First and second data areas are defined in an image file, and each area is defined to have an image data recording area and a header data recording area. When the image file is reproduced, header data in a first header data recording area at the leading end is read and first image data that has been recorded in the first image data recording area is reproduced. If an image file reproducing apparatus is one that can reproduce second image data that has been recorded in the second data area, then the second image data is read from the second area and reproduced. The first image data is data that has undergone JPEG compression, and the second image data is data that has not been compressed. Since the compressed first image data and uncompressed second image data can be stored in one file, an increase in number of files can be reduced even if there is an increase in types of image format.