This invention provides an image capturing optical system in order from an object side to an image side comprising: a first lens element with positive refractive power having a convex object-side surface; a second lens element; a third lens element; a fourth lens element with both the object-side and image-side surfaces thereof being aspheric, and the fourth lens element is made of plastic; and a fifth lens element with negative refractive power, both the object-side and image-side surfaces thereof being aspheric, at least one inflection point is formed on at least one of the object-side and image-side surfaces thereof, and the fifth lens element is made of plastic. By such arrangement, photosensitivity and total track length of the system can be reduced, and better image quality can be obtained.