NOISE REDUCTION APPARATUS, METHOD AND PROGRAM

Uncorrelated noise is reduced in image data. To achieve this, CCD-RAW data, in which color components are output in order in accordance with an array of color filters that have been formed on the photoreceptor surface of a CCD, is subjected to array conversion processing in such a manner that the data is divided into its color components. Image data indicating pixels within a noise-reduction target area of 5×5 pixels is extracted from the CCD-RAW data obtained by the array conversion. A filter for reducing uncorrelated noise is calculated and a filtering operation is performed using the calculated filter while the correlativity of the CCD-RAW data is maintained. These processing steps are repeated with regard one frame of the CCD-RAW data.