Patent ID: 7317487

Claim:
A digital camera that creates an image signal through catching a subject light, the digital camera comprising: an image taking lens, which is variable in a focal length, comprising a plurality of lenses including a focus lens arranged on an optical axis, wherein a focusing is performed by a movement of the focus lens; a lens barrel that incorporates therein the image taking lens, the lens barrel being free in extension and collapse and performing a focal length control; and a solid state imaging device that receives the subject light formed by the image taking lens to create the image signal, wherein the lens barrel has a lens advancing and saving mechanism in which at the time of the collapse of the lens barrel, the focus lens is saved from an optical axis of the image taking lens and at the time of the extension of the lens barrel, the focus lens is advanced onto the optical axis of the image taking lens, the lens advancing and saving mechanism saves and advances the focus lens from and onto the optical axis by rotating the focus lens about a fixed shaft, and the fixed shaft is fixed to an inner rear wall of the lens barrel.