Focus adjustment apparatus and method, and image capturing apparatus and control method thereof

1. A focus adjustment apparatus comprising:

a detection unit that detects a subject/subjects having a predetermined characteristic from an image obtained while shooting a moving picture;

an automatic focusing unit configured to perform focus control by automatically moving a focus lens on the basis of the image;

a manual focusing unit configured to move the focus lens on the basis of an operation of a shooter on a focus operation unit for manipulating a position of the focus lens; and

a setting unit configured to set a first AF mode or a second AF mode,

wherein, in the first AF mode,

in a state in which the subject/subjects are detected by the detection unit, the automatic focusing unit is selected and the automatic focusing unit performs focus control by setting an AF area corresponding to the detected subject/subjects and moving the focus lens on the basis of an image within the AF area, and

in a state in which the subject/subjects are not detected by the detection unit, the manual focusing unit is selected and the manual focusing unit does not move the focus lens without any operation on the focus operation unit,

and wherein, in the second AF mode,

in a state in which a subject/subjects are detected by the detection unit, the automatic focusing unit is selected and the automatic focusing unit performs focus control by setting an AF area corresponding to the detected subject/subjects and moving the focus lens on the basis of an image within the AF area, and

in a state in which a subject/subjects are not detected by the detection unit, the automatic focusing unit is selected and the automatic focusing unit performs focus control by setting an AF area in the image and moving the focus lens on the basis of an image within the AF area.

2. The focus adjustment apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein in the case where a plurality of subjects having the predetermined characteristic have been detected, when a subject that was focused on a previous time by the focus adjustment unit controlling the focus lens exists among the plurality of detected subjects, the selection unit selects that subject as the subject that fulfils the predetermined condition.

3. The focus adjustment apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising:

an input unit,

wherein when a subject that was focused on a previous time by the focus adjustment unit controlling the focus lens does not exist among the plurality of detected subjects and an input for selecting one of the plurality of subjects has been made through the input unit, the selection unit selects the subject selected through the input unit as the subject that fulfills the predetermined condition.

4. The focus adjustment apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein in the case where a subject that fulfils the predetermined condition has not been selected by the selection unit, the focus adjustment unit does not control the focus lens.

5. The focus adjustment apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein in the case where the automatic focusing unit is selected in the first AF mode, the shooter is notified that the subject is being focused on, and in the case where the manual focusing unit is selected in the first AF mode, the shooter is notified that the subject is not being focused on by automatic focusing operation.

6. A focus adjustment method comprising the steps of:

detecting a subject/subjects having a predetermined characteristic from an image obtained while shooting a moving picture;

selecting a first AF mode or a second AF mode;

setting the first AF mode if the first AF mode is selected, and a manual focusing unit; and

setting the second AF mode if the second AF mode is selected,

wherein, in the first AF mode,

in a state in which the subject/subjects are detected in the detecting step, an automatic focusing unit is selected and the automatic focusing unit performs focus control by setting an AF area corresponding to the detected subject/subjects and moving a focus lens on the basis of an image within the AF area, and

in a state in which the subject/subjects are not detected in the detecting step, a manual focusing unit is selected and the manual focusing unit does not move the focus lens without any operation on a focus operation unit for manipulating a position of the focus lens,

and wherein, in the second AF mode,

in a state in which a subject/subjects are detected in the detecting step, the automatic focusing unit is selected and the automatic focusing unit performs focus control by setting an AF area corresponding to the detected subject/subjects and moving the focus lens on the basis of an image within the AF area, and

in a state in which a subject/subjects are not detected in the detecting step, the automatic focusing unit is selected and the automatic focusing unit performs focus control by setting an AF area in the image and moving the focus lens on the basis of an image within the AF area, and

wherein the automatic focusing unit is configured to perform focus control by automatically moving the focus lens on the basis of the image, and the manual focusing unit is configured to move the focus lens on the basis of an operation of a shooter on the focus operation unit.

7. A non-transitory readable storage medium having stored thereon a program which is executable by a computer, the program having a program code for realizing the focus control method according to claim 6 .