Video camera and camera system with white balance control

Claim 1

A video camera comprising: light emission means for illuminating a foreground object being picked up by an image pick-up device; a white balance control circuit to which picked-up image signal outputted from said image pick-up device is supplied; a white balance sensor for obtaining colour temperature information for white balance control; and control means for controlling said colour temperature information from said white balance sensor to be timely outputted in accordance with light emission of said light emission means and to be supplied to said white balance control circuit, when a picked-up image signal of a foreground object being picked up with light emission of said light emission means is supplied to said white balance control circuit, wherein said control means includes hold means for selectively holding first colour temperature information as obtained just prior to light emission by said light emission means, and for selectively holding second colour temperature information obtained during light emission by said light emission means and selection means for selecting and supplying said held first colour temperature information, said held second colour temperature information or colour temperature information directly from said white balance sensor.