The present invention is directed to a lens barrel that is simplified in
structure with the reduced number of components and is facilitated in
assembly and associated adjustment. The lens barrel enables an
appropriate frictional force against the rotation force caused by
manipulating rotary operation rings such as a zooming ring and a focusing
ring to effect the optimum operating force on the rotary operation rings.
In the lens barrel where a fixed barrel has its inner and outer
circumferential surfaces provided with at least two slidable-rotatable
members that are rotatably held about the optical axis but unable to move
along the optical axis, an annular member is secured to the fixed barrel
between the slidable-rotatable members, the annular member being pivotal
about the optical axis and being provided with resilient protrusions on
the opposite major surfaces toward the subject and the image field; and
the resilient protrusions are pressed against a rear end face of one of
the slidable-rotatable members closer to the subject and against a fore
end face of the other slidable-rotatable member closer to the image
field.