An autofocus device comprising a lens-driving unit, a
focal-point-position-detecting unit that detects a position of a focal
point of the lens, and a distance measurement sensor. The sensor measures
a distance to a subject based on a reference field of view for distance
measurement and a field of view for distance measurement being offset
outwardly from the reference field of view and/or a field of view for
distance measurement having a field of view that is different from the
reference field of view. The device has a control unit that controls the
lens-driving unit to drive the lens to meet the position of the focal
point of the lens to an in-focus position thereof. The focusing operation
starts by setting the lens drive based on a representative value selected
from measured distance results obtained by the distance measurement
sensor and the position of the focal point of the lens.