An image signal producing part (11) produces an image signal of variable-frame-rate picked-up image. A signal production control part (24) drives the image signal producing part (11) and produces an image pickup setting information (IF) for producing an image signal frame-synchronized with an image signal (DVd) produced by the image signal producing part (11). The image pickup setting information (IF) is inserted into the produced image signal (DVd) and then outputted. When receiving image pickup setting information (IFex), the signal production control part (24) controls, based on the image pickup setting information (IFex), the operation of the image signal producing part (11) such that the image signal to be produced is frame synchronized with an image signal of a reference variable-frame-rate picked-up image of the source of the image pickup setting information (IFex). When a plurality of image pickup apparatuses capable of varying their frame rates are used, then their image signals can be frame synchronized.