Abstract: The present invention relates to a lens mount assembly for use in photographic camera, video camera and other various optical instruments. Usually, electric drive units for focussing and zooming, respectively, are gear-coupled to such lens mount assembly and drive torque from these drive units often causes deviation, deflection and eccentricity of the lens mount assembly, and additionally causes unreliable gear-coupling of the drive units and deteriorated image forming capability of the optical systems. The present invention provides a barrel supporting mechanism adapted to slidably support a front section of the lens mount assembly in order to overcome these problems. The present invention further provides the lens mount assembly with a simplified dust-proof mechanism utilizing a floating ring.

Abstract: In a camera whose camera body is extended along the optical axis, the camera body has a camera body gripping recess at a position where the index, middle, ring and little fingers ae placed when the operator holds the camera with the hand from below so that the operator can hold the camera stable with the hand for a long period of time.

Abstract: An autofocus camera has a photographing lens, a shutter normally urged in a shutter opening direction and arranged to be opened and closed after it has once been closed prior to a photographing operation, a mirror movable between a view position which allows light passing through the lens and the shutter to be transmitted to a viewfinder optical system and an exposure position which allows light passing through the photographing lens and the shutter to be transmitted to the surface of a film, and an automatic focus adjustment apparatus for automatically adjusting the position of the lens.