Abstract: An image recording and playback apparatus and method and a recording medium by which a representative picture of image data recorded on a hard disk can be searched out and displayed rapidly are disclosed. An inputted AV signal is recorded on a hard disk, and a comparison table produced based on GOP numbers of an inputted image signal and recorded positions on the hard disk at which the top data of GOPs of the GOP numbers is recorded is recorded on another hard disk. Another table produced based on GOP numbers of GOPs in each of which an intra-picture necessary to play back a corresponding representative picture is included and the distances between the intra-pictures and the corresponding representative pictures included in the GOPs of the GOP numbers is recorded on a further hard disk.