Optics

Error-free depiction of the field of view

Optical quality

This term covers a wide range of optical and mechanical properties that are of particular interest depending on the application. Ultimately, there is always a trade-off between price/performance and optical quality.

As camera sensor pixel structures become smaller and smaller, the use of high resolution lenses has become extremely important.
Sometimes the combination of a camera with larger sensor pixels and a lower resolution lens is a more attractive solution. Try it out!

What defines the 'quality' of a lens?

High spectral transmission (and low stray light)
High image contrasts when depicting the objects
High resolution
Low vignetting, i.e. uniform image brightness
Low geometric distortion
Low optical imaging errors like spherical or chromatic aberration, coma and astigmatism
Mechanical precision and vibration resistance
Locking screws, filter threadm etc.

Applications vs. optical quality

High quality optics must always be matched to the camera, its image sensor and its intended use.

Measurement applications, colour inspection, IR inspection, robotic applications or simple presence detection all have different optical quality requirements.

It is also important to consider the pixel size of the camera sensors used. Modern sensors such as the SONY Pregius S (4th generation) have pixel sizes of around 2.7µm. High-resolution lenses are essential here.

Measurement applications often require high resolution and low geometric distortion.
Camera systems used in conjunction with robots should also have low geometric error, be robust and, if necessary, very compact and lightweight when mounted on the handling system.
For colour inspection, it may be particularly important that the optics have low chromatic aberration, which results in colour fringes with edge colour errors and blurred images.
IR and UV applications also require special lenses designed and adapted for these wavelengths. The coating and spectral transmission of the glass are of particular interest here.

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Optiken Industrielle Bildverarbeitung