Lens barrel and control apparatus that provide a plurality of modes that are switchable

1 . A lens barrel comprising:

a unit sensor configured to detect a position of an optical element in an optical axis direction;

an actuator configured to drive the optical element to change the position of the optical element in the optical axis direction;

a memory configured to store setting information about the position of the optical element in the optical axis direction; and

a switch switchable between a first position, a second position, and a third position, wherein:

the first position sets a function execution mode in which a function arbitrarily selected by a user is executed;

the second position sets a storage mode in which setting information about a first position of the optical element is stored in the memory; and

the third position sets a reproduction mode in which the actuator is driven to transfer the optical element to the first position,

wherein the setting information about the position of the optical element is:

repeatedly storable in the memory in the storage mode; and

prohibited from being stored in the memory in the reproduction mode.

2 . The lens barrel according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an operation button common to the storage mode and the reproduction mode,

wherein according to an operation of the operation button:

the first position of the optical element is stored in the memory in the storage mode; and

the actuator drives the optical element to the first position in the reproduction mode.

3 . The lens barrel according to claim 2 ,

wherein the function is executed in the function execution mode according to the operation of the operation button.

4 . The lens barrel according to claim 2 , wherein, in the reproduction mode, operating the operation button does not store in the memory the setting information about the position of the optical element in the optical-axis direction.

5 . The lens barrel according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a first operation button; and

a second operation button,

wherein the first position of the optical element is stored in the memory according to an operation of the first operation button in the storage mode, and

wherein the actuator drives the optical element to the first position according to the operation of the second operation button in the reproduction mode.

6 . The lens barrel according to claim 5 , wherein, in the reproduction mode, operating the first operation button does not store in the memory the setting information about the position of the optical element in the optical-axis direction.

7 . A control apparatus configured to control a lens barrel that includes:

a sensor configured to detect a position of an optical element in an optical axis direction;

an actuator configured to drive the optical element-so as to change the position of the optical element in the optical axis direction;

a memory configured to store setting information about the position of the optical element in the optical axis direction; and

a switch switchable between a first position, a second position, and a third position, wherein:

the first position sets a function execution mode in which a function arbitrarily selected by a user is executed;

the second position sets a storage mode in which setting information about a first position of the optical element is stored in the memory; and

the third position sets a reproduction mode in which the actuator is driven to transfer the optical element to the first position,

the control apparatus comprising:

a storage storing instructions; and

at least one processor that executes the instructions to:

acquire a mode set to the lens barrel; and

enable the setting information about the position of the optical element to be repeatedly storable in the memory in the storage mode; and

prohibit the setting information about the position of the optical element from being stored in the memory in the reproduction mode.