Abstract: A lens barrel and an exterior housing have a highly dignified appearance while maintaining excellent strength. The lens barrel has a fixation frame with an opening portion and a switch pedestal cover member that covers the opening portion. A fitted portion is provided on an inner surface side of the cover member and fitted into the opening portion to position the cover member with respect to the fixation frame when the opening portion is covered with the cover member. A fixation portion is provided on an inner surface side of the cover member and disposed inside the fixation frame when the opening portion is covered with the cover member. A spring member engages with the fixation portion and an inner wall surface portion of the fixation frame to bias the cover member towards an inside of the fixation frame. The exterior housing has features similar to the lens barrel.

Abstract: Provided are a lens barrel and an exterior housing with a high appearance dignity and an excellent strength. A switch pedestal (20) includes four fixation metal fitting mounting shafts (25) that protrude to the inside of a fixation frame (10) through an opening portion (13) provided in the fixation frame (10). A fixation portion (26) is provided at a distal end of each fixation metal fitting mounting shaft (25). A fixation metal fitting (30) is attachably and detachably mounted onto the fixation portion (26). The fixation metal fitting (30) is formed of a leaf spring. The fixation metal fitting (30) mounted onto the fixation metal fitting mounting shafts (25) is engaged with an inner peripheral surface of the fixation frame (10) with a spring portion (32) elastically deformed.

Abstract: There is provided a lens barrel that can easily and reliably prevent an erroneous operation at the time of switching of a manual focus mode. A lens barrel body houses an imaging optical system including a focus lens. A focus operation ring rotates integrally with a first connection ring about an optical axis of the imaging optical system. A second connection ring is movable between an engagement position at which the second connection ring is engaged with the first connection ring and a cam ring and a disengagement position at which the second connection ring is not engaged with both of the first connection ring and the cam ring. A switching-operation ring is movable between a rotation-restriction position at which the switching-operation ring moves the second connection ring to the engagement position and a rotation-allowable position at which the switching-operation ring moves the second connection ring to the disengagement position.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a camera body of which a manual focus mode can be easily switched. A lens barrel includes an imaging optical system, a first operation ring, a second operation ring, and first and second sensors. The first sensor detects the rotation of the first operation ring and the rotation angle and the rotational direction of the first operation ring. The second sensor detects the angular position of the second operation ring. The imaging optical system includes a focus lens. A camera body includes a body control unit. The body control unit selectively executes a first manual focus mode in which the focus lens is moved according to the rotational direction and the rotation angle detected by the first sensor and a second manual focus mode in which the focus lens is moved according to the angular position detected by the second sensor.

Abstract: There is provided a lens barrel that can easily and reliably prevent an erroneous operation at the time of switching of a manual focus mode. A lens barrel body houses an imaging optical system including a focus lens. A focus operation ring rotates integrally with a first connection ring about an optical axis of the imaging optical system. A second connection ring is movable between an engagement position at which the second connection ring is engaged with the first connection ring and a cam ring and a disengagement position at which the second connection ring is not engaged with both of the first connection ring and the cam ring. A switching-operation ring is movable between a rotation-restriction position at which the switching-operation ring moves the second connection ring to the engagement position and a rotation-allowable position at which the switching-operation ring moves the second connection ring to the disengagement position.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a camera body of which a manual focus mode can be easily switched. A lens barrel includes an imaging optical system, a first operation ring, a second operation ring, and first and second sensors. The first sensor detects the rotation of the first operation ring and the rotation angle and the rotational direction of the first operation ring. The second sensor detects the angular position of the second operation ring. The imaging optical system includes a focus lens. A camera body includes a body control unit. The body control unit selectively executes a first manual focus mode in which the focus lens is moved according to the rotational direction and the rotation angle detected by the first sensor and a second manual focus mode in which the focus lens is moved according to the angular position detected by the second sensor.

Abstract: A method for adjusting an optical axis of an imaging optical system is provided. The imaging optical system includes: a first lens element; a right-angle prism; and a lens group, and is incorporated in a lens barrel including: a first holding member positioning and fixing the first lens and the right-angle prism; and a second holding member incorporating the lens group. The method includes: when assembling the first holding member and the second holding member, positioning the first holding member relative to the second holding member; making inspection light incident into the first lens; and changing a relative position of the first holding member to the second holding member so that an image obtained from the inspection light takes a reference position, so as to coincide an optical axis of the subject light emerged from the right-angle prism with an optical axis of the lens group.

Abstract: A method for adjusting an optical axis of an imaging optical system is provided. The imaging optical system includes: a first lens element; a right-angle prism; and a lens group, and is incorporated in a lens barrel including: a first holding member positioning and fixing the first lens and the right-angle prism; and a second holding member incorporating the lens group. The method includes: when assembling the first holding member and the second holding member, positioning the first holding member relative to the second holding member; making inspection light incident into the first lens; and changing a relative position of the first holding member to the second holding member so that an image obtained from the inspection light takes a reference position, so as to coincide an optical axis of the subject light emerged from the right-angle prism with an optical axis of the lens group.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes a first ring member having a ring frame portion and at least one leg portion which extends from the ring frame portion in an optical axis direction; and a second ring member, which is relatively movable in the optical axis direction with respect to the first ring member, the second ring member having at least one slot which extends in the optical axis direction, the leg portion being inserted into the slot so that the leg portion can move in the optical axis direction along the slot. The second ring member is coupled to the first ring member so that the second ring member is positioned substantially within a radial thickness of the leg portion.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes a first ring member having a ring frame portion and at least one leg portion which extends from the ring frame portion in an optical axis direction; and a second ring member, which is relatively movable in the optical axis direction with respect to the first ring member, the second ring member having at least one slot which extends in the optical axis direction, the leg portion being inserted into the slot so that the leg portion can move in the optical axis direction along the slot. The second ring member is coupled to the first ring member so that the second ring member is positioned substantially within a radial thickness of the leg portion.

Abstract: A zoom lens barrel includes a through groove which is provided on a first cylindrical member; a radial projection provided on a second cylindrical member; and a roller which is supported by the radial projection and is fitted in the through groove. The through groove has an opening width on the inner diameter of the first cylindrical member which is greater than the opening width on the outer diameter thereof. The roller is provided with an slip-off prevention portion whose diameter is greater than the opening width of the through groove on the outer diameter of the first cylindrical member, but smaller than the opening width on the inner diameter. The through groove is provided with a large width portion at which the roller is fitted into, so that the slip-off prevention portion is located in the through groove.

Abstract: An apparatus for preventing a leakage of light in a zoom lens barrel includes a pair of cylindrical members which are relatively rotatable and relatively movable in an optical axis direction; a drive mechanism which reciprocally moves one of the cylindrical members in the optical axis direction relative to the other cylindrical member of the pair of cylindrical members when the other cylindrical member is rotated; and helical light interception projections that are provided on opposed peripheral surfaces of the pair of cylindrical members so as not to screw-engage with each other. The helical light interception projections are adapted to prevent light from entering a space between the pair of cylindrical members while permitting the pair of cylindrical members to relatively rotate and relatively move in the optical axis direction.

Abstract: A securing device, for securing a light interception frame made of a resilient material to an end face of a lens frame, includes engagement projections and engagement surfaces provided on the peripheral surface of the lens frame, engagement legs and engagement pieces provided on the light interception frame having a light interception plate portion; wherein the light interception plate portion has an opening through which light can pass. The positional relationship between the plurality of engagement projections and the plurality of engagement legs, and the positional relationship between the plurality of engagement surfaces and the plurality of engagement pieces are such that when the engagement pieces engage with the engagement surfaces in a free state of the light interception frame, no engagement occurs, and the engagement legs are engaged by the engagement projections by elastically deforming the light interception frame.

Abstract: A securing device, for securing a light interception frame made of a resilient material to an end face of a lens frame, includes engagement projections and engagement surfaces provided on the peripheral surface of the lens frame, engagement legs and engagement pieces provided on the light interception frame having a light interception plate portion; wherein the light interception plate portion has an opening through which light can pass. The positional relationship between the plurality of engagement projections and the plurality of engagement legs, and the positional relationship between the plurality of engagement surfaces and the plurality of engagement pieces are such that when the engagement pieces engage with the engagement surfaces in a free state of the light interception frame, no engagement occurs, and the engagement legs are engaged by the engagement projections by elastically deforming the light interception frame.

Abstract: An inner barrel includes a male helicoid, and an outer barrel includes a female helicoid which can engage with the male helicoid of the inner barrel. The included angle of trapezoidal threads of the male helicoid are identical to an included angle of trapezoidal grooves of the female helicoid in a section perpendicular to a direction of an extension of the threads.

Abstract: A zoom lens barrel includes a stationary barrel; a first rotational feed barrel which is engaged with the stationary barrel by means of helicoids; a first linear movement barrel which is engaged with the first rotational feed barrel so as to relatively rotate and to relatively move together along the optical axis and which is provided on the inner peripheral surface thereof with a female helicoid; a second rotational feed barrel which has a male helicoid and a female helicoid on the outer and inner peripheral surfaces thereof respectively; a rotational transmission barrel which is engaged with the first rotational feed barrel so as to relatively move along the optical axis and to rotate together, and which is integrally connected to the second rotational feed barrel; a second linear movement barrel which is provided on outer peripheral surface thereof with a male helicoid which engages with the female helicoid of the second rotational feed barrel; a lens group that is held by said second rotational feed barre

Abstract: A control method for a zoom lens camera which includes a focal length detection mechanism which detects the focal length divided into a finite number of steps; and a focus drive mechanism which drives the focusing lens group to move the same to the finite number of steps, the method includes measuring actual focal points of the zoom lens system at the wide angle extremity and the telephoto extremity, whereby any deviations of the focal points from a focal plane are obtained; converting the deviations to a displacement of said focusing lens group at each focal length of said finite number of steps, taking into account the focus sensitivity of said focusing lens group, wherein the data of said displacement is stored in a memory; and driving the focusing lens group, upon focusing, in accordance with the displacement of said focusing lens group determined based on object distance data and focal length data, in addition to the stored displacement data.

Abstract: A multi-stage extension type zoom lens barrel includes a first rotational feed barrel rotatably connected to a stationary barrel; a first linear movement barrel disposed in, and rotatably connected to, the first rotational feed barrel without relatively moving in the optical axis direction; a second rotational feed barrel disposed in, and rotatably connected to, the first linear movement barrel so as to move in the optical axis direction relative to the first linear movement barrel upon rotating; a rotation transmission barrel which can be detachably inserted between the first rotational feed barrel and the first linear movement barrel from the front thereof; a rotation transmission groove and a projection which connects the rotation transmission barrel and the first rotational feed barrel so as to relatively move in the optical axis direction without relatively rotating; connection members provided at the front ends of the rotation transmission barrel and the second rotational feed barrel; and a connection h

Abstract: A lens barrel is disclosed that includes: a linear moving barrel which moves along an optical axis; a unit secured to the linear moving barrel; a linear guide member which moves along the optical axis relative to the unit without rotating about the optical axis, the linear guide member comprising at least one guide leg extending in a direction of the optical axis and engaging with the unit so as to guide the unit along the optical axis while preventing the unit from rotating about the optical axis; and a surface for supporting the at least one guide leg so as not to bend toward the optical axis, wherein the supporting surface is formed on the unit and extends in the direction of the optical axis.

Abstract: Disclosed is an engaging structure of two cylindrical members. At least part of one of the two cylindrical members is coaxially fitted on the other cylindrical member. The engaging structure includes: a plurality of radial projections formed on the second cylindrical member; two annular flanges formed on the other cylindrical member to form a circumferential groove therebetween, the plurality of radial projections being fitted in the circumferential groove; and a plurality of cut-away portions, formed on one of the two annular flanges, through which the plurality of radial projections are respectively inserted into the circumferential groove. Each corresponding pair of the plurality of projections and the plurality of cut-away portions are formed to have a circumferential width different from those of the other corresponding pairs of the plurality of projections and the plurality of cut-away portions.