To enhance accuracy in correction of a defective pixel. An image of an object is captured using a digital camera, and stored in an image memory 14. A processor 16 detects a defect, using pixels located in the vertical and horizontal directions relative to, in lines of the same color as, and separated by one line from, the focused line. With any defect found, the presence or absence of line crawl is next determined. When it is determined that line crawl is present, the presence or absence of a diagonal edge is then determined. Subsequently, the surrounding pixels used to correct a defective pixel are selected in consideration of whether or not line crawl or a diagonal edge are present.