Abstract: A cover member disposed in front of a lens includes a central section and a peripheral section. The peripheral section surrounds the central section and has a step bordering the central section. A part of the central section on a side bordering on the peripheral section is formed to be an inclined surface. Each of a starting point and an end point of the inclined surface is formed to be a curved surface. The cover member has a coated surface.

Abstract: An optical unit includes an optical member through which light from an object passes and an optical lens barrel that surrounds an outer peripheral surface of the optical member and contains the optical member therein. One of a concave portion and a convex portion is provided in a first surface of the optical member. The other is provided in a second surface of the optical member. The first surface and the second surface are in contact with each other. The concave portion and the convex portion engage each other. Also, increase of manufacturing steps can be suppressed by utilizing a burr formed in a position on a parting line as the convex portion.

Abstract: A lens apparatus includes four lens groups and a plurality of barrels with grooves that guide and drive the lens frames of the four lens groups in order to achieve a high zoom ratio and retraction of the lens apparatus into a camera body when the lens apparatus is not in use. Two sets of three guide grooves in a fixed barrel and three cam grooves in a cam barrel are unequally spaced around the circumference of the barrels so as to provide more room for an additional groove in the cam barrel. Some of the lens frames are fully supported by pins in the grooves and some of the lens frames are partially supported by guide rods in the lens apparatus. A single guide rod helps support two lens frames in order to save space in the lens apparatus.

Abstract: A lens apparatus includes four lens groups and a plurality of barrels with grooves that guide and drive the lens frames of the four lens groups in order to achieve a high zoom ratio and retraction of the lens apparatus into a camera body when the lens apparatus is not in use. Two sets of three guide grooves in a fixed barrel and three cam grooves in a cam barrel are unequally spaced around the circumference of the barrels so as to provide more room for an additional groove in the cam barrel. Some of the lens frames are fully supported by pins in the grooves and some of the lens frames are partially supported by guide rods in the lens apparatus. A single guide rod helps support two lens frames in order to save space in the lens apparatus.

Abstract: Back ends of guide bars that guide lens frames holding lenses are fixed to a base, and front ends of the guide bars are inserted into front end supporters provided on a middle frame. All the ends of the guide bars are supported, and thus the guide bars can stably move the lens frames.

Abstract: A zoom motor for driving a zoom lens optical system and a focus motor for driving a focus lens optical system are arranged in a lens barrel. The appearance shape per se of the lens barrel thereby becomes the appearance shape of the whole lens apparatus, which makes the appearance shape of the lens apparatus small and simple.

Abstract: Back ends of guide bars that guide lens frames holding lenses are fixed to a base, and front ends of the guide bars are inserted into front end supporters provided on a middle frame. All the ends of the guide bars are supported, and thus the guide bars can stably move the lens frames.

Abstract: A method and mechanism are disclosed for driving optical members in an optical apparatus, in which cam means formed on a lens barrel are provided with insensitive zones, so that the lens barrel is rotated to drive a diaphragm for adjustment of its diaphragm stop after the lens has been moved to the insensitive zones, then the lens barrel is rotated in the reverse direction with the diaphragm being maintained at its adjusted diaphragm stop, and thereby power variation and/or focussing of the lens as well as adjustment of the diaphragm stop are achieved using a single drive source. A cylindrical cam 40 is provided within a stationary lens barrel 30 so as to be rotatable around an optical axis S. The cylindrical cam 40 is formed with cam slits 41 each having insensitive zones 42 at longitudinally opposite ends thereof so that an enlarging lens 20 can not be further moved back and forth when lens driving pins 27 lie in these insensitive zones 42.