Patent US 5,654,757

A focusing apparatus for video camera or the like in which a change-over between automatic focusing and manual focusing is possible comprises an endlessly rotatable and hand-worked manipulator, a detector for detecting the direction and amount of manipulation or rotational movement of the manipulator, and a controller/driver for moving a part of optical elements in an optical system along its optical axis direction in a direction corresponding to the direction of manipulation of the manipulator detected by the detector and by a distance corresponding to the amount of manipulation of the manipulator detected by the detector, thereby taking the focus.