Provided is an imaging apparatus including a mode setting unit that sets a diaphragm driving mode out of a plurality of diaphragm driving modes including a first diaphragm driving mode and a second diaphragm driving mode in which diaphragm driving is more limited than in the first diaphragm driving mode, and a diaphragm control unit that controls diaphragm driving in accordance with brightness of an imaging target in a case where the mode setting unit sets the second diaphragm driving mode.

A camera (10) is provided for the detection of objects (48) moved through a detection zone that has an image sensor (18) for recording image data, a reception optics (16) having an adjustable diaphragm (17), and a control and evaluation unit (38) to read the image data and to set the diaphragm (17), In this respect, the control and evaluation unit (38) is furthermore configured to set the diaphragm (17) per object (48) such that the object (48) is recorded in a depth of field range.

An optical instrument, comprising an optical system including a focus lens group, an aperture that restricts light flux that passes through the optical system, an aperture motor that sets opening amount for the aperture, a memory that stores first information that represents a relationship between position of the focus lens group and appropriate aperture value and second information that represents a relationship between the aperture value and opening amount of the aperture, and a controller that, when controlling opening amount of the aperture using the aperture motor in accordance with position of the focus lens group, calculates an appropriate aperture value based on the first information and position of the focus lens group, calculates opening amount of the aperture based on the second information and the aperture value that has been calculated, and controls the opening amount to the opening amount of the aperture that has been calculated.

An optical apparatus configured to control driving of a diaphragm unit includes a setting unit configured to set a target position of an aperture blade in a diaphragm unit according to a zoom state, and a control unit configured to control a driving velocity of the diaphragm unit according to a residual driving amount by which a position of the aperture blade becomes the target position.

A camera (10) is provided for the detection of objects (48) moved through a detection zone that has an image sensor (18) for recording image data, a reception optics (16) having an adjustable diaphragm (17), and a control and evaluation unit (38) to read the image data and to set the diaphragm (17), In this respect, the control and evaluation unit (38) is furthermore configured to set the diaphragm (17) per object (48) such that the object (48) is recorded in a depth of field range.

An aperture device for setting an amount of light incident on a lens of a camera module is provided. The aperture device includes: a diaphragm plate exhibiting a plate shape and formed with an aperture opening penetrating the diaphragm plate in a plate surface direction; and a configuration-changing mechanism for changing a configuration of the diaphragm plate to an aperture position or a retracted position, where the aperture position is a position where the diaphragm plate is on the lens and a center of the aperture opening is configured in a position corresponding to an optical axis of the lens, and the retracted position is a position where the diaphragm plate is retracted from the lens.

There is provided an imaging apparatus (60) including: a mode setting unit (72) configured to set a diaphragm driving mode out of a plurality of diaphragm driving modes including a first diaphragm driving mode and a second diaphragm driving mode in which diaphragm driving is more limited than in the first diaphragm driving mode; and a diaphragm control unit (72) configured to control diaphragm driving in accordance with brightness of an imaging target in a case where the mode setting unit sets the second diaphragm driving mode.

An optical apparatus configured to control driving of a diaphragm unit includes a setting unit configured to set a target position of an aperture blade in a diaphragm unit according to a zoom state, and a control unit configured to control a driving velocity of the diaphragm unit according to a residual driving amount by which a position of the aperture blade becomes the target position.

An optical instrument, comprising an optical system including a focus lens group, an aperture that restricts light flux that passes through the optical system, an aperture motor that sets opening amount for the aperture, a memory that stores first information that represents a relationship between position of the focus lens group and appropriate aperture value and second information that represents a relationship between the aperture value and opening amount of the aperture, and a controller that, when controlling opening amount of the aperture using the aperture motor in accordance with position of the focus lens group, calculates an appropriate aperture value based on the first information and position of the focus lens group, calculates opening amount of the aperture based on the second information and the aperture value that has been calculated, and controls the opening amount to the opening amount of the aperture that has been calculated.

An image pickup apparatus being capable of performing a photometry process under a suitable condition and of achieving high-speed continuous photographing. A first drive, which accumulates and reads an electric charge with an image sensor for a photometry process, and a second drive, which accumulates and reads an electric charge to obtain an image signal for a static image, are alternately repeated during continuous photographing. A photometry process is performed based on the electric charge read by the first drive. An aperture value for obtaining the image signal of an (N+1)th frame is calculated based on a result of the photometry process during accumulation for obtaining the image signal of an N-th frame. A control unit controls a diaphragm based on the calculated aperture value and a predetermined aperture value during reading of the electric charge for obtaining the image signal of the N-th frame.