PURPOSE: To enable measurement of a distance up to an object with only a single image pick-up apparatus, by providing an image processing apparatus available for processing the image obtainable from this image pick-up apparatus and the image pick-up apparatus capable of movement with respect to an object to be picked-up.

CONSTITUTION: A distance detecting apparatus is equipped with a TV camera 10 borne on, for instance, a running carriage 60 and capable of detecting distances up not only to an object located in the vicinity of the carriage 60, but also an obstacle located on a run-way of the carriage 60. By this construction, when the carriage 60 runs, the camera 10 moves back and forth the carriage 60 by the specified distance keeping itself in a fixed condition and a distance up to the object for distance detection can be obtained from segment on the image of the object before and after the movement, or contraction ratio of areas α and the specified distance of the movement (d). Thereby, a single image pick-up apparatus is made capable of measure a distance from this apparatus to the object.