1. A recording defect inspection method for an image recording apparatus, comprising: a recording step of sequentially recording test patterns of respective recording heads onto a recording medium; an image capturing step of capturing an image of a test pattern recorded on the recording medium by means of a scanner; an analysis step of analyzing the captured test pattern and detecting a recording defect of the recording head which has recorded the test pattern; an evaluation frequency setting step of setting an evaluation frequency for each of the recording heads on the basis of a recording defect occurrence frequency for each recording head; and a control step of setting a frequency of analysis and detection for each of the recording heads in the analysis step to the set evaluation frequency.