Optical Design Strategy: What Comes First?

What should you consider first when designing a new optical product or upgrading an existing product, the lens or the sensor?

What should you consider first when designing a new optical product or upgrading an existing product, the lens or the sensor? Considering that without a lens you do not have an image – it should be the first part of an optical system to be considered. However, from many years’ experience of OEM optical design and manufacture this is not always the case.

Let’s consider the following scenario. You have a Megapixel camera with a 1-inch sensor that will work perfectly for your application and all you need now is a suitable lens. Most people would think if a new camera has been developed then there must surely be lenses for it? Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Typically, off-the-shelf lenses are only produced for standard sensor sizes. However if your sensor is unusual in terms of size and or photopic response you may well struggle to find a suitable lens.

The real answer to our original question is that both the lens and sensor should be considered at the same time. This will enable you, with the help of a specialist lens design and manufacture company, like Resolve Optics, to quickly identify if a custom design is required and thereby avoid delays in developing an optimised total optical solution for your application.

For a free no-commitment discussion on whether your product development would benefit from a custom lens design please contact Resolve Optics on +44-1494-777100 or email sales@resolveoptics.com

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