The image pickup apparatus according to the present invention includes a light receiving unit (244f) in which a plurality of pixels that photoelectrically convert light received by each to generate an electric signal is provided in a matrix, and an electric signal generated by the pixel for each line. The readout unit (244g) that sequentially reads out, the readout process that causes the readout unit (244g) to read out an electrical signal generated by at least the pixel to be processed among the plurality of pixels, and the exposure process that exposes the light receiving unit alternately An imaging control unit (244e) that performs repetitive imaging control, and a drive information generation unit that sets an exposure period of exposure processing based on an electrical signal and generates the set exposure period as drive information (408a), and the imaging control unit (408a) controls the exposure process and the readout process based on the drive information. 本発明にかかる撮像装置は、各々が受光した光を光電変換して電気信号を生成する複数の画素がマトリックス状に設けられた受光部（２４４ｆ）と、画素が生成した電気信号をラインごとに順次読み出す読み出し部（２４４ｇ）と、複数の画素のうち、少なくとも画像処理対象の画素が生成した電気信号を読み出し部（２４４ｇ）に読み出させる読み出し処理、および受光部を露光する露光処理を交互に繰り返す撮像制御を行う撮像制御部（２４４ｅ）と、を有する撮像素子（２４４）と、電気信号に基づき露光処理の露光期間を設定し、該設定した露光期間を駆動情報として生成する駆動情報生成部（４０８ａ）と、を備え、撮像制御部（４０８ａ）は、駆動情報に基づき露光処理および読み出し処理を制御する。
