To provide an image recording method for a digital camera that can suppress deterioration in image quality small enough even when an image photographed with a high resolution is compressed at a high compression rate and to provide the digital camera.

When production of image data is discriminated (step 100) and a compression system is set to a basic mode (step 102), image data are compressed by the JPEG system (step 114), and the compressed data are recorded in a recording medium (step 110). When the compression system is not in the basic mode, the activity value is measured (step 104), and when the activity value is higher than a preset threshold value, the wavelet compression system is selected and the image data are compressed (step 108), and the compressed data are recorded in the recording medium (step 110). When the activity value is lower than the preset threshold value, the JPEG system is selected and the image data are compressed (step 114), and the compressed data are recorded in the recording medium (step 110).