AUTOMATIC FOCUSING APPARATUS

An automatic focusing apparatus detects movement of an object image by a phase difference method so as to perform a predicted AF operation and a focusing operation by detecting an object image moving in a lateral direction perpendicular to the optical axis, thereby reliably focusing on a specific object. In the automatic focusing apparatus, light from an object is split into two light beams by first and second photoelectric transducer arrays, and the two light beams are converted into first and second object image signals. An object image moving amount calculation section calculates the moving amounts of first and second object images on the basis of first and second object image positions on the first and second photoelectric transducer arrays, and the first and second object image positions after an elapse of a first predetermined period of time. Based on the calculation outputs, an object image position prediction calculation section calculates first and second object image positions after an elapse of a second predetermined period of time following the first predetermined period of time. Based on the predicted first and second object image positions, a lens driving amount calculation section calculates a necessary lens driving amount, thus predicting movement of an object.