IMAGE CODING METHOD AND DECODING METHOD, IMAGE CODING APPARATUS AND DECODING APPARATUS, CAMERA, AND IMAGING DEVICE

An image coding method includes: a predictive pixel generation step of generating a predictive value from at least one surrounding pixel located near a compression target pixel; a code conversion step of code-converting the pixel data to generate a Gray code; and quantizing bit change information (exclusive OR) between the generated Gray code and a Gray code of the predictive value to a quantization value, to compress the pixel data. This prevents significant image quality degradation, so that high image quality can be achieved.