Patent ID: 8184380

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, the first lens group having a bending optical element configured to reflect a light beam incident along the first optical axis along a second optical axis that intersects the first optical axis; a second lens group configured to receive a light beam passing through the first lens group; a third lens group configured to receive a light beam passing through the second lens group; a first support frame supporting the first lens group; a first support mechanism supporting the second lens group movably with respect to the first lens group along the second optical axis, and having a second support frame supporting the second lens group; a first driving unit configured to impart a drive force to the second support frame so that the second lens group moves along the second optical axis; a luminous energy adjusting unit configured to adjust the amount of light passing through the second lens group or the amount of light emitted from the second lens group, and fixed to the second support frame; and an optical path blocking unit configured to open and block the optical path along the second optical axis, and fixed to the second support frame.