An image pickup apparatus is provided which enables a user to follow up an object while viewing a display screen, and can prevent an image shake from being reflected on the display screen. An image pickup device outputs a signal in response to light received from an object via a lens section unit. A drive ring is rotated by the driving force of the AF motor to enable the lens section unit to move in a direction along the optical axis, to thereby carry out focus adjustment based on the signal output from the pickup device. A LCD displays an image based on the signal output from the image pickup device. The LCD displays the image according to through display when the lens section unit is being moved in a direction of extension, and the through display by the LCD is restrained after the lens section unit is reversed and is moved in a direction of retraction and until it is stopped.