An image of appropriate exposure is obtained in a short period of time. A
controller and timing generator performs photometric measurement by use
of an image signal acquired from a CCD, and determines appropriate light
exposure. The CCD is divided into a plurality of regions: for example, an
odd-number line region and an even-number line region. Timing at which
accumulated electric charges are read from the respective regions is
changed, thereby changing the light exposure of an image signal read from
each of the regions. When the amount of light fired during the main flash
is adjusted by means of causing a strobe to fire preliminary light, read
timing is changed in such a way that an electric charge accumulation
period of the odd-number line regions comes to an arbitrary point in time
during the course of firing of preliminary light. The amount of main
flash light can be determined by means of acquiring a plurality of image
signals having different light exposures or a photometric measurement
signal through single firing of preliminary flash light.