Image pickup apparatus

An image pickup apparatus is provided with a light sensing unit including a first light sensor including a plurality of light sensing elements provided at specified positions and a second light sensor provided adjacent to the first light sensor and including a group of light sensing elements other than those of the first light sensor; an exposure period setter for setting a first exposure period, and a second and a third exposure periods obtained by dividing the first exposure period; an image generator for generating a first image signal from electric charges accumulated in the respective light sensing elements during the first exposure period in the first light sensor, generating a second image signal from electronic charges accumulated in the respective light sensing elements during the second exposure period in the second light sensor, and generating a third image signal from electric charges accumulated in the respective light sensing elements during the third exposure period in the second light sensor; and an image combining device for combining the first, second and third image signals to generate an image signal of a subject. An image having a good image quality can be obtained by extending a dynamic range.