Patent ID: 7043153

Claim:
An image capturing unit comprising: a variable optical element; an optical unit which is disposed on a light-incident end of the variable optical element; and a light-flux limiting section, wherein the variable optical element includes a first liquid member, a second liquid member which does not mix in the first liquid member, and a container which contains the first liquid member and the second liquid member; an interfacial shape between the first liquid member and the second liquid member varies according to a voltage which is applied to the liquid members; and the light-influx limiting section satisfies a following condition (1); 0.1<(Φ−2× h )<20.0 (1) where Φ (mm) indicates a maximum diameter for an axial light-flux in the variable optical element and h (mm) indicates a highest position of the axial light-flux on the light-incident end of the variable optical element.