Camera lens cutaway - photo

[Altair]

Camera lens cutaway.

Fullsize image: https://diqn32j8nouaz.cloudfront.net...y_fullsize.jpg



Previously:

DSLR camera cut in half - photo
Giant Kodak K-24 aerial aerial reconnaissance camera - photo
Camera gun - GIF
An SLT camera disassembled - photo
https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...237#post157935

[Duke_of_URL]

That lens probably costs most of my annual pay. As I understand, some of the most sophisticated modern lenses are only leased to professional photographers.

[odd one]

I used to assemble lenses like that. Tedious but enjoyable. I kinda miss it.

[jdurand]

I was working on a project for ________ studio to make a new studio camera for the next NAB show. It was based on an existing 3 chip camera. Going along reasonably but the mechanical engineer said he had a bad feeling, studio guys said all was good. NAB was getting closer but the electronics was progressing, the mechanical engineer was moving along, and custom lens was being fabricated...

Almost done when the mechanical engineer got the lens to fit up to his frame (some fancy stuff in the frame I won't mention). Turns out the studio gave the wrong focal length to the lens guy. The lens focused on the front of the prism instead of through the prism to the three chips.

Lots of finger pointing, tears, cursing, and project canceled. At least I got paid but my design never got finished.

[odd one]

Lots of fancy software out there nowadays to make sure the "models" are correct, but problems still happened now and then. We were fortunate that most things were done in house, lenses and metals. Every thing IR, nothing visible. Even having it all in house, errors could set things back weeks if not months. Mostly govt. contracts, they do not like delays.

[jdurand]

Lots of fancy software out there nowadays to make sure the "models" are correct, but problems still happened now and then. We were fortunate that most things were done in house, lenses and metals. Every thing IR, nothing visible. Even having it all in house, errors could set things back weeks if not months. Mostly govt. contracts, they do not like delays.

The lens met up with the spec perfectly, just that the studio "brains" gave the wrong focal length to the lens guy. The mechanical engineer had documented it all just fine, there was no direct communication between us engineers and parts vendors. Everything had to go through the studio. High security, lots of $$$ if the camera came out on schedule. Miss NAB and you have a year before the next one and by then the industry has changed again.

Had the same sort of issue working on a new high end color laser printer. We got the prototype built but headquarters wouldn't give us the encryption key to talk to the existing hardware. I was working in the Advanced R&D office in the USA, but that was the bad part... key doesn't leave Asia.

[odd one]

Funny, that seems to be how most companies operate these days. Similar stories at my place.