Patent ID: 8456614

Claim:
A supporting device that supports an optical element, comprising: a first supporting member that includes an annular member arranged along an outer circumference of the optical element and provides a plurality of supports contacting with the optical element; a second supporting member that supports the first supporting member at a plurality of locations; a plate spring including a portion fastened to the first supporting member and a portion not fastened to the first supporting member in a direction along the outer circumference of the optical element, and having a plate thickness extending in the optical axis direction of the optical element; and a force supplying unit, which is provided on the first supporting member, configured to provide a force in the optical axis direction applied to the portion not fastened to the plate spring at a location different from the plurality of locations, wherein the first supporting member is configured to be elastically deformed by receiving the reactive force generated by the force that the force supplying unit supplies to the plate spring, the elastic deformation displacing at least one of a plurality of the supports in the optical axis direction.