Electronic camera having solid state image sensor with improved noise

Abstract

An electronic still camera without provision of a mechanical shutter is provided. This electronic still camera includes a solid state image sensor and a control unit therefor. This solid state image sensor comprises photosensitive units having a plurality of photosensitive pixels, a transfer unit for reading and transferring signal charges or unnecessary charges generated in the photosensitive pixels, an accumulation unit for temporarily accumulating the signal charges transferred by the transfer unit, draining means for draining the unnecessary charges transferred by the transfer unit, and taking-out means for taking out the signal charges accumulated in the accumulation unit. Thus, at the beginning of the exposure time, the control unit controls the solid state image sensor so as to read and transfer the unnecessary charges by the transfer unit to drain them by the draining means. Further, at the end of the exposure time, the control unit controls the solid state image sensor so as to read and transfer signal charges generated during the exposure time to accumulate them into the accumulation unit, thus to take out the signal charges accumulated as a pictorial image. The pictorial image thus taken out is recorded in the recording unit of the electronic still camera.