An image pickup apparatus which is capable of stably detecting rotating operations of a rotary ring provided on an outer periphery of a lens barrel or the like. A holding member is provided on an inner periphery of the rotary ring to hold the rotary ring. A rotation detecting member detects a rotation direction and a rotation amount of the rotary ring when the rotary ring has been rotated. An urging member urges the rotary ring against the holding member in an urging direction perpendicular to a rotational axis of the rotary ring. A detecting direction of the rotation detecting member and the urging direction of the urging member are parallel to each other.