An image pickup method of picking up images at a frame rate changeably set out of a plurality of frame rates is provided. The method includes the steps of: setting a vertical synchronization cycle in accordance with a set frame rate and adding an image pickup signal that does not include a valid image pickup region in accordance with the set vertical synchronization cycle while keeping a horizontal synchronization cycle of each image pickup signal constant, when obtaining an image pickup signal from an image sensor; and correcting a time axis of an obtained image pickup signal that includes a valid image pickup region, correspondingly to the set frame rate and deleting an obtained image pickup signal that does not include the valid image pickup region.