A subject image is formed on a CCD through an imaging optical system including
a focusing lens. The output from the CCD is input, through an A/D converter and
the like, to an AE processor circuit for performing an auto-exposure control processing
and an AF processor circuit for obtaining an evaluation value for auto-focusing
through a gate circuit. When a release operation is performed, a CPU drives the
focusing lens and operates the AF processor circuit and the like at a high speed
frame rate if the CPU determines, on the basis of brightness evaluation values
from the AE processor circuit, that the brightness of the subject is equal to or
higher than predetermined brightness, and drives the focusing lens and operates
the AF processor circuit and the like with high precision at an ordinary frame
rate if the CPU determines that the brightness of the subject is lower than the
predetermined brightness, thereby performing auto-focusing.