US Patent 7808550 Digital camera having mechanism shiftable for portability

A digital still camera includes has a camera body. An imaging unit is secured to the camera body, and has an image pickup device incorporated therein. A rotational supporting mechanism supports the camera body on the imaging unit between a closed position and an open position. The camera body is disposed lower than the imaging unit. The camera body, when in the closed position, is inside an extending region defined by extending a shape of the imaging unit downwards, and when in the open position, is offset from the extending region of the imaging unit. In a preferred embodiment, a central axis of the rotational supporting mechanism extends vertically. The open position is located horizontally from the closed position.