Subject: Pentax Aspherics, was: Pentax DCF
Date: Nov 19 23:51:18 1999
From: Mike Wagenbach - wagen13 at yahoo.com




>
> Coatings are so standard today and the machinery so
> industrialized that consumer lenses from major
> manufacturers,
> which certainly includes Pentax, are great in this
> regard.
>
> In fact, coatings are so cheap to apply that they
> use them
> on binoculars, where they're not nearly as necessary
> as they
> are on high-end camera lenses :) They add them
> because they
> do help, and good lens coatings are CHEAP so it
> doesn't really
> cost them much.
>
>
>
> - Don Baccus, Portland OR <dhogaza at pacifier.com>
> Nature photos, on-line guides, Pacific Northwest
> Rare Bird Alert Service and other goodies at
> http://donb.photo.net.
>

My assumption that coatings cost was based on my
inability to remember any binoculars that advertise
"fully multicoated" for less than about $400. ;-)

Coated, multicoated and fully multicoated seem to
scale at least somewhat consistently with price, and,
in my limited experience and ability to judge, with
image quality, particularly contrast.

Presumably profit margin scales even more rapidly with
price, while returns (for the user) diminish. They
know we're desperate, and the screws are tightened
accordingly!

By "wider lenses" do you mean wider field of view or
larger? Are the same coatings used on the plastic
lens surfaces?

Thanks for the reply.



=====
Mike Wagenbach wagen13 at yahoo.com
wagenATuDOTwashingtonDOTedu Seattle WA

The problem with expert advice is that it so often conflicts with one's plans.
-author unkown
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