An image processing apparatus includes a histogram detecting unit that detects a luminance histogram from an input image. A determination unit determines control points for use in generation of a tone curve based on such a luminance that a percentage from a low-luminance side in the detected luminance histogram is equal to a first value, and a percentage from a high-luminance side in the detected luminance histogram is equal to a second value. A tone curve generating unit generates a tone curve based on the calculated control points. An image processing unit performs image processing based on the tone curve. A judgment unit judges whether illuminance of a shooting environment is low. A point light source detecting unit detects a component originating from a point light source from the luminance histogram. When the illuminance of the shooting environment is low, the determination unit makes the second value greater.