Patent ID: 7471887

Claim:
A lens barrel comprising: a radially-retractable optical element constituting a part of a photographing optical system, said radially-retractable optical element being movable between a photographing position located on an optical axis of said photographing optical system, and a radially-retracted position located on an off-optical-axis position; a swing member which is rotatable about a rotation axis extending parallel to said optical axis, said swing member being associated with said radially-retractable optical element so as to move said radially-retractable optical element from said photographing position to said radially-retracted position by a forward rotation thereof and from said radially-retracted position to said photographing position by rearward rotation thereof; and a retracted position holding device for maintaining said radially-retractable optical element in said retracted position when said swing member further rotates in said forward direction even after said radially-retractable optical element reaches said radially-retracted position from said photographing position, wherein said retracted position holding device comprises an arc-shaped surface formed on an optical-element holder which holds said radially-retractable optical element, said arc-shaped surface having a center at a pivot shaft of said swing member and abutting against said swing member when said radially-retractable optical element is positioned in said radially-retracted position.