Abstract: The present invention relates to a zoom lens having a controller which controls driving of a zoom portion, based on input of zoom control information, and which controls driving of the zoom portion while calculating a target drive state (zoom position) of the zoom portion in order to effect correction for variation in an angle of view with driving of a focus portion. In the present invention the lens of this type is constructed to determine whether the input of the zoom control information is information about the target drive state of the zoom portion (for example, whether the zoom control information is information about the zoom drive state of the zoom portion or information about driving speed of the zoom portion).

Abstract: A light interception structure for an automatic focus detection surveying instrument that includes a telescopic optical system having an objective optical system and an ocular optical system. A beam splitting optical element splits object light transmitted through the objective optical system of the telescopic optical system and includes a splitting surface. A focus detection device has a light receiving device for receiving light split by the beam splitting optical element. One surface of the beam splitting optical element is provided with an anti-reflection treatment. The one surface is a surface upon which external light entering the telescopic optical system through the ocular optical system is first incident after passing through or being reflected by the beam splitting surface of the beam splitting optical element.

Abstract: A camera in which the ratio of an object to the photographing frame can be set comprises a varifocal lens in which the in-focus position is changed in accordance with the change in the focal lens and a focusing lens for correcting the focus by the varifocal lens. The size of the object is set to the desired size by using the varifocal lens, and thereafter the deviation of the in-focus point is controlled by the focusing lens. Since the zooming is carried out by using a varifocal lens, a camera can be provided in which the ratio of an object to the photographing frame can be set in a simple structure.

Abstract: The invention discloses an optical apparatus comprises an optical member, manual operation means for manually driving the optical member, a driving motor for electrically driving the optical member, determination means for determining either manual drive by the manual operation means or electrical drive by the driving motor, connection means for transmitting drive force by the driving motor to the optical member with a predetermined connection torque, and control means for varying the connection torque of the connection means based on the result of determination by the determination means.

Abstract: In a zoom lens device of the present invention, an aperture at a predetermined zooming step that is other than a telephoto end and a wide-angle end is smaller than apertures at the other zooming steps, and the predetermined zooming step is used only when a macro shooting mode is chosen. In the present invention, the predetermined zooming step between the telephoto end and the wide-angle end is set only for the macro shooting mode, and the aperture in the macro shooting mode is small enough to make the field depth large. Therefore, the simple and inexpensive lens device can perform the macro shooting.

Abstract: A light interception structure for an automatic focus detection surveying instrument includes a telescopic optical system having an objective optical system and an ocular optical system, a beam splitting optical element which splits object light transmitted through the objective optical system from the telescopic optical system, and a focus detector having a light receiver which receives the object light split by the beam splitting optical element. One surface of the beam splitting optical element upon which external light entering the telescopic optical system through the ocular optical system is first made incident after the external light passes through or is reflected by a beam splitting surface of the beam splitting optical element is subject to an anti-reflection treatment.

Abstract: The control unit sets up the center and an insensitive zone of a zoom seesaw switch provided in a drive unit of an ENG lens by an electrical processing. The control unit is capable of dispensing with a mechanical adjustment of the center and the insensitive zone of the zoom seesaw switch in assembling the product, and the assembly of the product is thus simplified. On turning on a center setting switch while the zoom seesaw switch is released from the operation, an operational position of the zoom seesaw switch at that time is accurately set as the center that brings the moving rapidity of the zoom lens to zero. On setting an insensitive zone size by an insensitive zone setup device, the moving rapidity of the zoom lens becomes zero whenever the operational position of the zoom seesaw switch is within the insensitive zone. Any of these settings is carried out by a processing of a CPU.

Abstract: A lens driving control apparatus for a zoom lens includes a zooming operation member for operating a zoom part of the zoom lens, a focusing operation member for operating a focusing lens part of the zoom lens, and a control circuit for driving and controlling the zoom part. The control circuit computes information about driving of the zoom part for substantially preventing a change of angle of view resulting from movement of the focusing lens part, on the basis of an operation signal of the zooming operation member and an operation signal of the focusing operation member or a position signal of the focusing lens part and a position signal of the zoom part, and drives and controls the zoom part in accordance with the computed information.

Abstract: A method (20) for automatically focusing an optical instrument (1) having a lens (10) with only two focus positions. The method comprises acquiring a first image (21) when the lens (10) is in a first position (15) and thereafter processing pixel light intensities (22) of part of the image to provide a focus detection value indicative of image blurr. A threshold test (23) is then effected and if the focus detection value is outside a desired range the lens (10) is automatically moved to a second position (16).

Abstract: A lens controlling apparatus includes a lens-driving stepping motor, a driving current forming circuit for forming a driving current waveform to be supplied to the stepping motor, an inputting circuit for inputting a stop instruction to stop the lens-driving stepping motor, a stopping circuit for performing the operation of stopping the stepping motor in accordance with the stop instruction, a phase detecting circuit for detecting the phase of the driving current waveform to be supplied to the stepping motor, and an inhibiting circuit for inhibiting the stop instruction from being executed except when the phase of the driving current waveform detected by the phase detecting circuit is a predetermined phase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a zoom lens apparatus used with a television camera and provides an apparatus constructed in such structure that, on the occasion of limiting an angle of view, a zoom state set and manipulated by a photographer is converted to information about an angle of view, the angle of view is compared with a limit angle of view, and the angle of view is prevented from exceeding the limit angle of view.

Abstract: A plurality of movable lenses included in a zoom lens system are driven individually by piezoelectric actuators provided one for each lens. Two driving rods are arranged at different positions along the same line in such a way that neither of the driving rods reaches into the driving stroke of the lens driven by the other. Each driving rod has a piezoelectric actuator provided at its end farther from the other. Alternatively, a plurality of piezoelectric actuators are fixed to a single base block having a groove or a surface level difference to restrict propagation of vibration between the piezoelectric actuators. A graduated member having N-pole and S-pole regions formed alternatively thereon with a predetermined pitch is fixed, parallel to the driving rods, to the driving device itself. A magnetic resistance sensor is attached to each lens frame so as to face the graduated member. Based on the outputs of the sensors, the positions of the individual lenses are detected.

Abstract: A lens control apparatus includes a lens, a counter which indicates a driving position of the lens, and a control part which initializes a count value of the counter every time the lens passes a predetermined reference position during an image pickup operation.

Abstract: A lens driving control apparatus for a zoom lens includes a zooming operation member for operating a zoom part of the zoom lens, a focusing operation member for operating a focusing lens part of the zoom lens, and a control circuit for driving and controlling the zoom part. The control circuit computes information about driving of the zoom part for substantially preventing a change of angle of view resulting from movement of the focusing lens part, on the basis of an operation signal of the zooming operation member and an operation signal of the focusing operation member or a position signal of the focusing lens part and a position signal of the zoom part, and drives and controls the zoom part in accordance with the computed information.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes a moving tube arranged to move in an optical axis direction, the moving tube having at least three cams arranged along a circumferential direction thereof, in which an interval between one pair of cams in the circumferential direction is larger than an interval between another pair of cams in the circumferential direction, a cutout being formed in the moving tube at a part between the one pair of cams having the larger interval, and a driving device disposed on the side of the cutout of the moving tube and including a motor having a rotation shaft parallel with the optical axis direction and a gear mechanism having an output gear arranged to rotate according to a rotation of the rotation shaft, the motor and the output gear being juxtaposed, and end parts of the motor and the output gear on the side of the moving tube being inserted within the cutout of the moving tube at least when the moving tube comes closest to the motor and the output gear.

Abstract: A condenser of solar energy on a moving structure, with east-west solar tracking and a modular liquid lens, the former consisting of a system capable of concentrating the solar energy by the incorporation of one or several modular liquid lenses, and the latter comprised by the connection of different transparent lenticular recipients, capacitated for installation on a metallic structure of spherical or cylindrical shape which, by means of the action of a divergent lens and a liquid prism transmits the heat to the fluid in a primary circuit which by means of a heat exchanger provides the temperature necessary for the different energy uses.

Abstract: A zoom lens barrel assembly includes an operating barrel formed with a zooming cam operative to perform zooming and focusing while turning, an inner movable barrel fixedly holding a front lens group and formed with a focusing cam which is movable axially only, an intermediate barrel capable of turning relatively to the inner movable barrel within a specified extent of angular interval, and a clutch mechanism operative to couple the intermediate barrel, during zooming, to the inner movable barrel together to restrain the intermediate barrel from turning relatively to the inner movable barrel so as thereby to shift axially the inner movable barrel through the zooming cam following a turn of the operating barrel and, during focusing, to the operating barrel together to restrain the intermediate barrel from turning relatively to the operating barrel and allow the inner movable barrel to turn relatively to the intermediate barrel so as thereby to shift axially the inner movable barrel relatively to the intermediat

Abstract: A lens barrel has a focusing operation and a zooming operation which are carried out with only one driving source which is installed outside the lens barrel so as to realize a most suitable resolution for each of the operations. A rotary cylinder which supports a zooming frame which is axially movably therein, is connected to a linear-moving cylinder with a bayonet, which is axially movably supported inside a fixed cylinder. A focus rotation transmission key of a driving cylinder drives a lens frame which engages the zooming frame by a connecting helicoid. A zooming rotation transmission key of the driving cylinder engages an edge surface, forming a rotation transmission groove, of the rotary cylinder, with a play range. Upon rotation of the driving cylinder, only the lens frame is rotated to operate a focusing operation within the play range; however, the rotary cylinder is rotated to operate a zooming operation when the key contacts the edge surface of the rotary cylinder.

Abstract: In a lens control apparatus, the performance does not deteriorate even if a filter is inserted and removed. Correction amounts of a focusing lens position which are necessary to eliminate an out-of-focus that is caused when, for example, a filter is inserted are actually measured at several zooming positions such as zm0, zm1, zm2, and zm3 and the results are stored into a predetermined memory such as an ROM or the like in a CPU 36 with respect to a position control of a lens. A correction amount when the filter is inserted at an arbitrary zooming position is calculated by a polygonal line approximation based on correction amounts at the several zooming positions. By adding this correction amount to the focusing lens position which is calculated in accordance with separately stored zoom tracking curve data when the filter is removed, a correct in-focus state can be obtained even when the filter is inserted.

Abstract: A zoom lens comprises a plurality of lens units movable along an optical axis for zooming and a lens unit movable along the optical axis for focusing, wherein the focusing lens unit moves integrally with one lens unit of the plurality of lens units in at least one zooming zone, and, in another zooming zone, moves while varying a separation thereof relative to the one lens unit.

Abstract: A method of controlling the size of a laser beam comprises the steps of generating the laser beam with a laser, focusing the laser beam, directing the laser beam to a target, directing a portion of the laser beam to an optical detector which generates a signal representative of a fluence distribution of the laser beam, and adjusting a focal point of the laser beam based on the measured fluence distribution to control the size of the laser beam on the target.

Abstract: An optical apparatus according to the present invention includes a cylindrical holding barrel, a lens moving mechanism including a cylindrical cam which is rotatably fitted on an outer surface of the holding barrel in such a manner that a plurality of moving lens frames held in the holding barrel are moved in an optical axis direction, a light quantity adjusting mechanism held in the holding barrel, for adjusting a quantity of light passing therethrough, lens moving mechanism driving sources for driving the lens moving mechanism, and light quantity adjusting mechanism driving sources for driving the light quantity adjusting mechanism. The lens moving mechanism driving sources and the light quantity adjusting mechanism driving sources are held in the holding barrel.

Abstract: A lens control apparatus which corrects a variation in a focus position due to a zooming operation by driving a compensator lens at a standard speed according to a predetermined cam locus is arranged to determine a correction direction on the basis of an integral value of a high-frequency component and a correction speed on the basis of the ratio of the high-frequency component to a luminance difference, and to combine the correction speed based on the state of focus with the standard speed.

Abstract: A lens control device for an inner focus lens system has a first lens group for zooming; a second lens group for focusing; a first zooming unit for controlling the second lens group for correcting the displacement of the focal plane resulting from the movement of the first lens group; a memory for memorizing the relative position of the second lens group to the first lens group in a zooming operation by the first zooming unit; a calculation unit for calculating the moving speed of the second lens group based on the memorized data, in order to maintain the focused in the course of movement of the first lens group; and a second zooming unit for controlling the second lens group according to the result of calculation.

Abstract: A lens position control apparatus includes an absolute position detecting part for detecting the absolute position of a lens, a relative position detecting part for detecting the relative position of the lens, a driving part for driving the lens, and a control part for controlling the driving part to drive the lens to a predetermined position within a driving range of the lens on the basis of an output of the absolute position detecting part and, after that, drive the lens to an end position of the driving range on the basis of an output of the relative position detecting part, so that the lens position control can be promptly initialized.

Abstract: An optical apparatus includes a first lens for zooming, a second lens which is arranged in rear of the first lens on an optical axis to correct a shift of a focal plane caused by a motion of the first lens, a vibration wave motor arranged to serve as a drive source for the second lens, and a decision circuit which decides a driving direction and a driving speed of the vibration wave motor by using at least information on the positions of the first and second lenses.

Abstract: A zoom lens apparatus which is superior in sound insulating and dust-proof properties and is easy to handle in transportation, storage and so forth. A lens system including a zoom lens set, a focusing lens set and an iris disposed on a single optic axis, a zoom lens driving section composed of a motor, a ball screw, a lens holding member, a nut member and so forth for driving the zoom lens, a focusing lens driving section composed of a guide rod, a lens holding member, a movable coil, an outer yoke, magnets and so forth for driving the focusing lens, and an iris motor for opening and closing the iris are accommodated in the housing having a substantially rectangular outer profile.

Abstract: An automatic focusing apparatus for a telephotographic system includes a telephotographic system which moves a focusing lens along an optical axis to control the focus, a focus detector which detects the focus state through the telephotographic system, a lens moving device which moves the focusing lens, a controller which drives the lens moving device in accordance with the focus state detected by the detector to move the focusing lens to thereby control the focus, and an external operation device which actuates the controller to perform the focusing operation. The controller continues the focusing operation until the focusing operation is completed when the external operation device is actuated.

Abstract: A position detecting device includes a moving body, and a detection mechanism which detects a moving position of the moving body on the basis of a level of a detection signal, wherein a peak value of the level of the detection signal is set to be obtained at an intermediate point within a moving range of the moving body.

Abstract: A soft focus lens which is designed as a retrofocus type lens, comprises a front lens group having a negative power, a rear lens group having positive power, and a diaphragm located within the rear lens group. The front and rear lens groups are arranged in this order from an object side. In particular, the soft focus lens satisfies the following conditions;SAU/f<-0.10 (1)f/fF<-0.5 (2)whereSAU is spherical aberration at full open aperture, f is focal length of the whole lens system, and fF is focal length of the front lens group.

Abstract: An optical apparatus comprises a guide member, an optical member capable of moving while being guided by the guide member, a vibration member held by the optical member and having a contact portion placed in contact with the guide member, the optical member being capable of being moved by a vibration produced by the vibration member, and a spring for pressing the vibration member against the guide member, the spring being held by the optical member, wherein the optical member is pressed against the guide member by a reaction force of the spring.

Abstract: In a zoom lens system in which the movement locus of a focusing lens unit is defined by synthesizing a focus cam and a zoom compensation cam, when the sensitivity of movement of an image point in association with the movement, in the direction of the optical axis, of the focusing lens unit in a closest in-focus state is larger than that in an infinity in-focus state, the ratio of the amount of rotation for focusing upon focusing from the infinity position to the closest distance position to the amount of rotation for zooming from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end in the focus cam is set to fall within a predetermined range, so that the sensitivity of movement of an image point in association with the movement, in the direction of rotation, of the focusing lens unit satisfies a specific condition.

Abstract: A lens drive mechanism includes first and second members positioned adjacent to each other, where the second member supports a lens group and is movable relative to the first member along an optical axis of the lens group. A first guide shaft is provided which extends in a direction of the optical axis which is supported by the first member to be guided in the direction of the optical axis. One end of the first guide shaft is secured to the second member. A screw shaft extends in the direction of the optical axis and has a first thread, where one end of the screw shaft is secured to the second member and the screw shaft is positioned adjacent to the first guide shaft. A device for detecting whether the lens group is located at an extremity of a predetermined movable range of the lens group relative to the first member along the optical axis is also provided. The detecting device includes a connecting member secured to the other end of each of the screw shaft and the first guide shaft.

Abstract: A magnification change-over device is arranged to be highly suitable for a camera of the kind having a photo-taking lens and a viewfinder arranged independently of each other. The device includes the photo-taking lens having an image magnification which is variable; the viewfinder which is arranged to have an image magnification thereof also variable; an operating device for varying the image magnification of the viewfinder; a detecting device for detecting the magnifying state of the viewfinder; and a driving apparatus for driving the photo-taking lens according to a detection signal of the detecting device when a shutter release operation is performed. After a magnification setting operation is performed on the viewfinder, the change-over device changes the magnification of the photo-taking lens according to the magnification of the viewfinder when a photographing operation is actually performed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a video-camera imaging-system lens barrel which overcomes the problem of a four-lens-group-type video-camera imaging-system lens barrel, which has a complicated structure and large size and weight due to the large number of lens groups. In a so-called two-group-type lens system, a first lens group 2 and a second lens group 3, which are in focus in an imaging plane (CCD 4) for each zoom magnification at fixed subject distances .alpha.m and .beta.m, are controlled such that they move along zoom tracking curves 1.sub.1, 1.sub.2, 1.sub.3 and 1.sub.4 which represent the paths of movement of the respective positions of the first lens group and the second lens group.

Abstract: A magnification and focus adjustment control device, includes a first lens unit; a second lens unit; and a first and second guiding device for guiding a movement of the second lens unit. While an operation of a magnification change is conducted, a position of the second guiding device relating to the first guiding device is selected to be a lens guiding position where the second lens unit is guided by the first and second guiding devices so that the second lens unit moves along a predetermined locus relating to a movement of the first lens unit. While an operation of a focus adjustment is conducted, the position of the second guiding device relating to the first guiding device is selected to be a guide releasing position where a guidance of the predetermined locus of the second guiding device relating to the first guiding device is released.

Abstract: A lens barrel for a camera includes a photography optical system, an ultrasonic motor, an external manual operation member and a conversion device. The ultrasonic motor includes a vibrating member that generates ultrasonic vibrations and a relative moving member connected with the vibrating member that moves the photography optical system along an optical axis through the ultrasonic vibrations. The external manual operation member is moved manually to move the photography optical system along the optical axis via the relative moving member. The conversion device reduces an amount by which the relative moving member moves in response to an amount by which the external manual operation member is moved. As a result, the external manual operation member can be used to adjust the photography optical system by minute amounts.

Abstract: A zoom lens is described which is quite simple and yet provides a wide (5:1) zoom range. The lens consists of a front focusing negative lens which provides a stationary virtual image for two rear zooming lens groups. These two zooming groups are positive and reimage the object at a camera pickup device. Such zooming groups are of substantially equal focal length and bear equally in the magnification change. The invention includes a magnifier which utilizes the zoom lens and has the mechanical aspects necessary to provide the needed lens motions.

Abstract: A lens barrel has a manual focusing ring which is rotatable about the optical axis so as to attain a manual focusing operation, a focusing rotary cylinder which defines the position, in the optical axis direction, of a focusing optical system, and is rotatable about the optical axis, an auto-focusing power transmission member for directly transmitting the moving force from an auto-focusing power source to the focusing rotary cylinder, a free rotation cylinder which is arranged on the focusing rotary cylinder, and is rotatable about the optical axis, a manual focusing power transmission member for transmitting the moving force from the manual focusing ring, a power relaying member which constitutes a differential mechanism together with the manual focusing power transmission member and the free rotation cylinder, and applies the rotation driving force to the focusing rotary cylinder by receiving the moving force transmitted from the manual focusing power transmission member, and a locking member for locking th

Abstract: A zoom lens is comprised of a fixed barrel, an intermediate barrel coupled to the fixed barrel through helicoid screws, a movable barrel coupled to the intermediate barrel through helicoid screws, a front lens group fixedly held in the movable barrel, and a rear lens group. The position of the front lens group in the optical axis direction is always determined by the axial movement of the intermediate barrel relative to the fixed barrel and the axial movement of the movable barrel relative to the intermediate barrel. The axial position of the rear lens group is determined by the axial movement of the intermediate barrel relative to the fixed barrel and a cam surface formed in an inner periphery of the intermediate barrel. As the axial position of the cam surface within the intermediate barrel changes with the rotational position of the intermediate barrel, the rear lens group moves in the axial direction relative to the intermediate barrel during zooming.

Abstract: A lens control apparatus has an electric motor connected to a focusing lens to drive the focusing lens, an automatic focus adjustment device which supplies electrical power to the motor to operate the motor electrically to drive the focusing lens in an automatic focus adjustment mode, and a manual operation device which operates the motor mechanically to drive the focusing lens in a manual focus adjustment mode. A control device stops supplying of electrical power to the motor when the manual operation device is operated.

Abstract: A surface wave motor built-in lens barrel has a manual focus adjusting mode and an autofocus adjusting mode. The lens barrel comprises a photographing optical system, a fixed drum, a surface wave motor so fitted to the fixed drum as to be rotatable about an optical axis and having a fixed member capable of generating surface waves and a moving member friction-contacting the fixed member, rotating about the optical axis by the surface waves and thereby capable of moving the photographing optical system and a manual operation member capable of moving the photographing optical system by an outside operation. The photographing optical system is, in the manual focus adjusting mode, moved when the moving member and the fixed member of the surface wave motor become integral and rotated interlocking with a manual operation of the manual operation member.

Abstract: A photographic printing apparatus includes a lens unit and a lens mount which are joined to each other in a separable manner. The lens mount includes therein a drive motor and a drive force transmitting mechanism to adjust the focal distance and aperture of the lens unit. A plurality of lens units having different focal distances are provided, from which a lens unit suitable for a printing magnification is automatically selected for printing. Each lens unit is provided with external connection members which are connected to an aperture adjusting mechanism and the focal distance adjusting mechanism of the lens unit. The lens mount to which the lens unit is attached is provided with members which are engaged with the external connection members of the lens unit to displace them. The displacement of these members is effected by motors provided on the lens mount. With this structure, the cost of lens units can be reduced, and the efficiency of the printing operation can be increased.

Abstract: A lens control device for an inner focus lens system has a first lens group for zooming; a second lens group for focusing; a first zooming unit for controlling the second lens group for correcting the displacement of the focal plane resulting from the movement of the first lens group; a memory for memorizing the relative position of the second lens group to the first lens group in a zooming operation by the first zooming unit; a calculation unit for calculating the moving speed of the second lens group based on the memorized data, in order to maintain the focused in the course of movement of the first lens group; and a second zooming unit for controlling the second lens group according to the result of calculation.

Abstract: A linear feeding system comprises a DC motor with brush, a lead screw integrally arranged as the rotational shaft of the DC motor, and a nut member screwed on the lead screw. This linear feeding system further comprises a magnet installed on the rotational shaft of the DC motor, which is provided with a plurality of N-pole and S-pole magnets being magnetized alternately in the circumferential direction, and a magnetoresistive effect sensor fixedly arranged to face this magnet. With this structure, it is possible to provide a simply structured, small linear feeding system capable of performing a high precision high-speed feeding operation at low costs.

Abstract: A thermal imaging system (100) for a vehicle includes an objective lens (104) for receiving an image of the object, an eyepiece lens (102) for viewing the image of the object, and a compensator lens (106) movably located between the objective and eyepiece lenses (104, 102) for providing a thermal image of the object. The system (100) includes a servo motor control system (107, 109, 110, 112 and 114) for controlling the position of the compensator lens (106) based upon temperature, range and field of view to provide an accurate thermal image of the object.

Abstract: A lens holding frame holding a lens in a lens barrel is arranged, and a contact member extending therebelow is in friction coupling with a driving axis. By applying driving pulses having such a waveform that includes a moderate rising portion followed by an abrupt falling portion to a piezoelectric element, the holding frame is moved along the direction of the optical axis. An index provided at the holding frame is exposed through a slit of lens barrel, and from the position of the lens on the holding frame, information with respect to the distance to the object is displayed. Detection of the position of the holding frame is performed by a position sensor of ferromagnetic thin film magneto-resistive element type (MR sensor) so as to obtain positional information of the lens on the holding frame based on the detection signal, and the obtained information may be displayed on a liquid crystal or other display portion provided on the lens unit or on a camera body.

Abstract: A variable-magnification image taking device comprising a phototaking lens for varying magnification, a solid-state image pickup device for receiving an object image formed by the phototaking lens and recording the image information of the object image, a moving device for axially moving the solid-state image pickup device, and a control device for controlling the moving device so as to position the solid-state image pickup device at the focus position of the object image, movable according to the magnification-varying operation of the phototaking lens.

Abstract: A lens control system is disclosed, which comprises a focusing lens drive for driving a focusing lens for focus control, a zooming lens drive for driving a zooming lens for zooming, a focusing lens position detector for detecting the Position of the focusing lens, a zooming lens position detector for detecting the position of the zooming lens, and a control circuit for controlling, when the zooming lens position detector detects that the zooming lens is in a macro region, the focusing lens drive to stop the focusing lens at a predetermined position.

Abstract: A lens bodytube has an auto-focusing mode in which a photographing lens is automatically driven to an in-focus position by a drive force of a motor and a manual focusing mode in which the photographing lens is driven to the in-focus position by manually rotating a distance ring. A movable member is driven to a first position in the auto-focusing mode and to a second position in the manual focusing mode. When the movable member is at the first position, it is coupled to the motor to transmit a drive force of the motor to a rotary ring which drives the photographing lens along an optical axis. When the movable member is in the second position, it is coupled to the distance ring to transmit a manual drive force from the distance ring to the rotary ring.