A black level control apparatus and method, particularly for a high-speed video camera (8). The apparatus (10,100) comprises an image signal channel (30,130) for receiving an image signal having a black level from an image sensing device (22,122); a black level sensing device (24,124) for generating a black level signal; a black level signal channel (40,140), independent from the image signal channel, for receiving the black level signal from the black level sensing device; a black level controller (60,160) for receiving an input signal based on the black level signal, measuring a difference between the input signal and a reference signal, generating a control signal based on the difference, outputting the control signal to the image signal channel to adjust the black level of the image signal, and feeding the control signal to the black level signal channel, such that the input signal is based on the black level signal and the control signal.