Lens drive mechanism for photographic camera with zoom lens

Abstract

A photographic camera is provided with a zoom lens having a front lens group which is moved back and forth in the direction of an optical axis held by a movable lens barrel and a rear lens group which is disposed behind the front lens group and is moved backed and forth in the direction of the optical axis maintaining a predetermined optical position relative to the front lens group in response to movement of the front lens group. A lens drive mechanism includes a cam lever which is supported on the camera body for rotation about a rotational axis perpendicular to the optical axis. A first cam pin is provided on the movable lens barrel and a first cam hole is provided in the cam lever. A second cam pin is formed integrally with the rear lens group and a second cam hole is provided in the cam lever. A predetermined play for permitting focusing of the zoom lens is formed between the first cam pin and the first cam hole in the direction of movement of the movable lens barrel.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.