A lens barrel including an image capturing optical system, to be extended
for image capturing and to be retracted for carrying, including: a first
lens unit for capturing an image of a subject; a light-amount control
member to control an amount of light which comes from the subject and
passes through the image capturing optical system; and second lens unit
including at least two lens units which sandwich the light-amount control
member on the optical axis; wherein when the lens barrel is extended for
image capturing, the first lens unit and the second lens unit exist on
the optical axis, while the light amount control member is sandwiched
between the two lens units of the second lens unit on the optical axis,
and when the lens barrel is retracted, the second lens unit is shifted to
the position out of the optical axis.