A camera that is able to capture images of moving subjects as video
images, that has a large depth of field and is thus able to capture
images of thick objects, and that is able to capture images of living
cells and tissues as well as tissues in water. One example includes an
image pickup element and an objective lens disposed between the image
pickup element and a subject. A photosensitive surface of the image
pickup element has elements sensitive to light in the red, green, and
blue spectral regions. Using chromatic aberration of the objective lens
to form an image, the respective elements sensitive to light from the
red, green and blue spectral region, collect light from respective
surface segments XR, XG, and XB that lie at different heights in the
subject. The images taken by the respective elements are imaged
individually and produced on a monitor.