US Patent 7778542 Image capturing apparatus

This invention can efficiently remove, within a short period of time, a foreign substance such as dust adhering on an optical element arranged on the front surface of an image sensor. An image capturing apparatus includes an image sensor which photo-electrically converts an object image, an optical element inserted between the image sensor and a photographing optical system which forms the object image, a foreign substance position storage unit which stores the position of a foreign substance adhering on the surface of the optical element, a vibration unit which vibrates the optical element to remove the foreign substance adhering on the surface of the optical element, and a control unit which controls a driving parameter of the vibration unit on the basis of the foreign substance position information stored in the foreign substance position storage unit.