An image pickup apparatus having a construction which enhances the degree of freedom in layout and enables size reduction. The image pickup apparatus includes a lens barrel and a barrier section for opening/closing the front face of the lens barrel. A barrier rotary shaft is disposed on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens barrel. The barrier section comprises two barrier groups, and each of the barrier groups comprises a central barrier configured to be driven for rotation about the barrier rotary shaft, and an outer barrier configured to rotate about the barrier rotary shaft in a direction identical to a direction of rotation of the central barrier in accordance with the rotation of the central barrier in a state superposed on the central barrier.