Patent ID: 8018661

Claim:
A lens barrel for forming an optical image of a subject, comprising: a first lens group configured to receive a light beam coming from the subject along a first optical axis, and that has a bending optical element with which the light beam incident along the first optical axis is reflected in a direction along a second optical axis that intersects the first optical axis, the first lens group having an overall negative refractive power; a second lens group configured to receive the light beam that has passed through the first lens group; a third lens group configured to receive the light beam that has passed through the second lens group; a first support frame that supports the first lens group; a first support mechanism that supports the second lens group to be movable along the second optical axis with respect to the first lens group, and that has a second support frame that supports the second lens group; a second support mechanism that supports the third lens group to be movable along the second optical axis with respect to the first lens group, and that has a third support frame that supports the third lens group; a first drive unit configured to impart a drive force to the second support frame so that the second lens group moves in the direction along the second optical axis; and a second drive unit configured to impart a drive force to the third support frame so that the third lens group moves in a direction along the second optical axis; at least part of a region in which the second support frame is movable overlapping at least part of a region in which the third support frame is movable; and the first and second drive units being disposed on opposite sides of a plane defined by the first optical axis and the second optical axis.