Patent Publication Number: US-2010110276-A1

Title: Imaging apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus, and particularly, to an imaging apparatus provided with an ear pad having a speaker. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     The use of a camera-integrated image recording apparatus (hereinafter simply referred to as “imaging apparatus”) having a camera as an image input unit and an image recording unit for recording images taken with the camera is widespread. 
     The image recording unit records still images, movies, voices, and the like on a recording medium such as a tape, a hard disk, an optical disk, and a memory card. Generally, the image recording unit has a function of reproducing the recorded data from the recording medium. 
     Imaging apparatuses are largely classified into a shoulder type carried on a user&#39;s shoulder and a handheld type carried with a user&#39;s hand. Consumer imaging apparatuses are mainly of the handheld type because the handheld type is compact and light, and therefore, is easy to handle for everyone. On the other hand, the shoulder-type is advantageous in stably picking up images, and therefore, is especially used for broadcasting and business or by high amateurs. Some imaging apparatuses, in particular, those for business use, employ removable image recording units that are alternatively attached to a rear of an image input unit including an imaging element, to enable the recording and reproducing of image data with respect to various recording media. 
     When using an imaging apparatus, there is a need of simultaneously conducting photographing and voice monitoring. To meet the need, a shoulder-type imaging apparatus incorporating a speaker therein has been developed. Recent imaging apparatuses are compact and low-profile. When the shoulder-type imaging apparatus that is compact is shouldered, an ear of the user contacts a handle attached to the top of the imaging apparatus. To avoid this, the applicant of the present invention has proposed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-303571 (Patent Document 1) an imaging apparatus having a handle provided with a pad unit, the pad unit including a monitor speaker and a pad to be properly put to the ear of the user. 
     Generally, the shoulder-type imaging apparatus employs replaceable lenses to allow a variety of photographing modes. In this case, the gravitational center of the imaging apparatus in an optical axis direction varies depending on the lens attached to the apparatus, such as a short focus lens that is short in the optical axis direction and a long focus lens that is long in the optical axis direction. 
     If the imaging apparatus is capable of employing replaceable image recording units, the gravitational center of the apparatus also varies in the optical axis direction depending on the image recording unit attached to the apparatus. When carrying the imaging apparatus on a shoulder of the user, the user sets the gravitational center of the apparatus on the shoulder so that the user may take a stable photographing posture. Then, depending on the lens and image recording unit attached to the apparatus, the position of a handle of the imaging apparatus varies on the shoulder of the user in a front-rear direction. This results in shifting an ear position relative to the handle in the front-rear direction. 
     According to the imaging apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, the pad unit is fixed to a rear support of the handle, and therefore, is immovable in the front-rear direction. When the user shoulders this imaging apparatus with the gravitational center of the apparatus just on the shoulder of the user, the ear of the user may deviate from the pad unit in the front-rear direction depending on a lens or an image recording unit attached to the apparatus. This problem must be solved. 
     A compact imaging apparatus is usually short in a front-rear length (total length). When such a compact imaging apparatus is put on a shoulder of the user, an ear of the user may align with a handle of the apparatus, and therefore, in this case, a pad unit including an ear pad must be attached to the handle. The handle provided with the pad unit, however, is difficult to carry with a hand because the pad unit interferes with the hand. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus that allows the user to carry the apparatus on a shoulder of the user in a stable posture, properly monitor voices without regard to a lens or an image recording unit attached to the apparatus, and surely carry a handle of the apparatus with a hand without the pad unit interfering with the hand. 
     In order to accomplish the object, a first aspect of the present invention provides an imaging apparatus including: a main body that includes therein an imaging element which converts incident light coming through a lens into an electric signal; a handle that is attached to a top face of the main body; and a pad unit that is attached to the handle and includes a case, a speaker incorporated in the case, a sound emitting part formed on the case to externally emit sound from the speaker, and an ear pad attached to the case, wherein the pad unit is attached to the handle so as to turn around a rotation axis which is positioned not to pass the center of the sound emitting part, and the sound emitting part is configured to move in the direction of an optical axis of the lens according to the turn of the pad unit. 
     According to a second aspect of the present invention, the imaging apparatus of the first aspect further includes a cord that has a first end connected to the speaker and a second end led into the handle, and a cord holder that holds the cord between the speaker and the handle. 
     According to a third aspect of the present invention, the imaging apparatus of the first aspect further includes a clicker that generates a click reaction when the pad unit is turned to a predetermined angular position. 
     The imaging apparatus according to these aspects of the present invention allows the user to shoulder the apparatus in a stable posture, properly monitor voices without regard to a shape of a lens or an image recording unit attached to the apparatus, and surely carry the apparatus by grasping the handle with a hand without the pad unit interfering with the hand. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view (left side view) illustrating an imaging apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating the imaging apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view illustrating a pad unit of the imaging apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view illustrating the pad unit and a pad attaching structure of the imaging apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 5A to 5F  illustrate a first part of the pad unit of the imaging apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 6A to 6F  illustrate a second part of the pad unit of the imaging apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 7A to 7D  illustrate the pad attaching structure of the imaging apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 8A to 8F  illustrate a third part of the pad unit of the imaging apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates an effect of the imaging apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a turn of the pad unit of the imaging apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a partial perspective view illustrating an imaging apparatus according to a modification of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     An imaging apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 11 . 
     The imaging apparatus  10  according to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is a camera-integrated imaging apparatus. The imaging apparatus  10  is of the shoulder type that is carried by the user on the user&#39;s shoulder when used for photographing.  FIG. 1  is a side view illustrating the imaging apparatus  10  viewed from a left side point and  FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating the imaging apparatus  10  viewed from a rear right upper point. Front, rear, left, right, top, and bottom sides of the imaging apparatus  10  are as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The front side of the imaging apparatus  10  is a side where a subject to be photographed is present and a front-rear direction is a direction in which an optical axis CL of a lens unit  10 L attached to the imaging apparatus  10  extends. 
     The imaging apparatus  10  has a main body  10 H that incorporates an imaging element  10 Ha, an image signal processor  10 Hd 1 , and a voice signal processor  10 Hd 2  therein. The lens unit  10 L on the front side and an image recording unit  10 K on the rear side are removably attached to the main body  10 H. The image recording unit  10 K may have a reproducing function. The imaging element  10 Ha converts image light made incident through the lens unit  10 L into an electric signal and outputs the electric signal. The image signal processor  10 Hd 1  processes the electric signal from the imaging element  10 Ha and outputs the processed electric signal as an image signal. According to the image signal, the image recording unit  10 K records an image on a recording medium and an electronic view finder  102  displays the image thereon. The voice signal processor  10 Hd 2  processes a voice signal provided by a microphone  106  and sends the processed voice signal to a voice output terminal  201 . The voice output terminal  201  is arranged at a back part of a handle  107 . Voice signals outputted from the voice output terminal  201  include a voice signal from the microphone  106 , a reproduced voice signal from the image recording unit  10 K if the image recording unit  10 K has a reproducing function, and a voice signal from an external microphone or player transferred through an external input terminal  201   a  (see  FIG. 2 ). The voice signals outputted from the voice output terminal  201  are monitored through a reproducing device (such as an earphone or an external speaker) connected to the voice output terminal  201 . 
     The lens unit  10 L is selected from various lens units attachable to the main body  10 H, such as a long focus lens, a short focus lens, and a zoom lens. The image recording unit  10 K records images on a recording medium preset in the imaging apparatus  10  or a removable recording medium attached to the main body  10 H. The recording medium may be a tape, a hard disk (HD), an optical disk, a memory card, or the like. 
     The main body  10 H has a box-like casing  10 Hs. The image recording unit  10 K attached to the main body  10 H has a bottom face to which a shoulder pad  101  is fitted. The shoulder pad  101  is connected to the casing  10 Hs or the image recording unit  10 K. 
     The casing  10 Hs has a top face  10 Ht to which the handle  107  is removably fixed with, for example, screws. A front part of the handle  107  is provided with the electronic view finder  102  having an eye cup  103  and the microphone  106 . A rear left part of the handle  107  is provided with a pad unit  108 . The details of the pad unit  108  will be described later. The lens unit  10 L has a lens casing  104  that has a lens grip  105 . 
     In  FIG. 2 , a rear face  107   bc  of the handle  107  has the voice output terminal  201  and external input terminal  201   a . As described above, the voice output terminal  201  may be connected to an earphone or an external speaker to monitor voices. 
     The handle  107  is made by die-casting metal such as magnesium into a frame structure or an arm structure. The handle  107  may be made by injection-molding resin. In  FIG. 2 , the handle  107  has a frame structure and consists of an attaching part  107   a  having an attachment to be fixed to the top face  10 Ht of the casing  10 Hs, front and rear bases  107   b  and  107   c  extending forward and rearward from the attaching part  107   a , front and rear supports  107   d  and  107   e  upwardly extending from ends of the front and rear bases  107   b  and  107   c , and a grip  107   f  connecting top ends of the front and rear supports  107   d  and  107   e  to each other. The attaching part  107   a , front base  107   b , front support  107   d , grip  107   f , rear support  107   e , and rear base  107   c  surround an opening  107   g  into which fingers of the user are inserted (see  FIG. 9 ) when the user holds the handle  107  with a hand. 
     The handle  107  is provided with the pad unit  108 . The pad unit  108  is attached to the rear support  107   e  in the vicinity of the grip  107   f  or adjacent to a joint between the rear support  107   e  and the grip  107   f.    
     The pad unit  108  has a box-like case KS that is substantially closed and is a combination of a cheek base  301  and a pad holder  302  (see  FIG. 3 ), a speaker  310  incorporated in the case KS, a cord  306  having a first end connected to the speaker  310  and a second end connected to a plug  307 , an ear pad  303  attached to the case KS and having elasticity, and a sound emitting part  108   a  formed on the case KS as a hole for externally emitting voices from the speaker  310 . The plug  307  connected to the second end of the cord  306  is connected to the voice output terminal  201 , so that the user may monitor the voices through the pad unit  108 . 
     The pad unit  108  is capable of turning around an axis CL 1  that extends in a left-right direction of the imaging apparatus  10 , so that the position of the pad unit  108  relative to the handle  107  is adjustable in the front-rear direction. This adjusting mechanism and the structure of the pad unit  108  will be described in detail. 
       FIG. 3  is a sectional view taken along a line B-B of  FIG. 1  and illustrating the pad unit  108  attached to the handle  107 .  FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view illustrating the pad unit  108  and a part of the handle  107 .  FIGS. 5A to 5F  illustrate the cheek base  301 , in which  FIG. 5A  is a front view,  FIG. 5B  is a sectional view taken along a line C-C,  FIG. 5C  is a top view,  FIG. 5D  is a sectional view taken along a line D-D,  FIG. 5E  is a right side view, and  FIG. 5F  is a back view.  FIGS. 6A to 6F  illustrate the pad holder  302 , in which  FIG. 6A  is a front view,  FIG. 6B  is a bottom view,  FIG. 6C  is a top view,  FIG. 6D  is a left side view,  FIG. 6E  is a right side view, and  FIG. 6F  is a back view. 
     The pad unit  108  has the box-like cheek base  301  that has an elliptic bottom  301   bt  and an opposite opening, the pad holder  302  that has an elliptic plate shape to cover the opening of the cheek base  301 , the speaker  310  that is fitted to an inner face  302   a  of the pad holder  302 , and the ear pad  303  that is attached to an outer face  302   a    2  of the pad holder  302 . 
     In  FIG. 4 , the handle  107  has a projection  107   j  that is formed on a left side face  107   h  of the rear support  107   e  adjacent to the grip  107   f .  FIGS. 7A to 7D  illustrate the projection  107   j , in which  FIG. 7A  is a front view (seen from the left side of the imaging apparatus  10 ),  FIG. 7B  is a right side view,  FIG. 7C  is a sectional view taken along a line F-F, and  FIG. 7D  is a sectional view taken along a line G-G. 
     In  FIGS. 4 and 7A  to  7 D, the projection  107   j  includes a cylinder  107   j   1  cylindrically protruding and substantially having a double-D shape around the axis CL 1  orthogonal to the left side face  107   h  and a pair of bosses  107   j   2 . Each of the bosses  107   j   2  has a hole  107   j   4 . 
     The cylinder  107   j   1  has a pair of slits  107   j   3  cut in the direction of the axis CL 1  at opposite positions with respect to the axis CL 1 . On the left side face  107   h  of the handle  107 , a pin  107   k  is formed above the projection  107   j.    
     In  FIGS. 4 and 6A  to  6 F, the pad holder  302  has an elliptic plate shape. The pad holder  302  may be made by injection-molding resin such as ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) resin. 
     The inner face  302   a  of the pad holder  302  has an annular wall  302   b  annularly protruding. The speaker  310  is fitted into the annular wall  302   b . The inner face  302   a  also has a boss  302   c  having a hole into which a screw  312   a  is fastened to fix an end of a speaker bracket  311  that is a plate spring. A front end of the speaker bracket  311  resiliently pushes aback face  310   a  of the speaker  310 , to thereby hold the speaker  310  in the pad holder  302 . 
     An area of the pad holder  302  opposing a sound emitting face  310   b  of the speaker  310  defines the sound emitting part  108   a  to externally emit sound. The sound emitting part  108   a  is a substantially circular area containing a plurality of small sound emitting holes  108   a   1 . According to the embodiment, a driving axis KJ of the speaker  310  agrees with a center axis  108   a J of the sound emitting part  108   a . The axes KJ and  108   a J may deviate from each other. The speaker  310  is electrically connected to the cord  306  (illustrated in  FIG. 3  and not illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 6A  to  6 F). 
     In  FIGS. 4 and 5A  to  5 F, the cheek base  301  has an elliptic shape and a box-like structure with one open face. The cheek base  301  is formed by, for example, injection-molding resin such as ABS resin. The cheek base  301  has a circular opening  301   d  whose center CTR 1  is deviated by a distance d 1  from a center CTR of the cheek base  301  in the direction of a major axis of the elliptic cheek base  301 , the center CTR being at the centers of the major and minor axes of the cheek base  301 . An edge of the opening  301   d  forms an annular wall  301   e  that protrudes toward the open face of the cheek base  301 . Opposite to the opening  301   d  in the major axis direction, there is a pair of through holes  301   c . The cheek base  301  also has an annular wall  301   f  around the center CTR 1 . The annular wall  301   f  protrudes opposite to the open face of the cheek base  301  and has a flat end face that is provided with an arc groove  301   b  that concentrically extends around the center CTR 1  within an angular range of θ. According to the embodiment, θ is approximately 180 degrees. 
     An inner face of the annular wall  301   f  defines a circumferential face  301   f   1  on which a pair of clickers  301   f   2  are formed opposite to each other with respect to the center CTR 1 . The clickers  301   f   2  each has a pair of projections  301   f   3  that protrude in a direction to reduce an inner radius r 1  of the circumferential face  301   f   1 . 
     In  FIG. 4 , the projection  107   j  of the handle  107  is received in a tension ring  304 , the cheek base  301 , a metal washer  305 , a first slider ring  306   a  made of Polyslider (registered trade name), a wave washer  307 , a second slider ring  306   b , and a tension plate  308  in this sequence. With the wave washer  307  being properly crushed, screws  312   b  and  312   c  are screwed into the bosses  107   j   2 , to thereby fix these parts to the handle  107 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3  in detail, the metal washer  305 , slider ring  306   a , wave washer  307 , and slider ring  306   b  are fitted to an outer circumferential face of the annular wall  301   e  of the cheek base  301 . The tension ring  304  is positioned between the cheek base  301  and the handle  107  and is fitted to the projection  107   j.    
     The wave washer  307  produces a preliminary pressure in the direction of the axis CL 1  illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The tension plate  308  has a hole  308   c  at the center thereof, to pass the projection  107   j  of the handle  107 , the shape of the hole  308   c  corresponding to the contour of the projection  107   j . Accordingly, the tension plate  308  is restricted in turning around the axis CL 1  relative to the handle  107 . As a result, the cheek base  301  can turn around the axis CL 1  relative to the tension plate  308  and handle  107  against static and dynamic (slide) frictional force produced by the resilient repulsive force of the wave washer  307 . 
     The slider rings  306   a  and  306   b  that sandwich the wave washer  307  reduce friction when the cheek base  301  turns and allow the cheek base  301  to stably slide (turn). The metal washer  305  is in contact with the cheek base  301 , to prevent the deformation of the cheek base  301  and secure the stable sliding motion of the cheek base  301 . 
     The pin  107   k  of the handle  107  engages with the arc groove  301   b  formed on the back face  301   a  side of the cheek base  301 . The arc groove  301   b  concentrically extends within the angular range of θ (see  FIG. 5F ) around the center CTR 1  agreeing with the axis CL 1 . This enables the cheek base  301  to turn within the angular range of θ. According to the embodiment, θ is about 180 degrees. 
     The pad holder  302  incorporating the speaker  310  therein is fixed to the cheek base  301  with screws  312   d  and  312   e  that are passed through holes  301   c  of the cheek base  301  and are screwed into holes  302   d  (see  FIG. 6F ) of the pad holder  302 . With this, the cheek base  301 , pad holder  302 , and speaker  310  turn together relative to the handle  107 . 
     The cord  306  connected to the speaker  310  is passed through the inside of the projection  107   j  of the handle  107  as illustrated in  FIG. 3  and is supported with the tension ring  304 . 
       FIGS. 8A to 8F  illustrate the tension ring  304 , in which  FIG. 8A  is a front view (plan view) seen from the left side of  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 8B  is a lower side view,  FIG. 8C  is an upper side view,  FIG. 8D  is a left side view,  FIG. 8E  is a sectional view taken along a line E-E, and  FIG. 8F  is a back view. 
     The tension ring  304  includes an annular ring  304   a , flanges  304   b   1  and  304   b   2  that oppose each other with respect to a center CTR 304  and each extend outwardly from the annular ring  304   a  in a predetermined angular range, arms  304   c   1  and  304   c   2  that linearly inwardly extend from the annular ring  304   a , and a cord holder  304   d  that is positioned at the center CTR 304  and connects front ends of the arms  304   c   1  and  304   c   2  to each other. 
     The cord holder  304   d  has a slit  304   d   1  to hold the cord  306  extending from the speaker  310 . The flanges  304   b   1  and  304   b   2  each is formed in the predetermined angular range, and sections of the annular ring  304   a  where no flange is formed are resiliently deformable in a radial direction. Outer circumferential faces of the flanges  304   b   1  and  304   b   2  are guided along the inner circumferential face of the annular wall  301   f  of the cheek base  301 , and an axis passing through the center CTR 304  of the tension ring  304  agrees with the center axis of the projection  107   j , i.e., the rotation axis CL 1  of the pad unit  108 . 
     The tension ring  304  is formed by injection-molding resin such as POM (polyacetal) resin. The tension ring  304  is attached to the projection  107   j  of the handle  107  with the arms  304   c   1  and  304   c   2  being fitted to the slits  107   j   3  of the projection  107   j.    
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the cord  306  connected to the speaker  310  is fitted into the slit  304   d   1  of the cord holder  304   d . The cord  306  is held by the cord holder  304   d  at the center of the projection  107   j  so that, when the pad unit  108  including the cheek base  301  and pad holder  302  turns around the axis CL 1 , the cord  306  never catches other parts or twists. Accordingly, the cord  306  is hardly disconnected due to a repetition of turns and secures high reliability for a long time. The annular ring  304   a  of the tension ring  304  has a pair of arc projections  304   e  that oppose each other with respect to the center CTR 304  and outwardly protrude. 
     An end-to-end distance L 1  ( FIG. 8F ) between the projections  304   e  is set to be larger than the diameter of the circumferential face  301   f   1  of the annular wall  301   f  of the cheek base  301 . When the pad unit  108  is turned, the projections  304   e  of the tension ring  304  slide along the circumferential face  301   f   1  and the annular ring  304   a  inwardly deforms to produce resilient repulsive force that puts some load on the pad unit  108  that is turned. 
     The sizes of parts concerned are set so that the load on the pad unit  108  produced by the annular ring  304   a  makes the user who turns the pad unit  108  feel proper turning resistance. In addition, the user feels a click reaction when the user turns the pad unit  108  and when the projections  304   e  pass over the projections  301   f   3  of the clickers  301   f   2 . At this time, the turning pad unit  108  is temporarily stopped by the clickers  301   f   2 . 
     According to the embodiment, the two clickers  301   f   2  are opposed to each other at intervals of 180 degrees. This does not limit the present invention. The clickers  301   f   2  may be formed at optional angular positions to produce a click reaction at an optional position. 
     A route of laying the cord  306  electrically connected to the speaker  310  will be described. 
     The cord  306  is extended from the speaker  310 , is held by the cord holder  304   d  of the tension ring  304 , is led into the handle  107 , is passed through a cord path  107   m  (see  FIG. 4 ) that is formed at a base of the projection  107   j  of the handle  107  and communicates with the inside and outside of the handle  107  to each other, and is guided from the inside of the handle  107  to the outside thereof. The cord  306  may not be provided with the plug  307 . In this case, the cord  306  is passed through the inside of the handle  107  and is directly connected to the voice signal processor  10 Hd 2 . 
     The sound emitting part  108   a  of the pad holder  302  is provided with a nonwoven fabric (not illustrated) to prevent external foreign matter and dust from reaching the speaker  310 . A face of the pad holder  302  opposite to the speaker  310  is provided with the annular ear pad  303 . The ear pad  303  has a surface layer made of PU (polyurethane) leather and filled with urethane foam to provide elasticity. 
     As described above in detail, the imaging apparatus  10  according to the embodiment has the pad unit  108  that is attached to the handle  107  and is turnable around the axis CL 1  (in the directions of arrows RT illustrated in  FIG. 2 ) within a predetermined angular range. The user can turn the pad unit  108  while feeling proper turning resistance. 
     According to the embodiment, the predetermined angular range is about 180 degrees, and at least at each end of the angular range, the user can feel a click reaction. In the pad unit  108 , the rotation axis CL 1  is deviated by a predetermined distance d 1  from the center CTR of the pad unit  108  or the center of the sound emitting part  108   a  that emits sound from the speaker  310 . According to the embodiment, the center CTR of the pad unit  108  agrees with the driving axis KJ of the speaker  310 . Also, the center CTR agrees with the center of the ear pad  303 . According to the embodiment, the pad unit  108  is shaped so that the major axis direction of the pad unit  108  is in parallel with the optical axis CL of the imaging apparatus  10  at each end of the turning range of the pad unit  108 . When the pad unit  108  is turned around the axis CL 1 , the center of the pad unit  108  moves in the direction of the optical axis CL. Since the turning range of the pad unit  108  is about 180 degrees according to the embodiment, the center of the pad unit  108  moves within a distance twice as large as the distance d 1 . 
     In  FIG. 1 , the pad unit  108  is at one end of the turning range, and in  FIG. 9 , the pad unit  108  is at the other end of the turning range.  FIG. 10  roughly illustrates the attitudes of the pad unit  108  at three positions on a turning path of the pad unit  108 . In  FIG. 10 , the pad unit  108  indicated with a continuous line is at the foremost position of  FIG. 1 , the pad unit  108  indicated with a dot-and-dash line is positioned at the rearmost position of  FIG. 9 , and the pad unit  108  indicated with a dotted line is at an intermediate position between them. 
     As is apparent in these drawings, the position of the driving axis KJ of the speaker  310  of the pad unit  108  is adjustable to the ear of the user by turning the pad unit  108  when the user shoulders the imaging apparatus  10  including the lens unit  10 L and image recording unit  10 K with the gravitational center of the imaging apparatus  10  including the units  10 L and  10 K being on the shoulder. 
     In  FIG. 9 , the pad unit  108  is retracted from the opening  107   g  of the handle  107 . When the user carries the imaging apparatus  10  by grasping the handle  107  with the user&#39;s hand Mh, the user turns the pad unit  108  in the direction of the arrow RT 1  (see  FIG. 9 ) to retract the pad unit  108  to the position illustrated in  FIG. 9 . Then, the user can smoothly put the fingers into the opening  107   g  without bothered by the pad unit  108  and can surely grasp the handle  107  with the hand Mh. 
     It is preferable to set the sizes of parts of the imaging apparatus  10  so that the face  303   a  (see  FIG. 3 ) of the ear pad  303  that comes in contact with the ear of the user is substantially on the same plane as the side face of the main body  10 H. 
     The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. Various modifications will be possible based on the embodiment without departing from the spirit of the present invention. 
     According to the embodiment, the driving axis KJ of the speaker  310  agrees with an axis passing through the center CTR of the cheek base  301 . These axes may disagree with each other. If the driving axis KJ of the speaker  310  disagrees with the center axis  108   a J of the sound emitting part  108   a  that emits sound from the speaker  310 , at least the center axis  108   a J of the sound emitting part  108   a  must be deviated from the rotation axis CL 1 . 
     The projection  107   j  of the handle  107  may not be integral with the handle  107 . As illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the projection  107   j  may be formed on a plate  1107  that is fixed to the handle  107  with screws that are fastened to long holes horizontally or vertically formed in the plate  1107 . 
       FIG. 11  roughly illustrates the plate  1107  fitted to the handle  107 . The handle  107  is provided with a pair of female threads  107   n . The plate  1107  has a projection  1107   j  corresponding to the projection  107   j  and a pair of long holes  1107   j  n vertically formed. The pad unit  108  is attached to the plate  1107  in advance. Male screws SCR are passed through the long holes  1107   jn  and are screwed into the female threads  107   n , to fix the plate  1107  having the pad unit  108  to the handle  107 . 
     This configuration allows the fixing position of the plate  1107  on the handle  107  to be vertically moved, so that the position of the pad unit  108  relative to the ear of the user is precisely adjusted when the user puts the imaging apparatus  10  on the user&#39;s shoulder.