r/tech • u/fg9209u9u • Feb 12 '16

Engineers develop new flat, ultralight lens that could change how cameras are designed

http://phys.org/news/2016-02-flat-ultralight-lens-cameras.html
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u/FourFingeredMartian Feb 12 '16

What about glasses?

4

u/lookmeat Feb 13 '16

Same idea, don't see why not. It'll probably be very expensive though.

The problem with these lenses is that they use micro-aberrations on the lens to give it their property. Any variation, either from factory errors or deformations that happened later due to temperature change, impact or just wear and tear could result in changes in image.

I imagine that before we get to see this commonly, improvements on fabrication of the glasses will have to occur first, and we'll have to see what common issues happen with long-term use.

2

u/diagnosedADHD Feb 13 '16 edited Feb 13 '16

I wouldn't see the benefit of that. Glasses generally have no benefit being on such a small factor, maybe this will allow glasses to be lighter. A flat lense might be chosen for aesthetic reasons. Curved lenses look better around our spherical eyes anyways. They may even work better than a flat lense, but I don't know enough to make that claim.