The present invention relates to the field of video camera image processing. Disclosed are an intelligent adjustment method when a video camera performs automatic exposure and an apparatus therefor. In the present invention, a first corresponding relationship between a rate and an aperture is pre-set. The first corresponding relationship records corresponding upper and lower aperture limits required by each rate for achieving the best depth of field of an image. The method comprises the following steps: acquiring the current rate of a video camera; searching for upper and lower aperture limits corresponding to the current rate in a first corresponding relationship; if the current aperture value exceeds the range of the searched upper and lower aperture limits corresponding to the current rate, adjusting the current aperture value to be within the range of the upper and lower aperture limits; and according to the adjusted aperture value, adjusting exposure time and gain to satisfy the need of image brightness. In the present invention, according to different field scenario rates, the aperture is adjusted to be within the aperture range corresponding to the best depth of field so as to acquire the best depth of field, and a shutter and gain are adjusted accordingly, so that the best brightness can be ensured and the best depth of field is achieved at the same time so as to improve image quality.