An automatic analyzer, comprising: a dispensing apparatus that includes a dispensing probe; a vessel configured to contain a liquid to be dispensed with the dispensing probe, the liquid including a precipitated substance; an input unit configured to receive user input of plural positions which differ from each other in a vertical direction; an information acquiring unit configured to acquire shape information of the vessel from (i) a recording medium attached to the vessel, which is configured to store shape information associated with the vessel, or (ii) a shape detector which is configured to detect the outer appearance of the vessel; a liquid-surface detecting unit configured to detect a liquid surface of the liquid held in the vessel; a driving unit configured to move the dispensing apparatus; a drive controlling unit configured to: determine a type of the vessel based on the acquired shape information of the vessel, each type of vessel having a bottom wall of a known thickness, determine a lower-limit position of the dispensing probe based on the thickness of the bottom wall, and control the driving unit so that the dispensing probe sucks in the liquid from said plural positions, said plural positions ranging from said lower-limit position to said liquid surface; a reaction vessel configured such that the liquid can be dispensed therein from the dispensing probe; and an analyzing unit configured to measure and analyze an optical characteristic of a reaction liquid with which the dispensed liquid has been reacted. a dispensing apparatus that includes a dispensing probe; a vessel configured to contain a liquid to be dispensed with the dispensing probe, the liquid including a precipitated substance; an input unit configured to receive user input of plural positions which differ from each other in a vertical direction; an information acquiring unit configured to acquire shape information of the vessel from (i) a recording medium attached to the vessel, which is configured to store shape information associated with the vessel, or (ii) a shape detector which is configured to detect the outer appearance of the vessel; a liquid-surface detecting unit configured to detect a liquid surface of the liquid held in the vessel; a driving unit configured to move the dispensing apparatus; a drive controlling unit configured to: determine a type of the vessel based on the acquired shape information of the vessel, each type of vessel having a bottom wall of a known thickness, determine a lower-limit position of the dispensing probe based on the thickness of the bottom wall, and control the driving unit so that the dispensing probe sucks in the liquid from said plural positions, said plural positions ranging from said lower-limit position to said liquid surface; determine a type of the vessel based on the acquired shape information of the vessel, each type of vessel having a bottom wall of a known thickness, determine a lower-limit position of the dispensing probe based on the thickness of the bottom wall, and control the driving unit so that the dispensing probe sucks in the liquid from said plural positions, said plural positions ranging from said lower-limit position to said liquid surface; a reaction vessel configured such that the liquid can be dispensed therein from the dispensing probe; and an analyzing unit configured to measure and analyze an optical characteristic of a reaction liquid with which the dispensed liquid has been reacted.