Image capture apparatus and zoom lens

An image capture apparatus comprising:

• a zoom lens arranged in a housing and which includes a plurality of fixed lens groups, a plurality of movable lens groups and at least three optical-axis folding means;
• and
• an imager device arranged in the housing, for converting an image formed by the zoom lens into an electrical signal,
• wherein the zoom lens includes, in the following order from an object side:
• a fixed first lens group including a negative lens group having a first optical axis, first optical-axis folding means for approximately perpendicularly folding an optical axis, and a positive lens group having a second optical axis folded by the first optical-axis folding means, the fixed first lens group having positive refractive power as a whole;
• a plurality of movable lens groups and at least one fixed lens group arranged along the second optical axis to perform a zooming action, an image plane position correcting action and a focusing action;
• second optical-axis folding means arranged on an image side relative to a movable lens group closest to the image side among the plurality of movable lens groups, for approximately perpendicularly folding the optical axis;
• and
• third optical-axis folding means arranged on the image side relative to the second optical-axis folding means,
• wherein the second optical axis is folded into a third optical axis approximately parallel to a plane containing the first optical axis and the second optical axis, by the second optical-axis folding means, and
• wherein the third optical axis is folded by the third optical-axis folding means such that the imager device is arranged approximately in parallel with an inside wall surface of the housing.

An image capture apparatus comprising:

• a zoom lens arranged in a housing and which includes a plurality of fixed lens groups, a plurality of movable lens groups and at least four optical-axis folding means;
• and
• an imager device arranged in the housing, for converting an image formed by the zoom lens into an electrical signal,
• wherein the zoom lens includes, in the following order from an object side:
• a fixed first lens group including a negative lens group having a first optical axis, first optical-axis folding means for approximately perpendicularly folding an optical axis, and a positive lens group having a second optical axis folded by the first optical-axis folding means, the fixed first lens group having positive refractive power as a whole;
• a plurality of movable lens groups and at least one fixed lens group arranged along the second optical axis to perform a zooming action, an image plane position correcting action and a focusing action;
• second optical-axis folding means arranged on an image side relative to a movable lens group closest to the image side among the plurality of movable lens groups;
• third optical-axis folding means arranged on the image side relative to the second optical-axis folding means;
• and
• fourth optical-axis folding means arranged on the image side relative to the third optical-axis folding means,
• wherein the second optical axis is folded into a third optical axis approximately parallel to a plane containing the first optical axis and the second optical axis, by the second optical-axis folding means,
• wherein the third optical axis is folded into a fourth optical axis approximately parallel to the second optical axis by the third optical-axis folding means, and
• wherein the fourth optical axis is folded by the fourth optical-axis folding means such that the imager device is arranged approximately in parallel with an inside wall surface of the housing.

An image capture apparatus comprising:

• a zoom lens arranged in a housing and which includes a plurality of fixed lens groups, a plurality of movable lens groups and at least four optical-axis folding means;
• and
• an imager device arranged in the housing, for converting an image formed by the zoom lens into an electrical signal,
• wherein the zoom lens includes, in the following order from an object side:
• a fixed first lens group including a negative lens group having a first optical axis, first optical-axis folding means for approximately perpendicularly folding an optical axis, and a positive lens group having a second optical axis folded by the first optical-axis folding means, the fixed first lens group having positive refractive power as a whole;
• a plurality of movable lens groups and at least one fixed lens group arranged along the second optical axis to perform a zooming action, an image plane position correcting action and a focusing action;
• second optical-axis folding means arranged on an image side relative to a movable lens group closest to the image side among the plurality of movable lens groups;
• third optical-axis folding means arranged on the image side relative to the second optical-axis folding means;
• and
• fourth optical-axis folding means arranged on the image side relative to the third optical-axis folding means,
• wherein the second optical axis is folded into a third optical axis approximately parallel to the first optical axis by the second optical-axis folding means,
• wherein the third optical axis is folded into a fourth optical axis approximately perpendicular to a plane containing the second optical axis and the third optical axis by the third optical-axis folding means, and
• wherein the fourth optical axis is folded by the fourth optical-axis folding means such that the imager device is arranged approximately in parallel with an inside wall surface of the housing.

A zoom lens comprising, in the following order from an object side:

• a first lens group including a negative lens group having a first optical axis, first reflection means for approximately perpendicularly folding an optical axis, and a positive lens group having a second optical axis folded by the first reflection means, the first lens group having positive refractive power as a whole;
• a second lens group having negative refractive power and moving along the second optical axis to mainly perform a power variation;
• a third lens group fixed on the second optical axis and having positive refractive power;
• a fourth lens group having positive refractive power and moving along the second optical axis to perform focusing as well as correction of a variation of an image forming position due to the power variation;
• a fifth lens group having negative refractive power and acting to extend a composite focus length and a back focus formed by the first to fourth lens groups;
• and
• a plurality of reflection means.

An image capture apparatus comprising:

• a zoom lens arranged in a housing and which includes a plurality of fixed lens groups, a plurality of movable lens groups and at least three prisms;
• and
• an imager device arranged in the housing, for converting an image formed by the zoom lens into an electrical signal,
• wherein the zoom lens includes, in the following order from an object side:
• a fixed first lens group including a negative lens group having a first optical axis, a first prism approximately perpendicularly folding an optical axis, and a positive lens group having a second optical axis, which is an optical axis after folded by the first prism, the fixed first lens group having positive refractive power as a whole;
• a plurality of movable lens groups and at least one fixed lens group arranged along the second optical axis to perform a zooming action, an image plane position correcting action and a focusing action;
• and
• a second prism arranged on an image side relative to a movable lens group that is a closest to the image side among the plurality of movable lens groups, for approximately perpendicularly folding the optical axis and
• wherein the optical axis is folded such that the imager device is arranged approximately in parallel with an inside wall surface of the housing, by a prism positioned at a location closest to the image side among the at least three prisms including the first and second prisms.