IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD

An image processing apparatus continuously captures a plurality of unit images, extracts and sets a feature point to be compared from each unit image, detects a feature point corresponding to that of another unit image reduces an error between the unit images superposes the unit images, and calculates the feature point detection range according to a maximum number of pixels allowing shake not to be substantially perceived in the unit image. A motion detection range is set to a minimum in case of superposition of each image when hand-shake is corrected by composite synthesis, thereby reducing image processing load and increasing image processing speed.