Automatic focusing apparatus and automatic focusing method for automatically matching focus in response to video signal

摘要

In automatic focusing apparatus of a video camera, any of the entire area, the central area and the midmost area of a picture is selected as an in-focus target area, so that an automatic focusing operation is performed in accordance with a focus evaluating value of the in-focus target area. When the entire area of the picture is selected as the in-focus target area, a focus evaluating value of the central area of the picture is simultaneously evaluated. When the automatic focusing operation starts, the entire area of the picture is selected as the in-focus target area, and if the focus evaluating value of the central area becomes higher than a predetermined value, the in-focus target area is switched to the central area of the picture. When the midmost area of the picture is manually set as the in-focus target area, the midmost area is selected with priority as the in-focus target area.