a camera with an optical system and having a visual axis detection device includes observing structure for observing an object , and circuitry for detecting a visual axis of an observer looking into the observing structure . circuitry is provided for detecting a focus condition of each of a plurality of different positions in a photographing field of view , and for outputting a plurality of focus signals respectively corresponding to the plurality of detected focus conditions . circuitry is also provided for obtaining a focus result from a focus signal which corresponds to the position in the field of view looked at by observer as detected by the detecting circuitry . circuitry is also provided for preparing a focus adjustment signal based on the focus result obtained by the obtaining circuitry . finally , prohibition circuitry is provided for preparing a prohibit signal to prohibit a focus adjustment operation of the optical system , the prohibit signal being based on an output from either one of the circuitry for detecting the direction of the visual axis and the circuitry for detecting the focus condition .