In an image input device including a multistage aperture (13) which
reduces a quantity of light by changing an aperture, and an ND filter
(15) which reduces a quantity of light by changing transmittance of
passing light, if ghosts tend to occur due to the second light reducing
means, the generation of ghosts is effectively avoided. An object
determining unit determines whether a strong light source is present on
an object image formed by an optical unit (10) for imaging based on
luminance distribution on the object image. The multistage aperture (13)
and the ND filter (15) are controlled in order to obtain a proper
exposure to pickup the object image. If the object determining unit
determines which a strong light source is present on the object image,
the ND filter (15), which reduces the quantity of light by changing the
transmittance of passing light, is used as less as possible, and the
multistage aperture (13) is functioned preferentially.