Canon A75/85/95 lens assembly

The new Canon A95 has a lens assembly with "6 elements in 5 groups, including 2 aspherical lens". The earlier models A75 and A85 have lens assemblies with "9 elements in 7 groups, including 1 aspherical lens". Canon has reduced both elements and groups in A95.

Considering these factors alone, has Canon improved the lens in A95, or has it gone backwards?

- JW

John Wright wrote:
The new Canon A95 has a lens assembly with "6 elements in 5 groups, including 2 aspherical lens". The earlier models A75 and A85 have lens assemblies with "9 elements in 7 groups, including 1 aspherical lens". Canon has reduced both elements and groups in A95.

Considering these factors alone, has Canon improved the lens in A95, or has it gone backwards?

Increasing the number of elemnts/groups in a lens actually
reduces constrast and brightness of a lens, as there is more
glass in the way. I would assume that the extra aspheric lens
accomodates for the missing elements/groups anyway. Not having
seen the results from the camera, I cant really say.

Regards,
Vin.

--
Vin
Melbourne, Australia
Remove no and spam from both sides of the @ sign email address to reply

John Wright wrote:
The new Canon A95 has a lens assembly with "6 elements in 5 groups, including 2 aspherical lens". The earlier models A75 and A85 have lens assemblies with "9 elements in 7 groups, including 1 aspherical lens". Canon has reduced both elements and groups in A95.

Considering these factors alone, has Canon improved the lens in A95, or has it gone backwards?

Increasing the number of elemnts/groups in a lens actually
reduces constrast and brightness of a lens, as there is more
glass in the way. I would assume that the extra aspheric lens
accomodates for the missing elements/groups anyway. Not having
seen the results from the camera, I cant really say.

Regards,
Vin.

--
Vin
Melbourne, Australia
Remove no and spam from both sides of the @ sign email address to reply

On Tue, 31 Aug 2004 00:30:04 +0000, vhl wrote:

John Wright wrote:
The new Canon A95 has a lens assembly with "6 elements in 5 groups,
including 2 aspherical lens". The earlier models A75 and A85 have lens
assemblies with "9 elements in 7 groups, including 1 aspherical lens".
Canon has reduced both elements and groups in A95.

Considering these factors alone, has Canon improved the lens in A95, or
has it gone backwards?

Increasing the number of elemnts/groups in a lens actually reduces
constrast and brightness of a lens, as there is more glass in the way. I
would assume that the extra aspheric lens accomodates for the missing
elements/groups anyway. Not having seen the results from the camera, I
cant really say.

Assuming the A95 has the same lens as the A80, it had to be redesigned
because 1) The sensor in the A80/95 is larger than the sensor in the
A75/85 and 2) There's less room for the lens because of the flip-out
LCD behind it.

The new lens removes the need for so many elements by making one of
them a more complex shape. The reduced element count allows the A80 and
A95 to remain compact. I haven't seen the results from the camera either,
so can't comment on its performance, and I suppose no-one outside of Canon
knows whether it costs more or less than the previous lens to make.

- Len

On Tue, 31 Aug 2004 00:30:04 +0000, vhl wrote:

John Wright wrote:
The new Canon A95 has a lens assembly with "6 elements in 5 groups,
including 2 aspherical lens". The earlier models A75 and A85 have lens
assemblies with "9 elements in 7 groups, including 1 aspherical lens".
Canon has reduced both elements and groups in A95.

Considering these factors alone, has Canon improved the lens in A95, or
has it gone backwards?

Increasing the number of elemnts/groups in a lens actually reduces
constrast and brightness of a lens, as there is more glass in the way. I
would assume that the extra aspheric lens accomodates for the missing
elements/groups anyway. Not having seen the results from the camera, I
cant really say.

Assuming the A95 has the same lens as the A80, it had to be redesigned
because 1) The sensor in the A80/95 is larger than the sensor in the
A75/85 and 2) There's less room for the lens because of the flip-out
LCD behind it.

The new lens removes the need for so many elements by making one of
them a more complex shape. The reduced element count allows the A80 and
A95 to remain compact. I haven't seen the results from the camera either,
so can't comment on its performance, and I suppose no-one outside of Canon
knows whether it costs more or less than the previous lens to make.

- Len