A video camera which is able to reverse the direction of the moving focus lens if appropriate evaluation data is not obtained within a certain period of time after an intermediate point is detected during the focus lens movement in one direction. This eliminates the redundant operation of the focus lens moving away from the just-focus point all the way to the extreme of the current direction before heading back to the just-focus point during an auto focus operation. An efficient auto focus operation is thus achieved. In addition, control is provided for not using a decrease in accumulated data as auto focus control information if that decrease is judged to be an abrupt drop from the accumulated data obtained in the immediately preceding focus lens position. This makes it possible to prevent the focus lens from being erroneously focused in cases of panning and other focus-disrupting operations. In this manner, the photographing of high quality is always made available.