An impulse actuated device for, e.g., an optical element of a digital camera, includes an elongated flexure having a first end upon which the optical element is disposed, and an opposite second end fixed so as to constrain the element to move along an arcuate, relatively long first trajectory between opposite initial and final positions, and a short-throw, high force element actuator that includes a stator and a stage supported for movement relative to the stator and along a second trajectory intersecting the first trajectory at the initial position of the element, and an apparatus for accelerating the stage along the second trajectory and against the element such that at least some of the momentum of the stage is imparted to the element and causes the element to move along the first trajectory and from the initial position to the final position.