1. An auto-focus apparatus utilized for an image pickup apparatus having a focus moving mechanism which is manually adjustable comprising: an evaluation value calculator periodically calculating a plurality of evaluation values for a plurality of areas of a subject image based on high frequency components of image signals of the plurality of areas of the subject image; and a control unit, after detecting that the focus moving mechanism has been manually stopped, (a) performing image processing on an area of the subject image, where fluctuations of the evaluation values obtained just before the focus moving mechanism has been manually stopped exhibit a predetermined history, based on the evaluation values obtained in the area of the subject image exhibiting the predetermined history, and (b) outputting auto-focus instruction signals to a lens driver for automatically moving a focus lens based on a peak of the evaluation values obtained by the image processing.