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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Bitching about the cost of lenses?
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Showing posts 1 - 12 of 12, (reverse)
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MemberPhotologist
 Canon EOS-40D 		03/27/2007 01:38:45 AM
Here is how they are made. Maybe now you may appreciate their cost.


Registered Userlentil
 Canon EOS-5D 		03/27/2007 01:55:27 AM
wow thats amazing
Registered Usersuper-dave
 Nikon D200 		03/27/2007 03:17:20 AM
it is amazing ... but it's not going to stop me from bitching about the price of lenses! :)

LOL
Registered Usershalrath
 Nikon D200 		03/27/2007 03:32:34 AM
My pocket still hurts...
MemberPhotologist
 Canon EOS-40D 		03/27/2007 11:10:21 AM

I wonder how much of this process is automated (robotics, etc.)?

MemberDjFenzl
 Nikon D60 		03/27/2007 11:15:09 AM
This reminds me of the post on the "Canon Virtual Lens Plant"

good stuff all around. In the Canon VLP a lot is still done by hand, much of which sees to be done in less than stellarly clean environments.
Registered Usershalrath
 Nikon D200 		03/27/2007 11:16:18 AM
I wondered this myself while I was watching it. A lot of this process seemed to be based on human judgement, while the world seems to lean toward machine precision. It does make you wonder how many hands it took to put together that $1000 lens of yours...
Registered UserFireBird
 Fisher Price Kid-Tough Digital 		03/27/2007 11:48:04 AM
Originally posted by lesgainous:
Here is how they are made. Maybe now you may appreciate their cost.


Nope. This is 1970's tech. Most of the operations done today are with robots. That's the reason todays zoom lenses are as good as 1970's prime lenses.
Membersabphoto
 Olympus E-500 EVOLT 		03/28/2007 06:39:53 AM
Yeah that does look pretty old school...here is another tread about the canon lens...pretty cool.

visit a canon lens plant
Memberhyperfocal
 Nikon D300 		03/28/2007 09:25:05 AM
Originally posted by fir3bird:

Nope. This is 1970's tech. Most of the operations done today are with robots. That's the reason todays zoom lenses are as good as 1970's prime lenses.


I think the optical quality of todays designs have more to do with CAD than robots putting them together. You can tell by feel if nothing else that my 70's vintage 105mm f2.5AI will be around alot longer than my new 70-300VR.

BTW, I read once when questioned about the high price of the legendary Noct-Nikkor 58mm f1.2, a Nikon engineer stated that the aspherical front element was brought from the molten state to solid over the time span of a year for absoult quality. And that is just one element of one lens.

edit:grammer

Message edited by author 2007-03-28 09:25:49.
Registered Userdoctornick
 Canon EOS-1D Mark II 		03/28/2007 11:15:14 AM
That video clip is showing the manufacturing process of highly specialized custom lenses, NOT your run of the mill Camera lenses. JML Optical (the company featured in the video clip) does custom work and designs and builds lenses according to their customer's specs and needs.

The Canon Lens Plant Video is how most consumer and pro Camera lenses are made.


Registered Userrenefunk
 Canon EOS-5D 		03/28/2007 11:21:45 AM
well if some sunglasses are about 300 $ i guess a camara lens with all the electronics stuff its 3 times expensive
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