Patent ID: 7508442

Claim:
A camera system of an image pickup lens unit detachable type, comprising: an image pickup lens unit that includes a photographing optical system and an image pickup element; and a camera body that includes a recessed mount section on which the image pickup lens unit is detachably mounted, communicates with the image pickup lens unit mounted on the mount section, and receives an image signal from the image pickup lens unit to apply signal processing to the image signal, wherein the camera body includes: a mount barrier that blocks an opening of the mount section and is pushed by the image pickup lens unit to retract to the inner part of the recess of the mount section when the image pickup lens unit is mounted; a sensor that detects attachment and detachment of the image pickup lens unit to and from the mount section; a display screen that displays an image based on an image signal; and a mode switching section that, according to an operation, freely switches a photographing mode for receiving an image signal from the image pickup lens unit, subjecting the image signal to signal processing, and recording the image signal and a reproduction mode for reading out the recorded image signal and displaying an image based on the image signal on the display screen, and the mode switching section forcibly switches the photographing mode to the reproduction mode in response to detection of removal of the image pickup lens unit by the sensor.