An image processing device includes: a CCD to input a plurality of images
obtained from a separate-pickup of an object performed such that parts of
the images are overlapped; and an image combining section to combine two
images adjacent to each other in one of a first manner and a second
manner; wherein in the first manner, two images adjacent to each other in
a first direction are combined based on overlapping regions of two images
adjacent to each other in the first direction, and in the second manner,
two images adjacent to each other in a second direction are combined based
on overlapping regions of two images adjacent to each other in the second
direction; and the image processing device further includes a CPU to
control the image combining section according to a predetermined condition
such that the image combining section performs the combining in one of the
first manner and the second manner. Even when common feature points do not
exist in the overlapping regions of two adjacent images, correct combining
of two images is allowed.
