A video camera and a recording and reproducing apparatus each comprise a communication circuit arranged to modulate by a spread spectrum communication method a video signal outputted from an image pickup element and transmit the modulated video signal to an external monitor by wireless communication. The video camera and the recording and reproducing apparatus each further comprise a recording and reproducing part for recording and reproducing a video signal outputted from the image pickup element on and from a recording medium, and an arrangement which brings the communication circuit to a transmitting state according to the state of operation of the recording and reproducing part.