To reduce the change of a luminance value and to correspond to the slight deviation of a frequency from AC power by generating an image take-in timing signal based on the frequency of the greatest common measure of different commercial frequencies.

When a shutter start request is given from an image processing part 14, a driver 12 generates a charge discharge pulse to a CCD image pickup element 10 in synchronizing with the timing signal from a timer 11. The timing signal from the timer 11 is set to be integer-times of 50msec. Illumination generates a light quantity change at the period of 100Hz in the area of 50Hz and at the period of 120Hz in the area of 60Hz. For setting the device to be applicable for any areas, the image is taken in with time corresponding to the frequency of the greatest common measure of 100Hz and 120Hz or time which is integer-times of it as the period. Namely, time (50msec) corresponding to the period of 20Hz being the maximum common measure or time which is integer-times of it is set to be the period and the image is taken in.