US Patent 7634182 Lens apparatus

A lens apparatus which can remove a backlash positively is provided. In the lens apparatus, a drive source is controlled so as to performing: moving a focus lens from a reference position toward one end of an optical lens stroke, and moving the focus lens toward the other end of the optical lens stroke. When the focus lens reaches the other end of the optical lens stroke, the drive source is controlled so as to perform moving the focus toward the reference position, and further, when a focus point position is determined to be between the reference position and the other end of the optical lens stroke as well as when it is detected that the focus lens reaches the reference position, the drive source is controlled so as to perform moving the focus lens from the reference position toward one end of the optical lens stroke by an amount to removal of a backlash, and moving the focus lens up to the focus point position.