We have been discussing for the need for very precise lens alignment but let's check the latest patent application by Pentax:
No. 20030007260 Lens frame structure for optical axis adjustment.
Pentax engineer has eliminated the problem by "providing a lens frame structure which makes it possible to carry out a centering operation on a lens group without relying on the precisions of the fit between the lens group and a lens frame or the precision of the fit between a lens frame that supports the lens group and another lens frame".
We have to trust them, haven't we?
Regards,
Henry Chu
5/2/2003
From: KT Takeshita <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: Pentax Discuss <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: ten new cameras
Date: Tue, 04 Feb 2003 19:01:12 -0500
On 2/04/03 6:01 PM, "Bruce Rubenstein" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> It's all being done for style, and no
> different than tail fins. If that's what folks want then that's fine. It
> just won't help how well it works.
Very amateurish way of looking at the engineering design from the person who
claims to have an engineering/design background. It is true that a good
engineer should never look at anything for granted and try to look at things
from different angles, but I have to repeat that this particular design is
not a rocket science. There are lot more complicated design in any of the
small electro-mechanical gadget like a camera.
My interpretation is that, when engineers (never mind Pentax or not)
encounter the conflicting design requirement to pack an extending zoom
barrel into a card size format, they squeezed their brain to come up with
the solution which is to get certain lens group out of its way.
Normally, things like the lens alignment etc preoccupy the mind of
non-creative type engineers which hinders the progress of the design.
As any gadget design, there might be some bugs cropping up but I am sure the
major ones were already debugged.
I can see that the overall design objective of this camera was to make it as
small as possible, and the lens shifting design was just one of the
solutions to achieve that goal, but not the primary purpose. Pentax applied
over 30 patents for this concept. I am sure there would be other
applications. Well, IS woks, and why not this?
I would think it is a good and useful design for the money. Tail fins? I
do not think so. You may not like whatever Pentax accomplish but the life
goes on regardless ;-).
Take care,
Ken
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