An imaging apparatus including an imaging unit that captures images of a photographic subject and continuously generates electronic image data; a display unit that displays, at a predetermined display frame rate, images corresponding to the image data generated by the imaging unit; an image processing unit that either performs a first-type special effect operation that can be displayed at the predetermined display frame rate or performs a second-type special effect operation that can be displayed at a faster display frame rate than the predetermined display frame rate; an operation input unit that receives input of a change instruction signal that provides an instruction for changing a combination of image processing operations during a special effect operation performed by the image processing unit; and a control unit that instructs the image processing unit to switch the special effect operation from the first-type special effect operation to the second-type special effect operation.