Camera, lens driving method, and lens driving program

A lens driving method for use in a camera wherein a zoom lens is driven by a first stepping motor and a focus lens is driven by a second stepping motor, said lens driving method comprising:

• determining timings at which the zoom lens or the focus lens is started;
• determining whether or not the zoom lens and the focus lens are to be simultaneously moved, by checking the timings that are determined;
• synchronizing output timings of excitation signals output to the first and second stepping motors, where the zoom lens and the focus lens are determined to be simultaneously moved;
• and
• outputting excitation signals to the first and second stepping motors in accordance with the output timings that are synchronized.

A camera controlling program stored in a computer-readable recording medium, the program comprising:

• means for instructing the computer to determine movement timings at which a zoom lens is driven by a first stepping motor or a focus lens is driven by a second stepping motor is started;
• means for instructing the computer to determine whether or not the zoom lens and the focus lens to be driven simultaneously, by referring to the movement start timing determined;
• means for instructing the computer to synchronize output timings at which excitation signals are output to the first and second stepping motors, when the zoom lens and the focus lens are determined to be driven simultaneously;
• and
• means for instructing the computer to output excitation signals to the first and second stepping motors at the output timings synchronized.