why are lenses so expensive? at DVinfo.net

Jeffrey Brown · January 24th, 2008, 11:38 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7_wL0ZZi6k

because they are a pain to make!

Bill Ravens · January 25th, 2008, 08:59 AM

yes, basically.
Grinding the glass is very labor and time consumming. The higher the resolving power of the lens, the more grinding and polishing steps are needed. Hi-rez lenses have a much higher rejection rate, during manufacture, than low rez lenses.

And then there is the issue of AR coatings. The raw material is expensive and the process of coating is expensive. Baking in ovens for 10-24 hours is typical to apply coatings. QC is a manual operation, it isn't terribly automated. Handling is complex...clean rooms, etc.

All in all, it's a pain.

January 24th, 2008, 11:38 PM	#1
Jeffrey Brown Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Longmont, CO Posts: 37	why are lenses so expensive? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7_wL0ZZi6k because they are a pain to make!

January 25th, 2008, 08:59 AM	#2
Bill Ravens Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: santa fe, nm Posts: 3,264 Images: 10	yes, basically. Grinding the glass is very labor and time consumming. The higher the resolving power of the lens, the more grinding and polishing steps are needed. Hi-rez lenses have a much higher rejection rate, during manufacture, than low rez lenses. And then there is the issue of AR coatings. The raw material is expensive and the process of coating is expensive. Baking in ovens for 10-24 hours is typical to apply coatings. QC is a manual operation, it isn't terribly automated. Handling is complex...clean rooms, etc. All in all, it's a pain.