Imaging apparatus for setting image areas having individual frame rates

An imaging apparatus comprising:

• an imaging device for performing photoelectric conversion of light incident on a photodetective area thereof, and reading signals from the photodetective area so as to output the signals as image signals;
• a divided area setting device for dividing the whole photodetective area into a plurality of image areas;
• a frame rate setting device for setting and assigning individual frame rates to the image areas, where the frame rate setting device variably sets the frame rate assigned to each image area during photography;
• a reading control device for individually controlling a timing for reading the signals of all pixels from each image area set on the photodetective area, in accordance with the corresponding frame rate set by the frame rate setting device;
• a target subject setting device for setting a target subject in an image captured by the imaging device;
• and
• a target subject detecting device for detecting the target subject set by the target subject setting device and a movement of the target subject based on the image signals;
• wherein the divided area setting device sets the image areas in accordance with a position where the target subject detected by the target subject detecting device is present in the image and with the movement of the target subject;
• and
• the frame rate setting device variably sets the frame rate assigned to each image area in accordance with the movement of the target subject.