A moving image pickup apparatus which is capable of attaining both enhanced focusing accuracy and increased chances of snapshooting. A predetermined time period is determined according to a designated image pickup period. Responsive to designation of still image recording, an automatic focus adjusting device starts automatic focus adjustment. When an in-focus state is obtained by the automatic focus adjusting device within the determined predetermined time period, a still image for which the in-focus state has been obtained is stored in a memory device. On the other hand, when the in-focus state is not obtained even after the lapse of the determined predetermined time period, a still image for which the in-focus state has not been obtained is stored in the memory device.