The image forming apparatus has exposing device, conveying device, and sheet detecting device for detecting the sheet conveyed by the conveying device, which is disposed between the transferring portion and the conveying device, and control device for judging whether or not it is possible to start exposure by the exposing device before the leading edge of the sheet conveyed by the conveying device reaches the sheet detecting device after the leading edge of the sheet passes through the conveying device and for controlling so that causing the sheet conveyed by the conveying device is stopped in front of the sheet detecting device until it is determined that it is possible to start exposure by the exposing device. In the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus starts to form a latent image by the exposing device based on the detection of the sheet by the sheet detecting device.