PURPOSE: To reduce frequency of photographing with optical performance deteriorated by the change of the position of a lens barrel caused by an external factor in a camera provided with an automatic power-off function for automatically housing the lens barrel at a wide end or a collapsible end in the case the camera is not operated for a fixed time in a state where a main switch is still turned on.

CONSTITUTION: This camera is equipped with a position detection means 2 detecting the position of the lens barrel 6, a discrimination means 14 discriminating whether the position of the lens barrel is changed or not by inputting the detection signal of the detection means 2 at regular intervals in the midst of counting by an automatic power-off timer and comparing it with the previous detection signal, and a lens barrel driving control means 17 housing the lens barrels 3 to 6 at the wide end or the collapsible end preferentially to counting-up by the automatic power-off timer in the case of receiving a signal showing that the position of the lens barrel is changed from the discrimination means 14.