Optics Basics

Hikvision Certified Security Associate

Len$
Lens
Training Objectives

 Understand basic concepts and components of lens.

 Understand the key parameters of lens
 Know lens selection according to different requirement
Contents

 Overview of Lens
 Key Parameters
 Lens Selection
Lens
• Lens collects optical signal and form an image on the sensor.
• Lens is consisted of one or more groups of optical glasses.
• A lens can focus light to form an image & Different combination of lens result in different focal length.

Scene Lens CCD/CMOS

sensor

optical signal

Image formed on the

sensor
Focal Length
Longer the focal length is，you feel closer to the object, bigger the object is.

Camera lens

Angle of the lens

Field of View
Sensor (FOV)

Focal length
Scene
Classification of Lens
Items Classification

Imaging size 1/3’’ 1/2’’ 2/3’’ 1’’ 4/3’’

FOV Telephoto Standard Wide angle Fisheye

(FOV≤20°) (FOV around 53°) (FOV≥90°) (FOV≥180°)

Mount CS-mount C-mount M12-mount Φ14-mount

Lens type Vari-focal lens Fixed lens

Iris Auto iris Manual iris Fixed iris P-iris

Resolution SD HD 6MP 8MP 12MP

IR IR lens Non-IR lens

Contents

 Overview of Lens
 Key Parameters
 Imaging Size
 FOV
 Focal Length
 Iris

 Lens Selection
Imaging Size
• Common sensor size ratio is usually 4:3.
Everything on the picture comes from everything on the sensor；
because Lens collects optical signal and form an image on the sensor.

How to choose the sensor ?

Vertical

Unit：Inch

Horizontal
Lens size vs. Sensor size
Final Image is determined by the combination of sensor and lens.

Scene Lens size Sensor

Image from the lens

Lens Size Selection
sensor
1/3" • When lens size is smaller than the sensor, there
will be black edges around the image corners.
1/4” lens

• When lens size is bigger than the sensor

1/3" • 1/2”lens can be used on the 1/3” sensor, but the
Field of view will be decrease by around 25%.
1/2”lens

1/3"
• Choose the suitable one!

1/3”lens
 FOV (Field Of View)
Scene
 FOV is the extent of the observable world that is seen.
It can be measured horizontally, vertically and
diagonally.
• Factors:
• Sensor size
• Focal length

f v h vh
 You can choose the lens according to the monitoring scene.
 When the sensor size is fixed, longer focal length will make
  
small FOV. D V H VH
 When the focal length is fixed, larger sensor size will make
large FOV. f: Focal length
v: Sensor’s vertical height
h: Sensor’s horizontal width
V：Scene’s vertical height
H: Scene’s horizontal width
D: Object distance
FOV vs. Sensor size vs. Focal length
• When Focal length is fixed： • When sensor is fixed：
• Small sensor size  Small FOV • Long focal length  Small FOV
• Large sensor size  Large FOV • Short focal length  Large FOV

Fixed focal length Short focal

length
Long focal
length
Lens with different FOV

• FOV
• Normal view
• Telephoto
• Wide angle
• Panoramic

Normal view Telephoto view

Wide angle view Panoramic view

Iris
 Iris
Iris (or aperture) is used to control the amount of light admitted through the lens.
F-number

F number
 F number shows the amount of light goes through the lens（Camera’s ability to collect lights）
 Smaller the F, better the light collection.

 F = f / D, where f is the focal length, and D is the iris diameter.

 Each lens is labeled with the maximal F number, such as F1, F1.4, F2, F2.8, F4, etc.
F-number vs. Amount of light through

1. F number shows the amount of light goes through the lens.

2. The F number is reverse to the amount of light through.
3. Smaller the F, Bigger the Iris, more light will get to sensor.
F number
 Relationship among F number, iris size, and amount of light (with a fixed focal length)

f/2 f/2.8 f/4 f/5.6

F number
Iris size
f/8 f/11 f/16
Amount of light
f/22
F number

6mm F1.4 50mm F3.0

Which lens will capture a

brighter image

𝒇
𝑭=
𝑫
Manual iris
• Manual iris lens
• Suitable to indoor scenarios with constant lighting.
• Manual iris lens is the easiest lens type. O-C ring is used to control the iris size.
• With electronic shutter to compensate, it can also be used for changing lighting scenarios.
Auto iris
• Auto iris lens
• Suitable to scenarios with changing lighting, such as outdoor environment
• Two major types

• VIDEO-drive: Lens has amplifier which is • DC-drive: Control the iris by camera’s DC voltage.
used to control the iris by the video signal. This lens requires the camera has the amplifier.
Iris can’t change by itself，there’s a motor that drives the iris to change. We call the iris motor.

Camera transmit Lens trigger Iris motor

Auto iris
• Auto iris lens
• Suitable to scenarios with changing lighting, such as outdoor environment
• Two major types

• VIDEO-drive: Lens has amplifier which is • DC-drive: Control the iris by camera’s DC voltage.
used to control the iris by the video signal. This lens requires the camera has the amplifier.

Camera transmit Lens trigger Iris motor

Auto iris
• Auto iris lens
• Suitable to scenarios with changing lighting, such as outdoor environment
• Two major types

• VIDEO-drive: Lens has amplifier which is • DC-drive: Control the iris by camera’s DC voltage.
used to control the iris by the video signal. This lens requires the camera has the amplifier.

Camera transmit Lens trigger Iris motor

Auto iris
• Auto iris lens
• Suitable to scenarios with changing lighting, such as outdoor environment
• Two major types

• VIDEO-drive: Lens has amplifier which is • DC-drive: Control the iris by camera’s DC voltage.
used to control the iris by the video signal. This lens requires the camera has the amplifier.

Camera trigger Iris motor

P-iris
• P-Iris
• Better depth of field
• More precise adjustment
• Control the lens’ stepping motor by camera
algorithm so that the iris is adjusted precisely and
stays in the optimal position. Optimal image
quality is achieved.
Depth of field
Depth of Field
• Depth of field refers to the distance between the frontend
and backend of the point of focus， where objects appear
to be sharp and clear simultaneously.
• Bigger iris, smaller depth of field;
• Longer focal length, smaller depth of field.

F number Focal length Object

distance
Depth of + - +
Field
Aperture（Iris） diameter

Aperture

DOF

Aperture

DOF
Contents

 Overview of Lens
 Key Parameters
 Lens Selection
Monitoring Distance vs. Focal length
Distance between the camera and object

Focal length
Fixed-Focal Lens VS Vari-Focal Lens

Fixed-focal lens Vari-focal lens

For camera with Without changing the
electronic shutter camera position, focal
length can be changed
Suitable for fixed to some extent.
monitoring in indoor
surveillance.
Fixed-Focal Lens

Wide-angle lens, mainly used for poor lighting

Short focal length environment and scenarios requiring wider
coverage.

Middle focal length Standard lens, focal length depends on the

sensor size

Telescope lens, narrow coverage but suitable

Long focal length for long distance surveillance.
Vari-Focal Lens
• Manual vari-focal

• Electric vari-focal
Megapixel Lens
• Megapixel camera should go with Megapixel lens.
IR corrected Lens
• ICR camera must have IR corrected lens.

IR-corrected lens

Non-IR corrected lens

Aspheric Lens
• Aspheric lens is able to correct spherical aberration, distortion, etc, resulting in better image quality.
• Glass aspheric lens, instead of plastic one, is used in surveillance industry.
• High cost.

Sphere lens Aspheric lens

Special Lens
• Special type or special function requires special lens.
• Example: fisheye camera, pinhole camera, etc.

Fisheye lens Pinhole

camera
Thanks