Patent ID: 8902350

Claim:
An interchangeable lens detachable from an image pickup apparatus and capable of communication with the image pickup apparatus, the interchangeable lens comprising: an image pickup optical system including a focus lens; a focus actuator to move the focus lens; a memory to store speed control data to be used for control of drive speed of the focus actuator; and a lens controller configured to control the drive speed of the focus actuator by using the speed control data, wherein the image pickup apparatus comprises: an image sensor to photoelectrically convert an object image formed by the image pickup optical system to produce an image pickup signal; and a focus controller configured to acquire, by using the image pickup signal, focus information corresponding to image contrast that changes with movement of the focus lens and to control a focusing movement of the focus lens to an in-focus position by using the focus information, and wherein the lens controller is configured (a) to receive, from the focus controller, timing information showing a timing relating to acquisition of the focus information, (b) to perform a reachability determination for determining, by using the timing information and the speed control data, whether or not the focus lens is able to reach a target focus information acquisition position at which the focus controller acquires the focus information by a scheduled focus information acquisition timing, (c) to perform, when determining in the reachability determination that the focus lens is not able to reach the target focus information acquisition position by the scheduled focus information acquisition timing, calculation of a predictive position of the focus lens at the scheduled focus information acquisition timing by using the speed control data and (d) to send the predictive position to the focus controller.