Abstract: This invention has as its object to reduce the number of pixels to be read from an image sensor in accordance with a required image size and to shorten the time required to capture an image upon capturing a still image in an image capturing apparatus. To this end, this apparatus has an image sensor which comprises a plurality of photoelectric conversion pixels arranged in a two-dimensional matrix in the vertical and horizontal directions, and a common output unit which is commonly provided to the plurality of photoelectric conversion pixels to sequentially output signals from the plurality of photoelectric conversion pixels; and a read drive unit which can switch a first read mode for dividing signals of photoelectric conversion pixels from the image sensor into m fields (m is a natural number not less than 3) by interlaced scan, and reading signals for the m fields, and a second read mode for reading signals for n fields (n is a natural number that meets 2?n<m) of the m fields from the image sensor.

Abstract: A filter for the filtration of molten aluminum is obtained by binding 100 parts by weight of aggregate particles with 10 to 20 parts by weight of an inorganic binding material, said aggregate particles being composed of at least one alumina selected from the group consisting of fused alumina and sintered alumina and said inorganic binding material having a raw material composition comprising 25 wt. % to 35 wt. % of SiO.sub.2, 30 to 40 wt. % of B.sub.2 O.sub.3, 20 to 35 wt. % of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and the balance being MgO. A filter according to the invention has a crystallinity of from 10% to 25% with the proviso that in the powder X-ray diffraction, the crystallinity is expressed in terms of a percentage of a peak height of 9Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 .multidot.2B.sub.2 O.sub.3 appearing at 2.theta.=16.5.degree. to a peak height of .alpha.-Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 appearing at 2.theta.=43.4.degree.. Needle crystals of 9Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 .multidot.2B.sub.2 O.sub.