Lens unit and image capturing apparatus

An image capturing apparatus comprising:

• an image pickup device:
• and
• a lens unit for focusing light from an object onto the image pickup device, the lens unit comprising:
• a frame body;
• a first lens group into which incoming light flux from the object enter along a first optical axis;
• a first holding member for holding the first lens group so that the first lens group is movable, in a first optical axis direction, between an operating position in which the first lens group projects out from the frame body and a storing position in which the first lens group is stored inside the frame body;
• a bending member for bending the light flux along the first optical axis to a second optical axis direction which is substantially at right angles to the first optical axis;
• a bend holding member for holding the bending member so that the bending member is movable between a bend position where the bending member bends the light flux into the second optical direction and a retract position where the bending member retracts to create a space for storing the first holding member;
• a second lens group for leading the light flux, which has been bent into the second optical axis direction, to the image pickup device side;
• a second holding member for folding the second lens group so that the second lens group is movable in the second optical axis direction;
• a moving tube which moves the first holding member between the operating position and the storing position;
• and
• a stationary tube which is fixed on the frame body and provided with a feed member to move the moving tube in the first optical axis direction,
• wherein the stationary tube has an opening through which the bend holding member moves between the bend position and the retract position.

An image capturing apparatus, comprising:

• an image pickup device for converting an optical image into electrical signals;
• and
• an optical system for forming an image of an object on the image pickup device, the optical system including:
• a first lens group into which incoming light flux from the object enter along a first optical axis;
• a bending member for bending the light flux along the first optical axis to a second optical axis direction which is substantially at right angles to the first optical axis;
• and
• a second lens group for leading the light flux, which has been bent into the second optical axis direction,
• to the image pickup device side,
• a frame body to include the optical system;
• a collapsing lens tube capable of expansion and contraction in the first optical axis, the collapsing lens tube having an opening in a side face of the tube;
• and
• a bend holding member for holding the bending member so that the bending member is capable of moving, through the opening of the collapsing lens tube, between a bend position where the bending member bends the light flux into the second optical axis direction and a retract position where the bending member retracts to create a space for storing the first lens group, wherein the bending member resides at the bend position when the collapsing lens tube is in a expansion state, and resides at the retract position when the collapsing lens tube is in a contraction state.