Image capturing device and panoramic image creation method

A panoramic image creation method executed by an image capturing device for capturing an image at an angle of view of approximately 360 degrees in a horizontal direction, the image capturing device including a plurality of lenses having an optical axis in the horizontal direction, and an upper hood to shield incidence of light on the plurality of lenses from directly above, the upper hood limiting an incident angle of light to an angle greater than or equal to approximately 30 degrees and less than or equal to approximately 67 degrees, the incident angle being defined by a direction in which light from above is incident on each of the plurality of lenses at a maximum angle and the optical axis of the plurality of lenses, the panoramic image creation method comprising:

• generating an image that covers an angle greater than 180 degrees in the horizontal direction using a plurality of imaging elements each corresponding to one of the plurality of lenses, the plurality of imaging elements including a first imaging element and a second imaging element;
• performing pattern matching on an edge portion of a first image generated by the second imaging element using an edge portion of a second image generated by the first imaging element to identify stitching portions of the first image and the second image having a highest similarity;
• and
• stitching the first image and the second image in the stitching portions to create a panoramic image that covers approximately 360 degrees in the horizontal direction.