An image pickup apparatus includes a communication unit, a process unit, a transmission control unit, an obtaining unit and a process control unit. The communication unit is connected to an external device via a predetermined communication line so as to establish communication with the external device. The process unit successively processes images picked up by an image pickup unit. The transmission control unit makes the communication unit send the images to the external device via the communication line. The obtaining unit obtains communication quality information on quality of the communication with the external device. The process control unit controls at least one of (i) an action content of the image pickup unit and (ii) a process content of the process unit on the basis of the communication quality information.