Abstract: In addition to a focus detecting sensor for phase difference detection, a camera is provided with a light source or a generator for emitting light or ultrasonic waves, and a light receiver or a receiver for receiving the light or the ultrasonic waves reflected from the object. The distance to the object is detected from the intensity of the reflected light or ultrasonic waves and the focusing lens is set at a position close to the in-focus position. Then, the driving range of the focusing lens is limited in accordance with the detected distance, and from the set focusing lens position, focusing by the phase difference detection method is performed within the limited driving range.

Abstract: A lens driving controller has a driving mechanism for driving a lens along an optical axis, a calculator for obtaining a lens driving amount to an in-focus position, and a detector for detecting a position of the lens. The controller drives the lens in an in-focus direction in accordance with a lens driving amount obtained by the calculator, drives the lens in an opposite direction when the lens reaches a first lens position where a remaining driving amount to the in-focus position is a predetermined value, obtains information on a second lens position when the lens actually starts to move in the opposite direction, obtains a lens movement amount from the first lens position and the second lens position and performs remaining driving to the in-focus position and stop control based on an obtained lens movement amount.