An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier formed with a latent image A developing device has a developing roller driven by a stepping motor. A rotary development apparatus supports the developing device on a rotating shaft to rotate to a developing position opposed to the image carrier to form an image by developing the latent image formed at the image carrier and transfers the developed image to a medium at a transferring position The developing roller is driven by the stepping motor in a region of the latent image of the image carrier and is stopped in a holding state in a region in which the latent image is not formed by a current lower than a current in driving the developing roller.