Abstract: A lens barrel for a zoom lens in which zooming is achieved by moving both front and rear lenses but focussing is achieved by moving only the front lens. When a sliding ring slides linearly for zooming, a cam sleeve is rotated. A pin in the cam sleeve engages a cam groove in a moving frame for the front lens to thereby linearly move the front lens. Another cam groove in the cam sleeve engages a pin in the frame for the rear lens to thereby also linearly move it. Focussing is achieved by a threaded rotation of the frame for the front lens on the moving frame.

Abstract: Cam grooves for displacing lenses of an optical system in which lenses or lens groups are displaced in parallel to an optical axis by a lens-operating ring mounted on a support barrel rotatable about the optical axis, but not shifted in parallel to the optical axis. The cam grooves are provided by obtaining the maximum lengths of displacement of vari-focal lenses, among the lengths of displacement of the one or more lenses or one more lens groups, in respective equal-difference minute ranges between respective changed focal lengths, over the entire range of a train of varying focal lengths or photographic distance; and by applying lead angles as slope of cam grooves to the respective maximum lengths of displacement of the lenses.

Abstract: An adapter for connecting an interchangeable lens, such as a lens which is ordinarily intended for use with a single-lens reflex camera, for which the distance from the rear surface on the lens to a focal plane is relatively great, to a camera body, such as a video camera body, for which the distance from the front surface of the lens mount to a focal plane is relatively small. The adapter includes a diaphragm, which is used in place of the diaphragm of the interchangeable lens, and an electric motor for controlling the aperture value provided by the diaphragm. The aperture data supplied by the interchangeable lens is transmitted to the camera body as electrical data, which is preferably produced with a variable resistor or the like. Contacts are provided on the casing of the adapter for transmitting data to the camera body and receiving an operating signal for the motor from the camera body.

Abstract: A zoom lens barrel capable of macro-photographing, having lens assemblies with a focusing lens assembly has a mount ring, a zooming ring and a focusing ring. The barrel further comprises a guide means between the mount ring and the focusing ring for enabling the focusing ring not only to rotate for normal photographing, and for macro-photographing, but also to move in the axial direction, a connecting ring which rotates to move only the focusing lens assembly, a macrohelicoid ring which rotates to move the whole lens assemblies while maintaining a predetermined spatial relationship therebetween, and a switching means for selectively connecting the connecting ring or the macrohelicoid ring to the focusing ring in accordance with the axial movement of the focusing ring.

Abstract: An intermediate adapter for coupling an interchangeable lens having a small flange focal distance, such as an interchangeable lens originally intended for use with a single-lens reflex camera, to a camera body having a large flange focal distance. The adapter includes an aperture device replacing a stop of the interchangeable lens and which is driven by an electric motor. An aperture value data transmitting member transmits aperture value data set by an aperture value setting member provided for the interchangeable lens to the aperture device. An aperture opening degree regulator sets an aperture opening degree to a set aperture value according to the aperture value data transmitted in an aperture driving operation performed by the electric motor. A video changeover device releases the aperture opening degree regulator to allow the aperture device to operate in a range of a fully open state to a fully closed state.

Abstract: A camera with an interchangeable lens, comprising a lens barrel having a focussing lens means, and a camera body having a mount to which a mount of the lens barrel is detachably connected and a focus detecting device, the lens barrel comprising a driving motor for moving the focussing lens means, said camera further comprising a control circuit which is provided either on the camera body or on the lens barrel to give a control signal to the driving motor, the camera body and the lens barrel being provided, on their mounts, with connector means for transmitting and receiving the focussing control signals, the connector means being interconnected when the lens barrel is connected to the camera body.

Abstract: In a camera having a displaceable actuator and a diaphragm adjustable between a maximum aperture value and a minimum aperture value responsive to displacement of the actuator, displacement of the actuator is arrested responsive to first, second, and third signals when the diaphragm is adjusted to the desired aperture value. The first signal is representative of the displacement of the actuator. The second signal is representative of the desired aperture value of the diaphragm for correct exposure. The third signal is representative of the difference between the minimum aperture value and the maximum aperture value. Preferably, the first, second, and third signals are applied to a microcomputer which controls the arresting of the actuator displacement.

Abstract: An interchangeable lens barrel comprising a lens barrel having a mount which can be attached to a mount of a camera body, focussing lens means rotatably supported on the lens barrel and moving in directions of the optical axis when it rotates, a driving circuit having a driving motor, a driving mechanism connected to the driving motor for rotating the focussing lens means, actuation switch means in the driving circuit, and means on the mount of the lens barrel for receiving a driving signal of the driving motor from the camera body.

Abstract: An interchangeable lens barrel comprising a lens barrel having a mount which can be attached to a mount of a camera body, focussing lens means rotatably supported on the lens barrel and moving in directions of the optical axis when it rotates, a driving motor, a driving mechanism connected to the driving motor for rotating the focussing lens means, and means on the mount of the lens barrel for receiving a driving signal of the driving motor from the camera body.

Abstract: An automatic focus camera with an interchangeable lens, comprising an interchangeable lens barrel having focussing lens means, a camera body having a focus detecting device, the lens barrel having a driving motor for axially moving the focussing lens means in accordance with a detection signal of the focus detecting device, switch circuit means on the camera body for actuating the focus detecting device and the driving motor, and external actuation switches on the lens barrel for actuating the focus detecting device and the driving motor, independently of the actuation of the switch circuit means.

Abstract: An interchangeable lens barrel for an automatic focussing camera comprising focussing lens means which are screwed in a non-rotatable member of the lens barrel and which rotate about and move in directions of the optical axis, a driving mechanism for rotating the focussing lens means in response to a drive signal from a focus detecting device of a camera body to which the lens barrel is to be mounted, said focussing lens means being capable of moving between front and rear extremities which are defined by the engagement of an abutment provided on the focussing lens means with a pair of stops which are provided on the non-rotatable member of the lens barrel and which come into contact with the abutment to limit the movement of the focussing lens means, wherein the improvement comprises brake means provided in the vicinity of the stops and engaged by the abutment to increase the resistance against the movement of the focussing lens means at the extremities.

Abstract: A zoom lens including a change-over device or mechanism for changing between a normal photographing mode and a macro photographing mode and in which zooming and focusing operations for normal photographing are carried out with a single operational barrel while focusing and zooming for the macro photographing mode are carried out with a second or macro photographing operational barrel. A change-over rod is slidably mounted on a support barrel which supports each of four lens groups. The change-over rod is selectively engageable and disengageable from the normal operational barrel and a macro operational barrel. When the change-over rod is engaged with the normal operational barrel for macro photographing, rotation of the normal operational barrel is prevented and each of the lens groups are moved integrally with one another.

Abstract: A zoom lens which may include two, three, or four lens groups. One of the lens groups is mounted in a focusing barrel and the others in moving barrels or a mount barrel. A zooming barrel is provided which is rotatable independently from the focusing barrel. A cam sleeve controls the movement of at least predetermined ones of the lens groups for zooming and close-up photographing while a guide ring operatively cooperates with the focusing barrel to provide a mechanical indication as to when a change-over is possible to the close-up photographing mode. A change-over sleeve cooperates with the zooming barrel for controlling the zooming operation.

Abstract: A lens barrel device capable of switching easily between automatic and manual focalizing operational modes with the lens barrel device deriving its focalizing operational force from a rotary member mounted in the camera body. A corresponding rotary member in the lens barrel rotates a rotary cylinder so as to move it straight along the optical axis of the barrel with the focalizing operational force being transferred from the rotary member to the rotary cylinder through a driven member and a holding member. The driven member and the holding member are coupled to the rotary cylinder by fixing the holding member to the driven member with an edge of the driven member and an edge of the holding member confronting first and second grooves formed in the rotary cylinder. An engaging ring is fixed to the holding member. Members which engage and disengage according to the longitudinal displacement of the operating ring along the optical axis are provided between the engaging ring and the operating ring.

Abstract: A lens barrel automatic focalization device for a camera in which the camera body furnishes a focalization operational force in which the rotational resistance force produced by the focalization operation is made constant over various lenses so that the response time of the focalization operation is made uniform. The camera body includes a mount and a rotary member rotatably mounted on the camera body on a shaft perpendicular to the optical axis of the camera at the lower center portion of the mount. The focalization device includes a rotary member positioned so as to be rotatable by the rotary member of the camera body with the rotational force of the rotary member being coupled to a rotary cylinder having threads engaged with the threads of a movable sleeve or cylinder. The rotary cylinder is mounted within a stationary cylinder with ball bearings being provided therebetween.