IMAGE INPUT APPARATUS

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively avoid the generation of ghost in the situation where the ghost caused by a second dimming means may be easily generated, in an image input apparatus using a combination of a multi-stage diaphragm 13 reducing the quantity of light in accordance by changing the aperture size of the diaphragm together with an ND filter 15 reducing the quantity of light by changing transmittance of passing light. SOLUTION: Based on the situation of luminance distribution in an object image formed by an optical means 10 for imaging, an object discriminating means discriminates whether or not there is a strong light source within the object image. In order to make exposure proper when fetching the object image, the multi-stage diaphragm 13 and the ND filter 15 are controlled. In a case where the object discriminating means discriminates that there is the strong light source within the object image, the multi-stage diaphragm 13 is preferentially functioned minimizing the use of the ND filter 15 which reduces the quantity of light by changing transmittance of passing light. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT