit for calculating contrast levels and focus amounts for each of said sensor sections;
• and
• (b) an output circuit for selecting one of the focus amounts calculated by said calculating circuit and outputting the selected focus amount as a focus detection result on the basis of focus detection characteristic data respectively predetermined for said sensor sections and the contrast levels of said sensor sections, said selector including a comparison circuit which compares the contrast levels of each sensor section in consideration of data corresponding to the focus detection characteristic data of said each sensor section, said selector selecting said one of the focus amounts based on the comparison of the plurality of sensor section outputs by said comparison circuit.

A focus detection apparatus or a camera having said focus detection apparatus which includes a plurality of sensor sections for receiving light from different areas of a scene and which detects a focus state, comprising:

• (a) a calculating circuit for calculating contrast levels represented by outputs from said sensor sections on the basis of the outputs from said sensor section;
• and
• (b) a selector for selecting at least one of the outputs of said sensor sections on the basis of contrast values respectively obtained by weighting the contrast levels in said sensor sections in accordance with focus detection characteristic data for each sensor section, said selector including a comparison circuit which compares the contrast levels of each said sensor section for selecting said one of the outputs.