Imaging apparatus and control method therefor

A method for controlling an imaging apparatus including an imaging unit configured to perform photoelectric conversion of an optical image, an optical zoom unit configured to perform optical magnification variation in response to a zooming operation, and an electronic zoom unit configured to perform electronic magnification variation on a signal output from the imaging unit, the method comprising:

• operating the electronic zoom unit together with the optical zoom unit in a first zoom range from a wide-angle side in response to the zooming operation;
• operating the optical zoom unit without operating the electronic zoom unit in response to the zooming operation in a second zoom range, which is closer to a telephoto side than the first zoom range;
• and
• operating the electronic zoom unit together with the optical zoom unit in response to the zooming operation in a third zoom range, which is closer to the telephoto side than the second zoom range;
• wherein the first, second and third zoom ranges constitute the total zoom range obtainable by the imaging apparatus in that the first zoom range extends from the wide-angle side to a first point, the second zoom range extends from the first point to a second point, which is closer to the telephoto side than the first point, and the third zoom range extends from the second point to the telephoto side.