Patent ID: 7903158

Claim:
An image capturing apparatus comprising: an image capturing unit which converts an optical image of an object into an electrical signal; and an optical element arranged in front of said image capturing unit, wherein minute particles of a single layer are arrayed on a surface of said optical element on an object side, and diameters of the minute particles are not more than 200 nm, wherein a relationship between a contact angle θ 1 with water of a surface of said optical element on which the minute particles of the single layer are not arrayed and a contact angle θ 2 with water of a surface of said optical element on which the minute particles of the single layer are arrayed satisfies a relationship θ 1 <θ 2 , and wherein a relationship between a Van der waals force Fv 1 acting between a foreign substance and the surface of said optical element on which the minute particles of the single layer are arrayed and a Van der waals force Fv 2 acting between a foreign substance and the surface of said optical element on which the minute particles of the single layer are not arrayed satisfies a relation ship Fv 1 <Fv 2 .