An image obtaining apparatus includes an image pickup unit, a stage, a connection unit, a movement mechanism, a position detection unit, and a control unit. The image pickup unit includes an objective lens. The stage is configured to determine a position of a pathology slide in an optical axis direction of the objective lens, and the pathology slide is an image pickup target of the image pickup unit. The connection unit is provided to the stage. The movement mechanism is connected to the stage through the connection unit and configured to move the stage in the optical axis direction. The position detection unit is configured to detect a position of the stage in the optical axis direction for a measurement point preset on the stage. The control unit is configured to control the movement mechanism by using at least a result of the detection by the position detection unit.