A solid-state image pickup apparatus includes a color filter having an R (red), G (green) and B (blue) vertical stripe pattern. During preliminary pickup, a signal feeding section feeds particular drive signals for reading signal charges out of only odd-numbered columns or even-numbered columns. As a result, the signal charges or image data reduced to, e.g., one-half in the horizontal direction are transferred along a horizontal transfer path. The signal feeding section feeds horizontal drive signals adjusted in timing to the horizontal transfer path, causing the above image data to be read out without varying reading frequency. This doubles the horizontal transfer rate to thereby improve the signal output rate during preliminary pickup despite high pixel density, and allows signals to be read out without effecting actual pickup to follow.