1. An image processing apparatus comprising: image input means; and image processing means for time serially executing a plurality of spatial filter arithmetic operations for single image data input from said image input means in correspondence with a plurality of different spatial filter characteristics, wherein said image processing means comprises a spatial filter circuit capable of changing a selectivity related to a predetermined geometrical feature, and a control circuit for controlling a characteristic of said spatial filter circuit, and said control circuit applies a finite number of different spatial filter characteristics that are set in advance to the input image data and time serially extracts a plurality of spatial filter outputs related to the input image data.