Patent ID: 8089554

Claim:
An image capturing apparatus comprising: an image capturing unit, which photo-electrically converts, by an image sensor, an object image formed by a photographing lens to generate an image signal; a foreign substance information detection unit, which detects, based on the image signal, foreign substance information serving as information on at least a position of a foreign substance adhering to an optical element placed in front of the image sensor; an association unit, which associates the foreign substance information detected by the foreign substance information detection unit with the image signal generated by the image capturing unit; and a foreign substance removal unit, which removes a foreign substance adhering to the optical element, wherein the association unit associates foreign substance information with an image signal obtained after detecting the foreign substance information, and wherein the association unit also associates the foreign substance information with an image signal obtained after a foreign substance removal operation by the foreign substance removal unit is executed and before the foreign substance information is detected.