Abstract: An image pickup system including an image pickup device (4) for taking an image from an object (1) containing a periodic pattern and outputting an image signal (5), a zoom lens (2) for forming an object image on the image pickup device, a moire amount detection circuit (10) for detecting an amount of moire from the image signal (5), and an imaging magnification control circuit including a differentiating circuit (18) provided for setting a magnification of the zoom lens (2) and finely adjusting the magnification of the zoom lens (2) to allow the amount of moire detected by the moire amount detection circuit (10) to become below the setting value, a positive/negative determination circuit (20), a system controller (22), and a ROM (24).

Abstract: The present invention relates to improvement of an image processing method and apparatus which senses the state of a test object as image information by a sensor or sensors, outputs a plurality of image information signals and decides or displays said plurality of the image information signals, said image processing method and apparatus characterized by summing said plurality of the image information signals and deciding or processing a plurality of summed signals, said method and appratus permitting the precise sensing of the lightness tone and pattern of the test object.