BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an adapter apparatus coupled to an image pickup apparatus or an accessory for the image pickup apparatus, and the image pickup apparatus.

Background Art

There is known a so-called interchangeable lens type image pickup apparatus in which a camera accessory such as an interchangeable lens can be attached to and detached from an image pickup apparatus body (hereinafter, referred to as a “camera body”) such as a digital camera. In the interchangeable lens type image pickup apparatus, a so-called bayonet coupling method in which both the camera body and the camera accessory include a bayonet coupling type mount is generally adopted. Normally, in the bayonet coupling method, a mount part of the camera accessory and a mount part of the camera body are relatively rotatable, and the rotation causes a claw portion of the camera accessory side and a claw portion of the camera body side to engage with each other in an optical axis direction. Then, in a state where the claw portions engage with each other, the claw portion of the camera accessory side is drawn into the camera body side in a direction substantially parallel to the optical axis direction by a force of a spring provided in the camera body. In this way, the camera body and the camera accessory are coupled to each other.

By adopting the bayonet coupling method, the camera accessory can be easily attached to and detached from the camera body. However, if a force stronger than the drawing force of the spring acts on the camera accessory, rattling may occur between the camera body and the camera accessory. Therefore, PTL 1 proposes a structure in which the bayonet coupling type mount provided in the camera body is divided into a fixed mount part and a movable mount part, and the camera accessory is drawn into the camera body by rotating the movable mount part with respect to the camera accessory. By adopting the above technology, it is possible to reduce the rattling occurring between the camera body and the camera accessory.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

PTL 1 Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2013-218149

Regarding the interchangeable lens type image pickup apparatus, an adapter apparatus, which is disposed between the camera body and the camera accessory and couples the camera body and the camera accessory in order to enable use of the camera accessory that does not correspond to direct coupling to the camera body, is known. By using such adapter apparatus, for example, it is possible to mount an interchangeable lens corresponding to a camera body having a certain flange back to a camera body having another flange back. Further, as the adapter apparatus, an adapter apparatus that is disposed between the camera body and the camera accessory which can be directly coupled and that extends a function is known.

However, when the adapter apparatus is interposed between the camera body and the camera accessory adopting the bayonet coupling method, there are the following problems. For example, bayonet coupling is required at a total of two places including a coupling part of the camera body and one side of the adapter apparatus and a coupling part of the camera accessory and the other side of the adapter apparatus. Therefore, when the camera body and the camera accessory are coupled via the adapter apparatus, rattling of the camera accessory with respect to the camera body increases as compared with when the camera body and the camera accessory are directly coupled.

For the above problems, PTL 1 does not mention a configuration in which the adapter apparatus can be attached to or detached from the image pickup apparatus body. Therefore, in the technology described in PTL 1, when the camera body and the camera accessory are coupled using the adapter apparatus, it is considered that at least the rattling occurring between the adapter apparatus and the camera accessory cannot be effectively reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an adapter apparatus which is capable of coupling a camera body and a camera accessory without rattling.

An adapter apparatus according to the present invention is an adapter apparatus, to and from which a first device and a second device are capable of being attached and detached, comprising a first cylinder, and a second cylinder engaging with the first cylinder and movable in an axial direction of the first cylinder with respect to the first cylinder, wherein the first cylinder includes a first surface that comes into contact with the first device and a second surface that comes into contact with the second device, and the second cylinder includes a first claw portion that engages with a claw portion provided in the first device and a second claw portion that engages with a claw portion provided in the second device.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

