an image pickup apparatus comprising : right and left optical systems ; shutters disposed in correspondence with each of the right and left optical systems , for time - divisionally switching between incident light ; a micro computer for controlling an open / close timing of the shutters ; and an image pickup element for picking up an image input via the right and left optical systems , wherein the microcomputer variably controls the open / close timing of the shutters in accordance with exposure timing information of the image pickup element .