To provide a holding structure for a solid-state image pickup element in which the number of parts of an image pickup element unit is reduced and the unit can be efficiently positioned with high accuracy.

The holding structure has a solid-state image pickup element holding member for holding the solid-state image pickup element having a lead frame, a first positioning means for the solid-state image pickup element is formed in the lead frame, and a second positioning means associated with the solid-state image pickup element positioning means is formed in the solid-state image pickup element holding member. The first and second positioning means determine a relative position relation between the solid-state image pickup element and the solid-state image pickup element holding member, and the surface on the photographic light flux incident side of a package of the solid-state image pickup element is brought into contact with and held by the solid-state image pickup element holding member.

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