A camera system incorporating a seamless lens-drive switching mechanism
includes a lens drive ring, a manual operation ring, a motor, a first
one-way rotational transfer mechanism preventing the manual operation
ring and the lens drive ring from being connected with each other in a
first neutral state, and maintains the first neutral state even if the
lens drive ring is rotated by the motor; a second one-way rotational
transfer mechanism which prevents the motor and the lens drive ring
connecting with each other in a second neutral state, connects the motor
with the lens drive ring when the motor rotates from the second neutral
state, and maintains the second neutral state even if the lens drive ring
is rotated by the manual operation ring; and a controller which stops and
reverses the motor to bring the second one-way rotational transfer
mechanism into the second neutral state.