DA-L 18-55mm X-Ray

K57XR · 04-06-2011, 07:43 PM - **14 Likes**

I was wondering what the interior of a lens look like particularly the screwdrive AF of a Pentax lens but I didn’t really want to dissect one. For those who are curious on what it looks like, I went ahead and x-rayed my DAL 18-55mm. Here are the images...

Attached Images

Vylen · 04-06-2011, 07:54 PM

Very very awesome.

You didn't like, break into a medical center to borrow their x-ray machine did you?

Dunno if you still can, but maybe you should do an x-ray shot of the lens at 18mm focal length and then at 55mm fl...

Ole · 04-06-2011, 07:55 PM

Cool!

hcc · 04-06-2011, 09:32 PM

Originally posted by Ole

Cool!

+1, very cool.....

yu.arvin · 04-06-2011, 09:46 PM

very nice!

K57XR · 04-06-2011, 09:48 PM

Thanks!

Originally posted by Vylen

Very very awesome.

You didn't like, break into a medical center to borrow their x-ray machine did you?

Dunno if you still can, but maybe you should do an x-ray shot of the lens at 18mm focal length and then at 55mm fl...

I pretended to be a member of the janitorial staff…

The images above are at 18mm. I think I can “mop the floor” one more time for 55mm x-rays..

sewebster · 04-06-2011, 10:43 PM

X-ray video of the lens zooming and focussing?

secateurs · 04-07-2011, 01:50 AM

Originally posted by sewebster

X-ray video of the lens zooming and focussing?

Are you volunteering your hands to operate it?

rawr · 04-07-2011, 03:22 AM

Cool.
It puzzles me to see a rather sizable integrated circuit in there. What would it be doing? All the action (screw drive motor, AF system, stabilisation etc) is taking place in the body.

**interested_observer** · 04-07-2011, 06:46 AM

Originally posted by rawr

Cool.
It puzzles me to see a rather sizable integrated circuit in there. What would it be doing? All the action (screw drive motor, AF system, stabilisation etc) is taking place in the body.

Its reporting on the type of lens it is, along with the current aperture, and I believe to some degree the focus distance (far - infinity, near.... Pentax does not report in feet or and inches, but rather in various zones from what I have seen in PhotoMe).

Nice images - did not realize all the parts......

beamme84 · 04-07-2011, 07:04 AM

whoa that is very cool!

panoguy · 04-07-2011, 08:39 AM

Interesting. The "mostly plastic" DA-L series are probably the best for showing the mechanics via x-ray, but I'd still be interested in seeing just how complex and tightly packed a Limited would be.

K57XR · 04-07-2011, 07:26 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Vylen

Dunno if you still can, but maybe you should do an x-ray shot of the lens at 18mm focal length and then at 55mm fl...

Here you go; 1-2 are at 18mm, 3-4 at 55mm. Fifth one is head-on image. Now I'm curious what an SDM in a DA* looks like...

Originally posted by sewebster

X-ray video of the lens zooming and focussing?

I wish there was a way..

macTak · 04-08-2011, 01:44 PM

It's very interesting to see this, thanks for sharing this with us!

KxBlaze · 04-08-2011, 01:47 PM

That's actually pretty cool. It amazes me how intricate lenses are, especially high quality lenses.

04-06-2011, 07:43 PM - 14 Likes	#1
K57XR Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 830	DA-L 18-55mm X-Ray I was wondering what the interior of a lens look like particularly the screwdrive AF of a Pentax lens but I didn’t really want to dissect one. For those who are curious on what it looks like, I went ahead and x-rayed my DAL 18-55mm. Here are the images... Attached Images

04-07-2011, 06:46 AM	#10
interested_observer Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Tumbleweed, Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,707	Originally posted by rawr Cool. It puzzles me to see a rather sizable integrated circuit in there. What would it be doing? All the action (screw drive motor, AF system, stabilisation etc) is taking place in the body. Its reporting on the type of lens it is, along with the current aperture, and I believe to some degree the focus distance (far - infinity, near.... Pentax does not report in feet or and inches, but rather in various zones from what I have seen in PhotoMe). Nice images - did not realize all the parts...... Last edited by interested_observer; 04-07-2011 at 07:38 AM.

04-07-2011, 07:26 PM - 1 Like	#13
K57XR Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 830 Original Poster	Originally posted by Vylen Dunno if you still can, but maybe you should do an x-ray shot of the lens at 18mm focal length and then at 55mm fl... Here you go; 1-2 are at 18mm, 3-4 at 55mm. Fifth one is head-on image. Now I'm curious what an SDM in a DA* looks like... Originally posted by sewebster X-ray video of the lens zooming and focussing? I wish there was a way.. Attached Images Last edited by K57XR; 04-07-2011 at 07:39 PM.

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04-06-2011, 07:54 PM	#2
Vylen Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,262	Very very awesome. You didn't like, break into a medical center to borrow their x-ray machine did you? Dunno if you still can, but maybe you should do an x-ray shot of the lens at 18mm focal length and then at 55mm fl...

04-06-2011, 07:55 PM	#3
Ole Administrator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,408	Cool!

04-06-2011, 09:32 PM	#4
hcc Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,002	Originally posted by Ole Cool! +1, very cool.....

04-06-2011, 09:46 PM	#5
yu.arvin Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 59	very nice!

04-06-2011, 09:48 PM	#6
K57XR Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 830 Original Poster	Thanks! Originally posted by Vylen Very very awesome. You didn't like, break into a medical center to borrow their x-ray machine did you? Dunno if you still can, but maybe you should do an x-ray shot of the lens at 18mm focal length and then at 55mm fl... I pretended to be a member of the janitorial staff… The images above are at 18mm. I think I can “mop the floor” one more time for 55mm x-rays..

04-06-2011, 10:43 PM	#7
sewebster Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Vancouver, BC Photos: Gallery Posts: 544	X-ray video of the lens zooming and focussing?

04-07-2011, 01:50 AM	#8
secateurs Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Adelaide, Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 250	Originally posted by sewebster X-ray video of the lens zooming and focussing? Are you volunteering your hands to operate it?

04-07-2011, 03:22 AM	#9
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Cool. It puzzles me to see a rather sizable integrated circuit in there. What would it be doing? All the action (screw drive motor, AF system, stabilisation etc) is taking place in the body.

04-07-2011, 07:04 AM	#11
beamme84 New Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 24	whoa that is very cool!

04-07-2011, 08:39 AM	#12
panoguy Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Washington, D.C. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,327	Interesting. The "mostly plastic" DA-L series are probably the best for showing the mechanics via x-ray, but I'd still be interested in seeing just how complex and tightly packed a Limited would be.

04-08-2011, 01:44 PM	#14
macTak Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 759	It's very interesting to see this, thanks for sharing this with us!

04-08-2011, 01:47 PM	#15
KxBlaze Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: California Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,602	That's actually pretty cool. It amazes me how intricate lenses are, especially high quality lenses.