Did you know ...

Glass can be found in windows, on your nose or in the refrigerator. There are countless types of this proven material, which differ in their melting point, refractive index and opacity. These differences are vital for the production of what will become camera and cine lenses. Therefore, data on grindability, thermal expansion and homogeneity of the refractive index is precisely documented for each type. The results are remarkable: high-quality lenses make camera and cine lenses from Carl Zeiss ideal for the most demanding projects.

Carl Zeiss uses more than 100 different types of high-quality glass to create around 350 different lens elements for up to 150 different lenses. Some of these optical glasses and crystals are more expensive than gold and heavier than steel.

What is the best way to process glass? First, employees grind the raw glass using computer-guided machines to create the lens elements. These are then polished and checked for their accuracy. Grinding, polishing, cleaning and measuring — until the desired shape has been achieved. Finally, the specialists perform one last manual “cleanliness test”. The lens elements are now ready to take their proper place. Afterall, quality is the most important thing when the trigger is pressed.

August 26, 2009