plastic optics

I've used up my current photo budget. (And I just have to exercise restraint in retirement) But I see lots of toy cameras I'd get in a heartbeat, all with plastic lenses. The Diana 110 camera, (the two lens kit), a Diana Mini, a Holga 6X12 panoramic with the 90mm plastic lens. Those three intrigue me the most.

I had a Nikon kit lens which I believe had some plastic elements: the 28-80mm f/3.3-5.6G. The lens mount was plastic too! The images I got from the lens were just fine, plus I had no problem getting it wet and dirty because it was practically disposable. Fast autofocus too. I did hate the awful, awful focusing ring and the lack of an aperture ring.

I gave it to my brother a while ago; I should steal it back.

LJ, I have this lens as well and no issues. As near as I can tell the front element at least is plastic. I will say one thing, the darn thing is light as a feather.

Because of plastic "hybrid" aspherical elements, lenses exist today that would simply not have been conceivable without such technology. The practical application of this technology has created an amazing plethora of zoom lenses that are both cheap and optically excellent; for an example, look at what's attached to any digital camera; e.g. the omnipresent 28-300.

Kodak had a huge R&D program directed to the commercialization of plastic lenses. This was the basis of the pocket and 126 cartridge cameras. Virtually everything was plastic and easily mass produced. Todays disposable cameras use plastic lenses. Some of the early basic patents were held by EK starting in the 60s.

PE

Konica made several three versions of its 35-70mm zoom in AR mount. The first was a one touch fixed f/3/.5. It is a decent performer but not the most mechanically stable. The second was two touch fixed f/4. This one is also a good performer and is much more sturdy. The third one is also a two touch but has a variable aperture of f/3.5-4.5. It has a plastic aspherical rear element. The instruction book warns against cleaning the rear element improperly. The lens is so light is doesn't feel real. The performance is good. The problem is focusing it in low light. The microprism or split image focusing aids black out. I can only use it because I have an FT-1 body with a Nikon E screen inside. The Canon 35-105/3.5-4.5 New FD also uses an aspheric element but that one is made of glass, not plastic. The design and speed allow the lens to be be much smaller and lighter than the earlier fixed f/3.5 version. It is a good performer but does not handle flare situations well. For the time being plastic elements can be part of high quality lens designs but can't replace all glass elements.

Kodak replaced glass with a plastic miniscus lens in its Brownie Hawkeye in the early 1950s. Is that the first commercial use of plastic elements?

Mustafa Umut Sarac said:

Nick,

You are right, there is two options to make a plastic aspheric element , first mold complete lens from plastic , second taking a glass lens and adhesive a plastic aspherical attachment on to glass lens. I use only Leica and Rollei cameras and when even Nikon cant compete with Leica with glass lenses, I bet nobody cant compete with plastic lenses.

I showed a way , if you experiment with one of designs , laser or water jet cutting or 3d printing is a way to have fun.

Additionally , if you add nanopowders like titanium dioxide to acrylic , you can have extreme refractive indexes like 4 or so.

But nanopowdered plastic thick products tends to crack , everyone Works on thin coatings.

There is also , film based lenses like zoneplates or so.

My best bet and greatest fun could be attach a plastic anamorphic attachments on to large format cameras or cine cameras or digital cine cameras. If holga sells 40 dollar lens , someone could sell to digital canon owners a anamorphic attachment.

Umut

Click to expand...

A bit of time has past since this post, but i hope you are still active on here. I am currently building an Ultra Large Format camera, for analog and digital photography, and videography.

this is me next to it. it has a 80x 80 image plane that i take photos of with a tilt shift lens thus getting Ultra large format look on a tiny camera. The thing is that i want an anamorphic adapter for this camera to get more dreamy characteristics and interesting look. especially because in its current state its a 42mm 0.36 equivalent and i want to enhance the special look even more. Do you have any idea, how i could make an anamorphic adapter for this thing. 15cm diameter in front. It is a 914mm f8 lens . I would love to hear any tips. It would be awesome if i dont need to put millions on the table. Maybe resin printing would be an option?

blockend said:

Mustafa passed away some years ago, I believe.

Click to expand...

As Umut was last active here on Photrio in May, 2020, I guess Sean's "little" website has more reach than we thought!
I expect blockend has someone else in mind.

MattKing said:

As Umut was last active here on Photrio in May, 2020, I guess Sean's "little" website has more reach than we thought!
I expect blockend has someone else in mind.

Click to expand...

I beg your pardon, I do indeed have someone else in mind. Apologies for prematurely reporting your passing, Mustafa!