Abstract: A lens barrel, an image pickup apparatus, a lens drive method and a method of producing a shape memory alloy used for the drive device are disclosed. A drive device includes: a lens group for guiding light from a subject; a shape memory alloy adopted to be deformed by an electricity supplied to the shape memory alloy, for moving the lens group in a direction of an optical axis; and electricity-supply controlling means for controlling an amount of the electricity supplied to the shape memory alloy; and a detecting means for detecting whether a movement of the lens group starts or not. In the drive device, a movement amount of the lens group in the direction of the optical axis is controlled based on the amount of electricity supplied when the detecting means detects the movement of the lens group.

Abstract: A lens barrel, an image pickup apparatus, a lens drive method and a method of producing a shape memory alloy used for the drive device are disclosed. A drive device includes: a lens group for guiding light from a subject; a shape memory alloy adopted to be deformed by an electricity supplied to the shape memory alloy, for moving the lens group in a direction of an optical axis; and electricity-supply controlling means for controlling an amount of the electricity supplied to the shape memory alloy; and a detecting means for detecting whether a movement of the lens group starts or not. In the drive device, a movement amount of the lens group in the direction of the optical axis is controlled based on the amount of electricity supplied when the detecting means detects the movement of the lens group.

Abstract: A lens barrel, an image pickup apparatus, a lens drive method and a method of producing a shape memory alloy used for the drive device are disclosed. A drive device includes: a lens group for guiding light from a subject; a shape memory alloy adopted to be deformed by an electricity supplied to the shape memory alloy, for moving the lens group in a direction of an optical axis; and electricity-supply controlling means for controlling an amount of the electricity supplied to the shape memory alloy; and a detecting means for detecting whether a movement of the lens group starts or not. In the drive device, a movement amount of the lens group in the direction of the optical axis is controlled based on the amount of electricity supplied when the detecting means detects the movement of the lens group.

Abstract: An image taking apparatus comprising a frame, an image taking lens that includes at least one movable lens that can be moved in a direction of the optical axis of the image taking lens with respect to said frame, a lens frame that supports the movable lens, an actuator for moving the movable lens; and a movable frame that is coupled to a movable element of said actuator, wherein the lens frame and the movable frame are formed integrally.

Abstract: A print producing system to produce a print based on image data and print producing information which are transmitted, comprises a memory to store relevant information regarding the image data and the print producing information together with identification information; a controller to read the relevant information corresponding to the identification information from the memory when the image data and the print producing information are transmitted together with the identification information; and a printer to produce a print based on the image data and the print producing information by utilizing the relevant information read by the controller.

Abstract: In a camera provided with image-pickup elements for receiving light to form an image of a subject, for converting the light into electric signals and for producing image information of the image of the subject by the electric signals; there are further provided a print information producing device to produce print information for printing the image information; and a transmitor to transmit the image information and the print information.

Abstract: In a camera provided with image-pickup elements for receiving light to form an image of a subject, for converting the light into electric signals and for producing image information of the image of the subject by the electric signals; there are further provided a print information producing device to produce print information for printing the image information; and a transmitor to transmit the image information and the print information.

Abstract: There are described an electronic device and a digital still camera, which make it possible to generate or transmit coded data in a format convenient for each of peripheral devices to which the coded data are transmitted. The electronic device or the digital still camera includes a processor to compress image data by coding the image data, so as to generate coded data; a data communicating section to perform a bilateral data-communication with a peripheral device; and a determining section to determine a coding method for coding the image data, based on information pertaining to the peripheral device, which are acquired by the data communicating section. The processor codes the image data on the basis of the coding method determined by the determining section to generate the coded data. The determining section determines an arrangement order of the coded data based on the information pertaining to the peripheral device.

Abstract: In a camera provided with image-pickup elements for receiving light to form an image of a subject, for converting the light into electric signals and for producing image information of the image of the subject by the electric signals; there are further provided a print information producing device to produce print information for printing the image information; and a transmitor to transmit the image information and the print information.