LENS BARREL

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lens barrel the overall length of which itself can be reduced without imposing significant restrictions on arrangement within a camera. SOLUTION: The lens barrel includes a stationary frame 1 and a second group-of-lenses holding frame 7. One end of a second group main rod 7e is attached to the second group-of-lenses holding frame 7 with a sleeve 7p between them so that the second group main rod can freely slide. Furthermore, one end of a second group sub rod 7f is attached to be fixed to the second group-of-lenses holding frame 7. The other ends of the main rod 7e and the second group sub rod 7f are attached to the stationary frame 1 so that the main rod and the second group sub rod can freely slide. Consequently, the second group-of-lenses holding frame 7 is borne while being permitted to freely advance or withdraw relative to the stationary frame 1 without rotating by the main rod 7e and the second group sub rod 7f. The main rod 7e is fixed to neither the stationary frame 1 nor the lens holding frame 7. Therefore, even when the lens barrel is collapsed, the main rod 7e does not jut backward beyond the stationary frame 1. COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT