An image pickup apparatus includes a monitor for displaying a menu screen, a menu button for operating a menu on the menu screen, a hardware key such as a button for setting a picture-taking condition, and a storage medium removably mounted in a body of the image pickup apparatus for storing picture data. The image pickup apparatus stores in the storage medium an operation control file in which information on contents of actions associated with operation of the menu button or the hardware key is stored. Further, the image pickup apparatus reads the operation control file stored in the storage medium and changes the actions associated with operation of the menu button or the hardware key according to information stored in the operation control file.