• NIKKOR lens characteristics achieved with OPTIA
While developing the latest optical technologies and commercialisation of products utilising these technologies, Nikon continues its work in the research and development of means of evaluating optical performance. In 2013, Nikon began development and deployment of OPTIA*2, a device for measuring all forms of aberration*3 occurring with photographic lenses that was originally developed as a means of measuring aberration in IC steppers and scanners, as well as a dedicated image simulator that is used with OPTIA. OPTIA and the dedicated image simulator are still used to evaluate and verify NIKKOR lens characteristics today.
In addition to resolution, camera lens performance is also indicated by characteristics such as “bokeh”, reproduction of textures and sense of depth. The application of OPTIA’s aberration measurement to Nikon lenses has always been highly reputable.
The image simulator, a software developed alongside OPTIA, enables simulation at the design stage that is equivalent to actual photography with lens prototypes. With this, lenses can be developed with greater control over not only resolution, but also a wide variety of lens characteristics.
Adoption of the new design concept formulated with the use of OPTIA and the image simulator will enable more effective development of high-performance lenses with unique characteristics, thus allowing Nikon to provide customers with interchangeable lenses experience that offer new forms of value.
One of the lenses designed using OPTIA is the new AF-S NIKKOR 105mm f/1.4E ED, released today. This lens embodies the "three-dimensional high-fidelity”, superior reproduction characteristics, design concept that represents Nikon's ideal with more natural three-dimensional reproduction of three-dimensional objects on the two-dimensional field known as a photograph. It enables photos with a natural sense of depth and in which the primary subject is impressively rendered, while expressing beautiful bokeh characteristics that change gradually as the distance from the focus position increases.