Introduction
When putting together an inspection system, one typically selects a camera first, based on the “photonics” requirements of the application. Once a camera is selected, one identifies the lens which (together with the camera) satisfies the “optical” requirements of the application. Cameras are available in a wide range, with color/monochrome/NIR options, different levels of sensitivity & noise-parameters. There are also different imager sizes, pixel sizes and one can choose cameras with different numbers of pixels, usually with a corresponding trade-off in maximum frame rates. This offers users the opportunity to select the best combination of features. For example, under low-light conditions, a camera with high quantum efficiency (QE) and low read noise (Nr) can generate images with a good signal-to-noise ratio. For information about camera selection, please visit our Knowledge Base on Scientific Cameras.
Configuring an optimal camera and lens system involves the optimization of performance while being mindful to minimize the cost of the system. Some inspection applications require an imaging system that can resolve fine details of the sample while imaging a large field of view. Others require the tracking of smaller components that undergoing rapid changes, or the imaging of particles that are moving at relatively high speeds.
Please contact us for assistance in selecting the right camera and lens combination for your specific applications.
Considerations for Lens Selection
When a camera has been identified for a particular application, it is a relatively simple matter to select a suitable lens that provides the desired Field-of-View (FOV) at a given working distance.
If the intended usage can benefit from zooming-in and zooming-out to change the FOV/resolution of the system, then one may consider a zoom lens such as our Zoom 7000. For fixed and zoomable “micro” or “macro” imaging, a system may be selected from our Zoomable macroscopes/microscopes series.
As a first step of Lens selection, it is helpful to consider the following questions in the context of a specific imaging application:
- What is the desired Field of View (FOV) in mm? H x V or diagonal dimensions are needed.
- Would the workflow benefit from the capability to zoom-in and zoom-out? If so, what is are the desired FOV dimensions (in mm) at both ends of the range. Diagonal dimensions are usually sufficient.
- What is the working distance (WD, in mm)? As defined in the next article on this thread, please note that this is the distance from the object to the front of the lens.
- What is the smallest feature that needs to be resolved?
Please feel free to contact us with the above information. Our imaging specialists are available to assist you with the next steps.
