A video camera and apparatus for extracting an object from a video signal. The video camera and the extracting apparatus include units for setting a plurality of different parameters for distinguishing a plurality of areas in an input video signal according to the plurality of different set parameters, a unit for determining an extracting area in accordance with the plurality of areas distinguished by the setting units, and an extracting unit for generating extracting information for the extracting area for the video signal. The video camera includes a unit for controlling an operation of the video camera in accordance with the extracted information. Alternatively or additionally, the video camera includes a unit for indicating an area of a portion of an object viewed by a camera operator, a unit for sampling the video signal in the region of the indicated area, a unit for setting at least one parameter of the portion of the object in accordance with the sampled video signal, and an extracting unit for extracting at least the portion of the object in accordance with the set parameter. The video camera further includes a control unit for controlling an operation of the video camera in accordance with the extracted portion of the object.