Back in February I travelled to the UK to work for a week on my first ever prototype lenses, the 50.1 PMMA and the 50.1 PMMA ASPH. Now I have tested both these initial prototypes lenses and analysed the results, I can say that the mixed performances of the two lenses have helped to inform me a lot about the very basics of optical lens design. Now, with Easter on it's way and a break in my timetable looming, I am going to return to the UK once again to attempt to implement what I have learnt into a second round of prototyping.
Single element optics will not provide the quality I desire. The multitude of image errors found within my test results cannot be fixed with the limited amount of control I have (the two surface curvatures, element thickness, and the RI and ABBE values of the element material). Therefore I need to start looking at multi element optical systems to determine how I can eliminate errors and my my lens designs more usable.
Like last time I am planning to achieve a certain set of goals. With only a short amount of time, I am being optimistic in what I can achieve but with thorough preparation and planning I would like to think what I have planned is possible. The aims for the next round of prototyping are as follows:
- Learn about multi-element optical systems and how they are designed
- Learn how to use the optical ray tracer ZeMax well enough to simulate and optimise my designs
- Design a new optical system utilising multiple elements to eliminate:
- Spherical Abberations - the main error seen in my first prototypes
- Coma - the second biggest error I identified
- Chromatic Abberations - I have concern that multiple plastic elements will perform poorly without correction for CA.
- Design a new cross platform 35mm lens train housing which will initially work with:
- Canon EF
- Nikon AI
- Manufacture the new optical system design using the same CNC equipment as last time
- Manufacture the new housing system, with multiple mounts so the optical system can be interchanged
Manufacturing time starts in the 16th of April so at the time I came up with this list (this is being written retrospectively , I had about 1 and a half months to complete all preparations.
