US20010046383A1 - Taking lens device - Google Patents

Taking lens device Download PDF

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US20010046383A1
US20010046383A1 US09/826,600 US82660001A US2001046383A1 US 20010046383 A1 US20010046383 A1 US 20010046383A1 US 82660001 A US82660001 A US 82660001A US 2001046383 A1 US2001046383 A1 US 2001046383A1
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lens unit
lens
optical
optical power
unit
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US6449433B2 (en
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Hitoshi Hagimori
Tetsuo Kohno
Masashi Isono
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Minolta Co Ltd
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Minolta Co Ltd
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    • GPHYSICS
    • G02OPTICS
    • G02BOPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B15/00Optical objectives with means for varying the magnification
    • G02B15/14Optical objectives with means for varying the magnification by axial movement of one or more lenses or groups of lenses relative to the image plane for continuously varying the equivalent focal length of the objective
    • G02B15/144Optical objectives with means for varying the magnification by axial movement of one or more lenses or groups of lenses relative to the image plane for continuously varying the equivalent focal length of the objective having four groups only
    • G02B15/1441Optical objectives with means for varying the magnification by axial movement of one or more lenses or groups of lenses relative to the image plane for continuously varying the equivalent focal length of the objective having four groups only the first group being positive
    • G02B15/144105Optical objectives with means for varying the magnification by axial movement of one or more lenses or groups of lenses relative to the image plane for continuously varying the equivalent focal length of the objective having four groups only the first group being positive arranged +-+-
    • GPHYSICS
    • G02OPTICS
    • G02BOPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B15/00Optical objectives with means for varying the magnification
    • G02B15/14Optical objectives with means for varying the magnification by axial movement of one or more lenses or groups of lenses relative to the image plane for continuously varying the equivalent focal length of the objective
    • G02B15/145Optical objectives with means for varying the magnification by axial movement of one or more lenses or groups of lenses relative to the image plane for continuously varying the equivalent focal length of the objective having five groups only
    • G02B15/1451Optical objectives with means for varying the magnification by axial movement of one or more lenses or groups of lenses relative to the image plane for continuously varying the equivalent focal length of the objective having five groups only the first group being positive
    • G02B15/145121Optical objectives with means for varying the magnification by axial movement of one or more lenses or groups of lenses relative to the image plane for continuously varying the equivalent focal length of the objective having five groups only the first group being positive arranged +-+-+
    • GPHYSICS
    • G02OPTICS
    • G02BOPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B15/00Optical objectives with means for varying the magnification
    • G02B15/14Optical objectives with means for varying the magnification by axial movement of one or more lenses or groups of lenses relative to the image plane for continuously varying the equivalent focal length of the objective
    • G02B15/146Optical objectives with means for varying the magnification by axial movement of one or more lenses or groups of lenses relative to the image plane for continuously varying the equivalent focal length of the objective having more than five groups
    • G02B15/1461Optical objectives with means for varying the magnification by axial movement of one or more lenses or groups of lenses relative to the image plane for continuously varying the equivalent focal length of the objective having more than five groups the first group being positive

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an optical or taking lens device. More specifically, the present invention relates to an optical or taking lens device that optically takes in an image of a subject through an optical system and that then outputs the image as an electrical signal by means of an image sensor.
  • a taking lens device that is used as a main component of a digital still camera, a digital video camera, or a camera that is incorporated in, or externally fitted, to a device such as a digital video unit, a personal computer, a mobile computer, a portable telephone, or a personal digital assistant (PDA).
  • PDA personal digital assistant
  • the present invention relates particularly to an optical or taking lens device provided with a compact, high-zoom-ratio zoom lens system.
  • the majority of high-zoom-ratio zoom lenses for digital cameras are of the type comprised of, from the object side, a first lens unit having a positive optical power, a second lens unit having a negative optical power, a third lens unit having a positive optical power, and a fourth lens unit having a positive optical power (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H4-296809).
  • a positive-negative-positive-positive configuration excels in compactness.
  • zoom lenses that offer higher zoom ratios are known zoom lenses of the type comprised of, from the object side, a first lens unit having a positive optical power, a second lens unit having a negative optical power, a third lens unit having a positive optical power, and a fourth lens unit having a negative optical power (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H5-341189) and zoom lenses of the type comprised of, from the object side, a first lens unit having a positive optical power, a second lens unit having a negative optical power, a third lens unit having a positive optical power, a fourth lens unit having a negative optical power, and a fifth lens unit having a positive optical power (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-111457).
  • a configuration including a positive-negative-positive-negative sequence, in which the fourth lens unit is negative is somewhat inferior in compactness to a positive-negative-positive-positive configuration.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide a zoom lens configuration that is superior in compactness to a positive-negative-positive-positive configuration but that still offers satisfactory performance.
  • an object of this invention is to provide an optical or taking lens device provided with a high-zoom-ratio zoom lens system that offers a zoom ratio of about 7 ⁇ to 10 ⁇ and an f-number of about 2.5 to 4, that offers such high performance that it can be used as an optical system for use with a leading-edge image sensor with a very small pixel pitch, and that excels in compactness.
  • an optical or taking lens device is provided with: a zoom lens system that is comprised of a plurality of lens units and that achieves zooming by varying the unit-to-unit distances; and an image sensor that converts an optical image formed by the zoom lens system into an electrical signal.
  • the zoom lens system comprises at least, from the object side thereof to an image side thereof, a first lens unit having a positive optical power, a second lens unit having a negative optical power, a third lens unit having a positive optical power, and a fourth lens unit having a negative optical power.
  • f 1 represents the focal length of the first lens unit
  • fT represents the focal length of the entire optical system at the telephoto end.
  • an optical, or taking lens device is provided with: a zoom lens system that is comprised of a plurality of lens units which achieves zooming by varying the unit-to-unit distances; and an image sensor for converting an optical image formed by the zoom lens system into an electrical signal.
  • the zoom lens system comprises at least, from an object side thereof to an image side thereof, a first lens unit having a positive optical power, a second lens unit having a negative optical power, a third lens unit having a positive optical power, and a fourth lens unit having a negative optical power.
  • the first lens unit is moved as zooming is performed.
  • D 34W represents the aerial distance between the third lens unit and the fourth lens unit at the wide-angle end
  • D 34T represents the aerial distance between the third lens unit and the fourth lens unit at the telephoto end.
  • FIG. 1 is a lens arrangement diagram of a first embodiment (Example 1) of the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a lens arrangement diagram of a second embodiment (Example 2) of the invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a lens arrangement diagram of a third embodiment (Example 3) of the invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a lens arrangement diagram of a fourth embodiment (Example 4) of the invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a lens arrangement diagram of a fifth embodiment (Example 5) of the invention.
  • FIG. 6 is a lens arrangement diagram of a sixth embodiment (Example 6) of the invention.
  • FIG. 7 is a lens arrangement diagram of a seventh embodiment (Example 7) of the invention.
  • FIG. 8 is a lens arrangement diagram of a eighth embodiment (Example 8) of the invention.
  • FIG. 9 is a lens arrangement diagram of a ninth embodiment (Example 9) of the invention.
  • FIGS. 10A to 10 I are aberration diagrams of Example 1, as observed when focused at infinity;
  • FIGS. 11A to 11 I are aberration diagrams of Example 2, as observed when focused at infinity
  • FIGS. 12A to 12 I are aberration diagrams of Example 3, as observed when focused at infinity;
  • FIGS. 13A to 13 I are aberration diagrams of Example 4, as observed when focused at infinity;
  • FIGS. 14A to 14 I are aberration diagrams of Example 5, as observed when focused at infinity
  • FIGS. 15A to 15 I are aberration diagrams of Example 6, as observed when focused at infinity;
  • FIGS. 16A to 16 I are aberration diagrams of Example 7, as observed when focused at infinity;
  • FIGS. 17A to 17 I are aberration diagrams of Example 8, as observed when focused at infinity;
  • FIGS. 18A to 18 I are aberration diagrams of Example 9, as observed when focused at infinity
  • FIG. 26 is a diagram schematically illustrating the outline of the optical construction of a taking lens device embodying the invention.
  • FIG. 27 is a diagram schematically illustrating the outline of a construction of an embodiment of the invention that could be used in a digital camera.
  • a taking lens device optically takes in an image of a subject and then outputs the image as an electrical signal.
  • a taking lens device is used as a main component of a camera used to shoot a still or moving pictures of a subject, for example a digital still camera, a digital video camera, or a camera that is incorporated in or externally fitted to a device such as a digital video unit, a personal computer, a mobile computer, a portable telephone, or a personal digital assistant (PDA).
  • a digital camera also includes a memory to store the image data from the image sensor.
  • FIG. 26 shows a taking lens device comprised of, from the object (subject) side, a taking lens system (TL) that forms an optical image of an object, a plane-parallel plate (PL) that functions as an optical low-pass filter or the like, and an image sensor (SR) that converts the optical image formed by the taking lens system (TL) into an electrical signal.
  • FIG. 27 shows a zoom lens system ZL, an optical low-pass filter PL, an image sensor SR, processing circuits PC that would include any electronics needed to process the image, and a memory EM that could be used in a digital camera.
  • the taking lens system TL is built as a zoom lens system comprised of a plurality of lens units wherein zooming is achieved by moving two or more lens units along the optical axis AX in such a way that their unit-to-unit distances vary.
  • the image sensor SR is realized, for example, with a solid-state image sensor such as a CCD (charge-coupled device) or CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) sensor having a plurality of pixels, and, by this image sensor SR, the optical image formed by the zoom lens system is converted into an electrical signal.
  • the optical image to be formed by the zoom lens system has its spatial frequency characteristics adjusted by being passed through the low-pass filter PL that has predetermined cut-off frequency characteristics that are determined by the pixel pitch of the image sensor SR. This helps minimize so-called aliasing noise that appears when the optical image is converted into an electrical signal.
  • the signal produced by the image sensor SR is subjected, as required, to predetermined digital image processing, image compression, and other processing, and is then, as a digital image signal, recorded in a memory (such as a semiconductor memory or an optical disk) or, if required, transmitted to another device by way of a cable or after being converted into an infrared signal.
  • FIGS. 1 to 9 are lens arrangement diagrams of the zoom lens system used in a first to a ninth embodiment of the present invention, each showing the lens arrangement at the wide-angle end W in an optical sectional view.
  • the zoom lens system includes, from the object side, a first lens unit Gr 1 having a positive optical power, a second lens unit Gr 2 having a negative optical power, a third lens unit Gr 3 having a positive optical power, and a fourth lens unit Gr 4 having a negative optical power.
  • the zoom lens system also has a flat glass plate PL, which is a glass plane-parallel plate that functions as an optical low-pass filter or the like, disposed on the image-plane side thereof.
  • the flat glass plate PL is kept stationary during zooming, and the third lens unit Gr 3 includes an aperture stop ST at the object-side end thereof.
  • the zoom lens system is a four-unit zoom lens of a positive-negative-positive-negative configuration, and is comprised of, from the object side, a first lens unit Gr 1 having a positive optical power, a second lens unit Gr 2 having a negative optical power, a third lens unit Gr 3 having a positive optical power, and a fourth lens unit Gr 4 having a negative optical power.
  • the zoom lens system is a five-unit zoom lens of a positive-negative-positive-negative-positive configuration, and is comprised of, from the object side, a first lens unit Gr 1 having a positive optical power, a second lens unit Gr 2 having a negative optical power, a third lens unit Gr 3 having a positive optical power, a fourth lens unit Gr 4 having a negative optical power, and a fifth lens unit Gr 5 having a positive optical power.
  • the zoom lens system is a six-unit zoom lens of a positive-negative-positive-negative-positive-negative configuration, and is comprised of, from the object side, a first lens unit Gr 1 having a positive optical power, a second lens unit Gr 2 having a negative optical power, a third lens unit Gr 3 having a positive optical power, a fourth lens unit Gr 4 having a negative optical power, a fifth lens unit Gr 5 having a positive optical power, and a sixth lens unit Gr 6 having a negative optical power.
  • the zoom lens system is a six-unit zoom lens of a positive-negative-positive-negative-positive-positive configuration, and is comprised of, from the object side, a first lens unit Gr 1 having a positive optical power, a second lens unit Gr 2 having a negative optical power, a third lens unit Gr 3 having a positive optical power, a fourth lens unit Gr 4 having a negative optical power, a fifth lens unit Gr 5 having a positive optical power, and a sixth lens unit Gr 6 having a positive optical power.
  • the zoom lens system has a configuration starting with a positive-negative-positive-negative sequence.
  • a configuration starting with a positive-negative-positive-positive sequence, in which both the third lens unit and the fourth lens unit Gr 3 , Gr 4 have positive powers a configuration starting with a positive-negative-positive-negative sequence, in which the fourth lens unit Gr 4 is negative, the opposite signs of the optical powers of the third lens unit and the fourth lens unit Gr 3 , Gr 4 permit a high zoom ratio to be achieved with those lens units Gr 3 , Gr 4 alone, and thus makes it easier to secure a high zoom ratio through the entire zoom lens system.
  • configurations starting with a positive-negative-positive-negative sequence include the following variations: a four-unit type having a positive-negative-positive-negative configuration, five-unit types respectively having a positive-negative-positive-negative-positive and a positive-negative-positive-negative-negative configuration, six-unit types having a positive-negative-positive-negative-positive, a positive-negative-positive-negative-positive-negative, a positive-negative-positive-negative-negative-positive, and a positive-negative-positive-negative-negative-negative configuration, and so forth.
  • a zoom lens system like those used in the embodiments, of the type that includes, from the object side, positive-negative-positive-negative zoom units, it is preferable that conditional formula (1) below be fulfilled.
  • the thus realized zoom lens system offers a zoom ratio of about 7 ⁇ to 10 ⁇ , an f-number of about 2.5 to 4, and high performance that makes the zoom lens system usable as an optical system for use with a leading-edge image sensor SR with a very small pixel pitch.
  • f 1 represents the focal length of the first lens unit Gr 1 ;
  • conditional formula (1) If the lower limit of conditional formula (1) were to be transgressed, the optical power of the first lens unit Gr 1 would be too strong, and thus it would be difficult to eliminate spherical aberration, in particular, at the wide-angle end W. By contrast, if the upper limit of conditional formula (1) were to be transgressed, the optical power of the first lens unit Gr 1 would be too weak, and thus it would be difficult to achieve satisfactory compactness, in particular, at the telephoto end T.
  • a zoom lens system like those used in the embodiments, of the type that includes, from the object side, positive-negative-positive-negative zoom units, it is preferable that focusing be achieved by moving the fourth lens unit Gr 4 along the optical axis AX and that conditional formula (2) below be additionally fulfilled. This makes it possible to realize a zoom lens system offering higher performance. It is further preferable that conditional formula (2) be fulfilled together with conditional formula (1) noted previously.
  • f 4 represents the focal length of the fourth lens unit Gr 4 ;
  • fT represents the focal length of the entire optical system at the telephoto end T.
  • the fourth lens unit Gr 4 has a relatively weak optical power, and accordingly the fourth lens unit Gr 4 has the fewest lens elements. Thus, focusing is best achieved by moving (as indicated by the arrow mF) the fourth lens unit Gr 4 , which is light, along the optical axis AX. However, in cases where it is possible to adopt a system that permits the image sensor SR to be moved for focusing, focusing may be achieved instead by moving the image sensor SR.
  • the first lens unit Gr 1 be moved and the distance between the third and fourth lens units Gr 3 , Gr 4 increase from the wide-angle end W to the middle-focal-length position and decrease from the middle-focal-length position to the telephoto end T.
  • conditional formulae (1) and (2) be fulfilled.
  • an aspherical surface in the second lens unit Gr 2 It is preferable to dispose, as in all of the embodiments, an aspherical surface in the second lens unit Gr 2 . Disposing an aspherical surface in the second lens unit Gr 2 makes it possible to realize a zoom lens system of which the zoom range starts at a wider angle. An attempt to increase the shooting view angle by reducing the focal length at the wide-angle end W results in making correction of distortion difficult, in particular, at the wide-angle end W. To avoid this inconvenience, it is preferable to dispose an aspherical surface in the second lens unit Gr 2 through which off-axial rays pass at relatively great heights on the wide-angle side. This makes proper correction of distortion possible. Thus, to obtain high optical performance without sacrificing compactness, it is further preferable that conditional formulae (1) and (2) be fulfilled and in addition that an aspherical surface be disposed in the second lens unit Gr 2 .
  • a zoom lens system like those used in the embodiments, of the type that includes, from the object side, positive-negative-positive-negative zoom units and in which the first lens unit Gr 1 is moved during zooming, it is preferable that conditional formula (3) below be fulfilled.
  • the thus realized zoom lens system offers a zoom ratio of about 7 ⁇ to 10 ⁇ , an f-number of about 2.5 to 4, and high performance that makes the zoom lens system usable as an optical system for use with a leading-edge image sensor SR with a very small pixel pitch.
  • D 34W represents the aerial distance between the third lens unit and the fourth lens unit Gr 3 , Gr 4 at the wide-angle end W;
  • D 34T represents an aerial distance between the third lens unit and the fourth lens unit Gr 3 , Gr 4 at the telephoto end T.
  • a zoom lens system like those used in the embodiments, of the type that includes, from the object side, positive-negative-positive-negative zoom units, it is preferable that, during zooming from the wide-angle end W to the telephoto end T, the first lens unit Gr 1 be moved as described previously and, in addition, that the fourth lens unit Gr 4 be moved toward the object side. This makes it possible to obtain a higher zoom ratio in the fourth lens unit Gr 4 , and thereby obtain an accordingly higher zoom ratio through the entire zoom lens system. To strike a proper balance between a high zoom ratio and compactness, it is further preferable that conditional formula (3) be fulfilled simultaneously.
  • a zoom lens system like those used in the embodiments, of the type that includes, from the object side, positive-negative-positive-negative zoom units, it is preferable that, as zooming is performed from the wide-angle end W to the telephoto end T, the distance between the third lens unit and the fourth lens unit Gr 3 , Gr 4 increase from the wide-angle end W to the middle-focal-length position and decrease from the middle-focal-length position to the telephoto end T as described previously. To achieve satisfactory compactness, it is further preferable that conditional formula (3) be fulfilled simultaneously.
  • a zoom lens system like those used in the embodiments, of the type that includes, from the object side, positive-negative-positive-negative zoom units, it is preferable that focusing be achieved by moving the fourth lens unit Gr 4 , as described previously, and that conditional formula (4) below be additionally fulfilled. This makes it possible to realize a zoom lens system offering higher performance. It is further preferable that conditional formula (4) be fulfilled together with conditional formula (3) noted previously.
  • ⁇ W4 represents the lateral magnification of the fourth lens unit Gr 4 at the wide-angle end W.
  • the fourth lens unit Gr 4 has a relatively weak optical power, and accordingly the fourth lens unit Gr 4 has the fewest lens elements.
  • the fourth lens unit Gr 4 which is light, is best suited for focusing.
  • focusing may be achieved instead by moving the image sensor SR.
  • an aspherical surface in the second lens unit Gr 2 makes it possible to realize a zoom lens system of which the zoom range starts at a wider angle.
  • An attempt to increase the shooting view angle by reducing the focal length at the wide-angle end W results in making correction of distortion difficult, in particular, at the wide-angle end W.
  • conditional formulae (3) and (4) be fulfilled and in addition that an aspherical surface be disposed in the second lens unit Gr 2 .
  • all of the lens units are comprised solely of refractive lenses that deflect light incident thereon by refraction (i.e. lenses of the type that deflects light at the interface between two media having different refractive indices).
  • any of these lens units may include, for example, a diffractive lens that deflects light incident thereon by diffraction, a refractive-diffractive hybrid lens that deflects light incident thereon by the combined effects of refraction and diffraction, a gradient-index lens that deflects light incident thereon with varying refractive indices distributed in a medium, or a lens of any other type.
  • a surface having no optical power may be disposed in the optical path so that the optical path is bent before, after, or in the middle of the zoom lens system.
  • a surface having no optical power for example, a reflective, refractive, or diffractive surface
  • Where to bend the optical path may be determined to suit particular needs. By bending the optical path appropriately, it is possible to make a camera slimmer. It is even possible to build an arrangement in which zooming or the collapsing movement of a lens barrel does not cause any change in the thickness of a camera.
  • the first lens unit Gr 1 stationary during zooming, and disposing a mirror behind the first lens unit Gr 1 so that the optical path is bent by 90° by the reflecting surface of the mirror, it is possible to keep the front-to-rear length of the zoom lens system constant and thereby make the camera slimmer.
  • an optical low-pass filter having the shape of a plane-parallel plate PL is disposed between the last surface of the zoom lens system and the image sensor SR.
  • this low-pass filter it is also possible to use a birefringence-type low-pass filter made of quartz or the like having its crystal axis aligned with a predetermined direction, a phase-type low-pass filter that achieves the required optical cut-off frequency characteristics by exploiting diffraction, or a low-pass filter of any other type.
  • Tables 1 to 9 list the construction data of Examples 1 to 9, respectively.
  • Nd refractive index Nd for the d-line and the Abbe number ( ⁇ d) of the i-th optical element from the object side, respectively.
  • a surface whose radius of curvature ri is marked with an asterisk (*) is an aspherical surface, of which the surface shape is defined by formula (AS) below.
  • AS formula
  • X(H) represents the displacement along the optical axis at the height H (relative to the vertex);
  • H represents the height in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis
  • C0 represents the paraxial curvature (the reciprocal of the radius of curvature);
  • represents the quadric surface parameter
  • Ai represents the aspherical surface coefficient of i-th order.
  • FIGS. 10 A- 10 I, 11 A- 11 I, 12 A- 12 I, 13 A- 13 I, 14 A- 14 I, 15 A- 15 I, 16 A- 16 I, 17 A- 17 I, and 18 A- 18 I are diagrams showing the aberration observed in Examples 1 to 9, respectively, when focused at infinity.
  • 10 D- 10 F, 11 D- 11 F, 12 D- 12 F, 13 D- 13 F, 14 D- 14 F, 15 D- 15 F, 16 D- 16 F, 17 D- 17 F, and 18 D- 18 F show the aberration observed in the middle position M
  • 20 D- 20 F, 21 D- 21 F, 22 D- 22 F, 23 D- 23 F, 24 D- 24 F, and 25 D- 25 F show the aberration observed at the telephoto end T.
  • Y′ represents the maximum image height (mm).
  • a solid line d and a dash-and-dot line g show the spherical aberration for the d-line and for the g-line, respectively, and a broken line SC shows the sine condition.
  • a broken line DM and a solid line DS represent the astigmatism for the d-line on the meridional plane and on the sagittal plane, respectively.
  • a solid line represents the distortion (%) for the d-line.

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Abstract

A taking lens device has a zoom lens system that is comprised of a plurality of lens units and that achieves zooming by varying the unit-to-unit distances and an image sensor that converts an optical image formed by the zoom lens system into an electric signal. The zoom lens system is comprised of, from the object side, a first lens unit having a positive optical power, a second lens unit having a negative optical power, a third lens unit having a positive optical power, and a fourth lens unit having a negative optical power. The following conditional formula is fulfilled: 1.1<f1/fT<2.5, where f1 represents the focal length of the first lens unit, and fT represents the focal length of the entire optical system at the telephoto end.

Description

  • This application is based on Japanese Patent Applications Nos. 2000-111927 and 2000-368339, filed on Apr. 7, 2000 and Dec. 4, 2000, respectively, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. [0001]
  • FIELD OF THE INVENTION
  • The present invention relates to an optical or taking lens device. More specifically, the present invention relates to an optical or taking lens device that optically takes in an image of a subject through an optical system and that then outputs the image as an electrical signal by means of an image sensor. For example, a taking lens device that is used as a main component of a digital still camera, a digital video camera, or a camera that is incorporated in, or externally fitted, to a device such as a digital video unit, a personal computer, a mobile computer, a portable telephone, or a personal digital assistant (PDA). The present invention relates particularly to an optical or taking lens device provided with a compact, high-zoom-ratio zoom lens system. [0002]
  • DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
  • Conventionally, the majority of high-zoom-ratio zoom lenses for digital cameras are of the type comprised of, from the object side, a first lens unit having a positive optical power, a second lens unit having a negative optical power, a third lens unit having a positive optical power, and a fourth lens unit having a positive optical power (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H4-296809). This is because a positive-negative-positive-positive configuration excels in compactness. [0003]
  • On the other hand, as zoom lenses that offer higher zoom ratios are known zoom lenses of the type comprised of, from the object side, a first lens unit having a positive optical power, a second lens unit having a negative optical power, a third lens unit having a positive optical power, and a fourth lens unit having a negative optical power (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H5-341189) and zoom lenses of the type comprised of, from the object side, a first lens unit having a positive optical power, a second lens unit having a negative optical power, a third lens unit having a positive optical power, a fourth lens unit having a negative optical power, and a fifth lens unit having a positive optical power (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-111457). [0004]
  • However, in the zoom lens of a positive-negative-positive-negative configuration proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H5-341189, mentioned above, the first lens unit is kept stationary during zooming, and therefore this zoom lens is unfit for further improvement for higher performance necessitated by the trend toward higher zoom ratios and smaller image-sensor pixel pitches. On the other hand, in the zoom lens of a positive-negative-positive-negative-positive configuration proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-111457, mentioned above, the first lens unit is moved during zooming, but the individual lens units, in particular the first and second lens units, are given strong optical powers and thus cause large aberrations. This makes it difficult to achieve higher performance necessitated by the trend toward higher zoom ratios and smaller image-sensor pixel pitches. In addition, a configuration including a positive-negative-positive-negative sequence, in which the fourth lens unit is negative, is somewhat inferior in compactness to a positive-negative-positive-positive configuration. [0005]
  • SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
  • An object of the present invention is to provide a zoom lens configuration that is superior in compactness to a positive-negative-positive-positive configuration but that still offers satisfactory performance. In particular, an object of this invention is to provide an optical or taking lens device provided with a high-zoom-ratio zoom lens system that offers a zoom ratio of about 7× to 10× and an f-number of about 2.5 to 4, that offers such high performance that it can be used as an optical system for use with a leading-edge image sensor with a very small pixel pitch, and that excels in compactness. [0006]
  • To achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, an optical or taking lens device is provided with: a zoom lens system that is comprised of a plurality of lens units and that achieves zooming by varying the unit-to-unit distances; and an image sensor that converts an optical image formed by the zoom lens system into an electrical signal. The zoom lens system comprises at least, from the object side thereof to an image side thereof, a first lens unit having a positive optical power, a second lens unit having a negative optical power, a third lens unit having a positive optical power, and a fourth lens unit having a negative optical power. Here, the following conditional formula is fulfilled:[0007]
  • 1.1<f1/fT<2.5
  • where [0008]
  • f[0009] 1 represents the focal length of the first lens unit; and
  • fT represents the focal length of the entire optical system at the telephoto end. [0010]
  • According to another aspect of the present invention, an optical, or taking lens device is provided with: a zoom lens system that is comprised of a plurality of lens units which achieves zooming by varying the unit-to-unit distances; and an image sensor for converting an optical image formed by the zoom lens system into an electrical signal. The zoom lens system comprises at least, from an object side thereof to an image side thereof, a first lens unit having a positive optical power, a second lens unit having a negative optical power, a third lens unit having a positive optical power, and a fourth lens unit having a negative optical power. The first lens unit is moved as zooming is performed. Here, the following conditional formula is fulfilled:[0011]
  • 0.3<D34W/D34T<2.5
  • where [0012]
  • D[0013] 34W represents the aerial distance between the third lens unit and the fourth lens unit at the wide-angle end; and
  • D[0014] 34T represents the aerial distance between the third lens unit and the fourth lens unit at the telephoto end.
  • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • This and other objects and features of the present invention will become clear from the following description, taken in conjunction with the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: [0015]
  • FIG. 1 is a lens arrangement diagram of a first embodiment (Example 1) of the invention; [0016]
  • FIG. 2 is a lens arrangement diagram of a second embodiment (Example 2) of the invention; [0017]
  • FIG. 3 is a lens arrangement diagram of a third embodiment (Example 3) of the invention; [0018]
  • FIG. 4 is a lens arrangement diagram of a fourth embodiment (Example 4) of the invention; [0019]
  • FIG. 5 is a lens arrangement diagram of a fifth embodiment (Example 5) of the invention; [0020]
  • FIG. 6 is a lens arrangement diagram of a sixth embodiment (Example 6) of the invention; [0021]
  • FIG. 7 is a lens arrangement diagram of a seventh embodiment (Example 7) of the invention; [0022]
  • FIG. 8 is a lens arrangement diagram of a eighth embodiment (Example 8) of the invention; [0023]
  • FIG. 9 is a lens arrangement diagram of a ninth embodiment (Example 9) of the invention; [0024]
  • FIGS. 10A to [0025] 10I are aberration diagrams of Example 1, as observed when focused at infinity;
  • FIGS. 11A to [0026] 11I are aberration diagrams of Example 2, as observed when focused at infinity;
  • FIGS. 12A to [0027] 12I are aberration diagrams of Example 3, as observed when focused at infinity;
  • FIGS. 13A to [0028] 13I are aberration diagrams of Example 4, as observed when focused at infinity;
  • FIGS. 14A to [0029] 14I are aberration diagrams of Example 5, as observed when focused at infinity;
  • FIGS. 15A to [0030] 15I are aberration diagrams of Example 6, as observed when focused at infinity;
  • FIGS. 16A to [0031] 16I are aberration diagrams of Example 7, as observed when focused at infinity;
  • FIGS. 17A to [0032] 17I are aberration diagrams of Example 8, as observed when focused at infinity;
  • FIGS. 18A to [0033] 18I are aberration diagrams of Example 9, as observed when focused at infinity;
  • FIGS. 19A to [0034] 19F are aberration diagrams of Example 1, as observed when focused at a close-up distance (D=0.5 m);
  • FIGS. 20A to [0035] 20F are aberration diagrams of Example 2, as observed when focused at a close-up distance (D=0.5 m);
  • FIGS. 21A to [0036] 21F are aberration diagrams of Example 3, as observed when focused at a close-up distance (D=0.5 m);
  • FIGS. 22A to [0037] 22F are aberration diagrams of Example 4, as observed when focused at a close-up distance (D=0.5 m);
  • FIGS. 23A to [0038] 23F are aberration diagrams of Example 5, as observed when focused at a close-up distance (D=0.5 m);
  • FIGS. 24A to [0039] 24F are aberration diagrams of Example 8, as observed when focused at a close-up distance (D=0.5 m);
  • FIGS. 25A to [0040] 25F are aberration diagrams of Example 9, as observed when focused at a close-up distance (D=0.5 m);
  • FIG. 26 is a diagram schematically illustrating the outline of the optical construction of a taking lens device embodying the invention; and [0041]
  • FIG. 27 is a diagram schematically illustrating the outline of a construction of an embodiment of the invention that could be used in a digital camera. [0042]
  • DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
  • Hereinafter, optical or taking lens devices embodying the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings and optical or taking lens devices will be referred to as taking lens devices. A taking lens device optically takes in an image of a subject and then outputs the image as an electrical signal. A taking lens device is used as a main component of a camera used to shoot a still or moving pictures of a subject, for example a digital still camera, a digital video camera, or a camera that is incorporated in or externally fitted to a device such as a digital video unit, a personal computer, a mobile computer, a portable telephone, or a personal digital assistant (PDA). A digital camera also includes a memory to store the image data from the image sensor. The memory may be removable, for example, a disk, or the memory may be permanently installed in the camera. FIG. 26 shows a taking lens device comprised of, from the object (subject) side, a taking lens system (TL) that forms an optical image of an object, a plane-parallel plate (PL) that functions as an optical low-pass filter or the like, and an image sensor (SR) that converts the optical image formed by the taking lens system (TL) into an electrical signal. FIG. 27 shows a zoom lens system ZL, an optical low-pass filter PL, an image sensor SR, processing circuits PC that would include any electronics needed to process the image, and a memory EM that could be used in a digital camera. [0043]
  • In all of the embodiments described hereinafter, the taking lens system TL is built as a zoom lens system comprised of a plurality of lens units wherein zooming is achieved by moving two or more lens units along the optical axis AX in such a way that their unit-to-unit distances vary. The image sensor SR is realized, for example, with a solid-state image sensor such as a CCD (charge-coupled device) or CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) sensor having a plurality of pixels, and, by this image sensor SR, the optical image formed by the zoom lens system is converted into an electrical signal. The optical image to be formed by the zoom lens system has its spatial frequency characteristics adjusted by being passed through the low-pass filter PL that has predetermined cut-off frequency characteristics that are determined by the pixel pitch of the image sensor SR. This helps minimize so-called aliasing noise that appears when the optical image is converted into an electrical signal. The signal produced by the image sensor SR is subjected, as required, to predetermined digital image processing, image compression, and other processing, and is then, as a digital image signal, recorded in a memory (such as a semiconductor memory or an optical disk) or, if required, transmitted to another device by way of a cable or after being converted into an infrared signal. [0044]
  • FIGS. [0045] 1 to 9 are lens arrangement diagrams of the zoom lens system used in a first to a ninth embodiment of the present invention, each showing the lens arrangement at the wide-angle end W in an optical sectional view. In each lens arrangement diagram, an arrow mj (j=1, 2, . . . ) schematically indicates the movement of the j-th lens unit Grj during zooming from the wide-angle end W to the telephoto end T (a broken-line arrow mj, however, indicates that the corresponding lens unit is kept stationary during zooming), and an arrow mF indicates the direction in which the focusing unit is moved during focusing from infinity to a close-up distance. Moreover, in each lens arrangement diagram, ri (i=1, 2, 3, . . . ) indicates the i-th surface from the object (subject) side, and a surface ri marked with an asterisk (*) is an aspherical surface. Di (i=1, 2, 3, . . . ) indicates the i-th axial distance from the object side, though only those which vary with zooming, called variable distances, are shown here.
  • In all of the embodiments, the zoom lens system includes, from the object side, a first lens unit Gr[0046] 1 having a positive optical power, a second lens unit Gr2 having a negative optical power, a third lens unit Gr3 having a positive optical power, and a fourth lens unit Gr4 having a negative optical power. In addition, designed for a camera (for example, a digital camera) provided with a solid-state image sensor (for example, a CCD), the zoom lens system also has a flat glass plate PL, which is a glass plane-parallel plate that functions as an optical low-pass filter or the like, disposed on the image-plane side thereof. In all of the embodiments, the flat glass plate PL is kept stationary during zooming, and the third lens unit Gr3 includes an aperture stop ST at the object-side end thereof.
  • In the first embodiment, the zoom lens system is a four-unit zoom lens of a positive-negative-positive-negative configuration, and is comprised of, from the object side, a first lens unit Gr[0047] 1 having a positive optical power, a second lens unit Gr2 having a negative optical power, a third lens unit Gr3 having a positive optical power, and a fourth lens unit Gr4 having a negative optical power. In the second to the fourth, the sixth, the eighth, and the ninth embodiments, the zoom lens system is a five-unit zoom lens of a positive-negative-positive-negative-positive configuration, and is comprised of, from the object side, a first lens unit Gr1 having a positive optical power, a second lens unit Gr2 having a negative optical power, a third lens unit Gr3 having a positive optical power, a fourth lens unit Gr4 having a negative optical power, and a fifth lens unit Gr5 having a positive optical power.
  • In the fifth embodiment, the zoom lens system is a six-unit zoom lens of a positive-negative-positive-negative-positive-negative configuration, and is comprised of, from the object side, a first lens unit Gr[0048] 1 having a positive optical power, a second lens unit Gr2 having a negative optical power, a third lens unit Gr3 having a positive optical power, a fourth lens unit Gr4 having a negative optical power, a fifth lens unit Gr5 having a positive optical power, and a sixth lens unit Gr6 having a negative optical power. In the seventh embodiment, the zoom lens system is a six-unit zoom lens of a positive-negative-positive-negative-positive-positive configuration, and is comprised of, from the object side, a first lens unit Gr1 having a positive optical power, a second lens unit Gr2 having a negative optical power, a third lens unit Gr3 having a positive optical power, a fourth lens unit Gr4 having a negative optical power, a fifth lens unit Gr5 having a positive optical power, and a sixth lens unit Gr6 having a positive optical power.
  • n all of the embodiments, the zoom lens system has a configuration starting with a positive-negative-positive-negative sequence. As compared with a configuration starting with a positive-negative-positive-positive sequence, in which both the third lens unit and the fourth lens unit Gr[0049] 3, Gr4 have positive powers, a configuration starting with a positive-negative-positive-negative sequence, in which the fourth lens unit Gr4 is negative, the opposite signs of the optical powers of the third lens unit and the fourth lens unit Gr3, Gr4 permit a high zoom ratio to be achieved with those lens units Gr3, Gr4 alone, and thus makes it easier to secure a high zoom ratio through the entire zoom lens system. It is to be noted that configurations starting with a positive-negative-positive-negative sequence include the following variations: a four-unit type having a positive-negative-positive-negative configuration, five-unit types respectively having a positive-negative-positive-negative-positive and a positive-negative-positive-negative-negative configuration, six-unit types having a positive-negative-positive-negative-positive-positive, a positive-negative-positive-negative-positive-negative, a positive-negative-positive-negative-negative-positive, and a positive-negative-positive-negative-negative-negative configuration, and so forth.
  • In a zoom lens system, like those used in the embodiments, of the type that includes, from the object side, positive-negative-positive-negative zoom units, it is preferable that conditional formula (1) below be fulfilled. This makes it possible to realize a compact, high-zoom-ratio zoom lens system. In addition, the thus realized zoom lens system offers a zoom ratio of about 7× to 10×, an f-number of about 2.5 to 4, and high performance that makes the zoom lens system usable as an optical system for use with a leading-edge image sensor SR with a very small pixel pitch.[0050]
  • 1.1<f1/fT<2.5  (1)
  • where [0051]
  • f[0052] 1 represents the focal length of the first lens unit Gr1; and
  • fT represents the focal length of the entire optical system at the telephoto end T. [0053]
  • If the lower limit of conditional formula (1) were to be transgressed, the optical power of the first lens unit Gr[0054] 1 would be too strong, and thus it would be difficult to eliminate spherical aberration, in particular, at the wide-angle end W. By contrast, if the upper limit of conditional formula (1) were to be transgressed, the optical power of the first lens unit Gr1 would be too weak, and thus it would be difficult to achieve satisfactory compactness, in particular, at the telephoto end T.
  • In a zoom lens system, like those used in the embodiments, of the type that includes, from the object side, positive-negative-positive-negative zoom units, it is preferable that focusing be achieved by moving the fourth lens unit Gr[0055] 4 along the optical axis AX and that conditional formula (2) below be additionally fulfilled. This makes it possible to realize a zoom lens system offering higher performance. It is further preferable that conditional formula (2) be fulfilled together with conditional formula (1) noted previously.
  • 0.3<|f4/fT|<2  (2)
  • where [0056]
  • f[0057] 4 represents the focal length of the fourth lens unit Gr4; and
  • fT represents the focal length of the entire optical system at the telephoto end T. [0058]
  • As conditional formula (2) suggests, the fourth lens unit Gr[0059] 4 has a relatively weak optical power, and accordingly the fourth lens unit Gr4 has the fewest lens elements. Thus, focusing is best achieved by moving (as indicated by the arrow mF) the fourth lens unit Gr4, which is light, along the optical axis AX. However, in cases where it is possible to adopt a system that permits the image sensor SR to be moved for focusing, focusing may be achieved instead by moving the image sensor SR.
  • If the lower limit of conditional formula (2) were to be transgressed, the optical power of the fourth lens unit Gr[0060] 4 would be so strong that it would be difficult to eliminate performance degradation at close-up distances, in particular, at the telephoto end T. By contrast, if the upper limit of conditional formula (2) were to be transgressed, the optical power of the fourth lens unit Gr4 would be so weak that the fourth lens unit Gr4 would need to be moved through an unduly long distance for focusing. This would spoil the compactness of the lens barrel structure as a whole.
  • It is preferable that, as in all the embodiments, as zooming is performed from the wide-angle end W to the telephoto end T, the first lens unit Gr[0061] 1 be moved and the distance between the third and fourth lens units Gr3, Gr4 increase from the wide-angle end W to the middle-focal-length position and decrease from the middle-focal-length position to the telephoto end T. This makes it possible to realize a high-zoom-ratio zoom lens system. In this distinctive zoom arrangement, it is further preferable that conditional formulae (1) and (2) be fulfilled.
  • Conventionally, the majority of optical systems used in video cameras or digital cameras are so constructed that their first lens unit Gr[0062] 1 is kept stationary during zooming, because this construction offers a proper balance between the compactness of the product as a whole and the complexity of lens barrel design. However, considering the current trend toward further compactness and higher zoom ratios, it is preferable to make the first lens unit Gr1 movable. By moving the first lens unit Gr1 toward the object side during zooming from the wide-angle end W to the telephoto end T, it is possible to lower the heights at which rays enter the second lens unit Gr2 at the telephoto end T. This makes aberration correction easier. Moreover, by adopting an arrangement in which, during zooming from the wide-angle end W to the telephoto end T, the distance between the third lens unit and the fourth lens unit Gr3, Gr4 increases from the wide-angle end W to the middle-focal-length position and decreases from the middle-focal-length position to the telephoto end T, it is possible to properly correct the curvature of filed that occurs in the middle-focal-length region. This makes it possible to realize a high-zoom-ratio zoom lens system.
  • It is preferable to dispose, as in all of the embodiments, an aspherical surface in the second lens unit Gr[0063] 2. Disposing an aspherical surface in the second lens unit Gr2 makes it possible to realize a zoom lens system of which the zoom range starts at a wider angle. An attempt to increase the shooting view angle by reducing the focal length at the wide-angle end W results in making correction of distortion difficult, in particular, at the wide-angle end W. To avoid this inconvenience, it is preferable to dispose an aspherical surface in the second lens unit Gr2 through which off-axial rays pass at relatively great heights on the wide-angle side. This makes proper correction of distortion possible. Thus, to obtain high optical performance without sacrificing compactness, it is further preferable that conditional formulae (1) and (2) be fulfilled and in addition that an aspherical surface be disposed in the second lens unit Gr2.
  • In a zoom lens system, like those used in the embodiments, of the type that includes, from the object side, positive-negative-positive-negative zoom units and in which the first lens unit Gr[0064] 1 is moved during zooming, it is preferable that conditional formula (3) below be fulfilled. This makes it possible to realize a compact, high-zoom-ratio zoom lens system. In addition, the thus realized zoom lens system offers a zoom ratio of about 7× to 10×, an f-number of about 2.5 to 4, and high performance that makes the zoom lens system usable as an optical system for use with a leading-edge image sensor SR with a very small pixel pitch.
  • 0.3<D34W/D34T<2.5  (3)
  • where [0065]
  • D[0066] 34W represents the aerial distance between the third lens unit and the fourth lens unit Gr3, Gr4 at the wide-angle end W; and
  • D[0067] 34T represents an aerial distance between the third lens unit and the fourth lens unit Gr3, Gr4 at the telephoto end T.
  • If the lower limit of conditional formula (3) were to be transgressed, the aerial distance between the third lens unit and the fourth lens unit Gr[0068] 3, Gr4 at the telephoto end T would be so long that it would be difficult to achieve satisfactory compactness at the telephoto end T. By contrast, if the upper limit of conditional formula (3) were to be transgressed, the aerial distance between the third lens unit and the fourth lens unit Gr3, Gr4 at the wide-angle end W is so long that it would be difficult to achieve satisfactory compactness at the wide-angle end W.
  • In a zoom lens system, like those used in the embodiments, of the type that includes, from the object side, positive-negative-positive-negative zoom units, it is preferable that, during zooming from the wide-angle end W to the telephoto end T, the first lens unit Gr[0069] 1 be moved as described previously and, in addition, that the fourth lens unit Gr4 be moved toward the object side. This makes it possible to obtain a higher zoom ratio in the fourth lens unit Gr4, and thereby obtain an accordingly higher zoom ratio through the entire zoom lens system. To strike a proper balance between a high zoom ratio and compactness, it is further preferable that conditional formula (3) be fulfilled simultaneously.
  • In a zoom lens system, like those used in the embodiments, of the type that includes, from the object side, positive-negative-positive-negative zoom units, it is preferable that, as zooming is performed from the wide-angle end W to the telephoto end T, the distance between the third lens unit and the fourth lens unit Gr[0070] 3, Gr4 increase from the wide-angle end W to the middle-focal-length position and decrease from the middle-focal-length position to the telephoto end T as described previously. To achieve satisfactory compactness, it is further preferable that conditional formula (3) be fulfilled simultaneously. By moving the third lens unit and the fourth lens unit Gr3, Gr4 in this way for zooming, it is possible to properly correct the curvature of field that occurs toward the under side, in particular, in the middle-focal-length region, and thereby realize a zoom lens system that keeps high performance.
  • In a zoom lens system, like those used in the embodiments, of the type that includes, from the object side, positive-negative-positive-negative zoom units, it is preferable that focusing be achieved by moving the fourth lens unit Gr[0071] 4, as described previously, and that conditional formula (4) below be additionally fulfilled. This makes it possible to realize a zoom lens system offering higher performance. It is further preferable that conditional formula (4) be fulfilled together with conditional formula (3) noted previously.
  • 0.5<βW4<2  (4)
  • where [0072]
  • β[0073] W4 represents the lateral magnification of the fourth lens unit Gr4 at the wide-angle end W.
  • As described previously, the fourth lens unit Gr[0074] 4 has a relatively weak optical power, and accordingly the fourth lens unit Gr4 has the fewest lens elements. Thus, the fourth lens unit Gr4, which is light, is best suited for focusing. However, in cases where it is possible to adopt a system that permits focusing using the image sensor SR, focusing may be achieved instead by moving the image sensor SR.
  • If the lower limit of conditional formula (4) were to be transgressed, the zoom ratio distributed to the fourth lens unit Gr[0075] 4 would be so low at the wide-angle end W that an unduly high zoom ratio would need to be distributed to the third lens unit Gr3. As a result, it would be difficult to eliminate the aberrations that would occur in the third lens unit Gr3. By contrast, if the upper limit of conditional formula (4) were to be transgressed, the zoom ratio distributed to the fourth lens unit Gr4 would be so high that it would be difficult to eliminate the aberrations that would occur in the fourth lens unit Gr4. As a result, it would be impossible to realize a compact zoom lens system.
  • As described earlier, disposing an aspherical surface in the second lens unit Gr[0076] 2 makes it possible to realize a zoom lens system of which the zoom range starts at a wider angle. An attempt to increase the shooting view angle by reducing the focal length at the wide-angle end W results in making correction of distortion difficult, in particular, at the wide-angle end W. To avoid this inconvenience, it is preferable to dispose an aspherical surface in the second lens unit Gr2 through which off-axial rays pass at relatively great heights on the wide-angle side. This makes proper correction of distortion possible. Thus, to obtain high optical performance without sacrificing compactness, it is further preferable that conditional formulae (3) and (4) be fulfilled and in addition that an aspherical surface be disposed in the second lens unit Gr2.
  • In all of the first to the ninth embodiments, all of the lens units are comprised solely of refractive lenses that deflect light incident thereon by refraction (i.e. lenses of the type that deflects light at the interface between two media having different refractive indices). However, any of these lens units may include, for example, a diffractive lens that deflects light incident thereon by diffraction, a refractive-diffractive hybrid lens that deflects light incident thereon by the combined effects of refraction and diffraction, a gradient-index lens that deflects light incident thereon with varying refractive indices distributed in a medium, or a lens of any other type. [0077]
  • In any of the embodiments, a surface having no optical power (for example, a reflective, refractive, or diffractive surface) may be disposed in the optical path so that the optical path is bent before, after, or in the middle of the zoom lens system. Where to bend the optical path may be determined to suit particular needs. By bending the optical path appropriately, it is possible to make a camera slimmer. It is even possible to build an arrangement in which zooming or the collapsing movement of a lens barrel does not cause any change in the thickness of a camera. For example, by keeping the first lens unit Gr[0078] 1 stationary during zooming, and disposing a mirror behind the first lens unit Gr1 so that the optical path is bent by 90° by the reflecting surface of the mirror, it is possible to keep the front-to-rear length of the zoom lens system constant and thereby make the camera slimmer.
  • In all of the embodiments, an optical low-pass filter having the shape of a plane-parallel plate PL is disposed between the last surface of the zoom lens system and the image sensor SR. However, as this low-pass filter, it is also possible to use a birefringence-type low-pass filter made of quartz or the like having its crystal axis aligned with a predetermined direction, a phase-type low-pass filter that achieves the required optical cut-off frequency characteristics by exploiting diffraction, or a low-pass filter of any other type. [0079]
  • Practical Examples
  • Hereinafter, practical examples of the construction of the zoom lens system used in taking lens devices embodying the present invention will be presented in more detail with reference to their construction data, aberration diagrams, and other data. Examples 1 to 9 presented below correspond to the first embodiment to the ninth embodiment, respectively, as described hereinbefore, and the lens arrangement diagrams (FIGS. [0080] 1 to 9) showing the lens arrangement of the first to ninth embodiments apply also to Examples 1 to 9, respectively.
  • Tables 1 to 9 list the construction data of Examples 1 to 9, respectively. In the construction data of each example, ri (i=1, 2, 3, . . . ) represents the radius of curvature (mm) of the i-th surface from the object side, di (i=1, 2, 3, . . . ) represents the i-th axial distance (mm) from the object side, and Ni (i=1, 2, 3, . . . ) and νi (i=1, 2, 3, . . . ) represent the refractive index Nd for the d-line and the Abbe number (νd) of the i-th optical element from the object side, respectively. Moreover, in the construction data, for each of those axial distances that vary with zooming (i.e., variable aerial distances), three values are given that are, from left, the axial distance at the wide-angle end W (the shortest-focal-length end), the axial distance in the middle position M (the middle-focal-length position), and the axial distance at the telephoto end T (the longest-focal-length end). Also listed are the focal length F (in mm) and the f-number FNO of the entire optical system in those three focal-length positions W, M, and T. Table 10 lists the movement distance (focusing data) of the fourth lens unit Gr[0081] 4 when focusing at a close-up distance (shooting distance: D=0.5 m), and Table 11 lists the values of the conditional formulae, both as actually observed in Examples 1 to 9.
  • A surface whose radius of curvature ri is marked with an asterisk (*) is an aspherical surface, of which the surface shape is defined by formula (AS) below. The aspherical surface data of Examples 1 to 9 is also listed in their respective construction data.[0082]
  • X(H)=(C0·H 2)/(1+{square root}{square root over (1−ε·C 02 ·H 2)})
  • +(A4·H 4 +A6·H 6 +A8·H 8 +A10·H 10)  (AS)
  • where [0083]
  • X(H) represents the displacement along the optical axis at the height H (relative to the vertex); [0084]
  • H represents the height in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis; [0085]
  • C0 represents the paraxial curvature (the reciprocal of the radius of curvature); [0086]
  • ε represents the quadric surface parameter; and [0087]
  • Ai represents the aspherical surface coefficient of i-th order. [0088]
  • FIGS. [0089] 10A-10I, 11A-11I, 12A-12I, 13A-13I, 14A-14I, 15A-15I, 16A-16I, 17A-17I, and 18A-18I are diagrams showing the aberration observed in Examples 1 to 9, respectively, when focused at infinity. FIGS. 19A-19F, 20A-20F, 21A-21F, 22A-22F, 23A-23F, 24A-24F, and 25A-25F are diagrams showing the aberration observed in Examples 1 to 5, 8, and 9, respectively, when focused at a close-up distance (shooting distance: D=0.5 m). Of these diagrams, FIGS. 10A-10C, 11A-11C, 12A-12C, 13A-13C, 14A-14C, 15A-15C, 16A-16C, 17A-17C, 18A-18C, 19A-19C, 20A-20C, 21A-21C, 22A-22C, 23A-23C, 24A-24C, and 25A-25C show the aberration observed at the wide-angle end W, FIGS. 10D-10F, 11D-11F, 12D-12F, 13D-13F, 14D-14F, 15D-15F, 16D-16F, 17D-17F, and 18D-18F show the aberration observed in the middle position M, and 10G-10I, 11G-11I, 12G-12I, 13G-13I, 14G-14I, 15G-15I, 16G-16I, 17G-17I, 18G-18I, 19D-19F, 20D-20F, 21D-21F, 22D-22F, 23D-23F, 24D-24F, and 25D-25F show the aberration observed at the telephoto end T. Of these diagrams, FIGS. 10A, 10D, 10G, 11A, 11D, 11G, 12A, 12D, 12G, 13A, 13D, 13G, 14A, 14D, 14G, 15A, 15D, 15G, 16A, 16D, 16G, 17A, 17D, 17G, 18A, 18D, 18G, 19A, 19D, 20A, 20D, 21A, 21D, 22A, 22D, 23A, 23D, 24A, 24D, 25A, and 25D show spherical aberration, FIGS. 10B, 10E, 10H, 11B, 11E, 11H, 12B, 12E, 12H, 13B, 13E, 13H, 14B, 14E, 14H, 15B, 15E, 15H, 16B, 16E, 16H, 17B, 17E, 17H, 18B, 18E, 18H, 19B, 19E, 20B, 20E, 21B, 21E, 22B, 22E, 23B, 23E, 24B, 24E, 25B, and 25E show astigmatism, and FIGS. 10C, 10F, 10I, 11C, 11F, 11I, 12C, 12F, 12I, 13C, 13F, 13I, 14C, 14F, 14I, 15C, 15F, 15I, 16C, 16F, 16I, 17C, 17F, 17I, 18C, 18F, 18I, 19C, 19F, 20C, 20F, 21C, 21F, 22C, 22F, 23C, 23F, 24C, 24F, 25C, and 25F show distortion. In these diagrams, Y′ represents the maximum image height (mm). In the diagrams showing spherical aberration, a solid line d and a dash-and-dot line g show the spherical aberration for the d-line and for the g-line, respectively, and a broken line SC shows the sine condition. In the diagrams showing astigmatism, a broken line DM and a solid line DS represent the astigmatism for the d-line on the meridional plane and on the sagittal plane, respectively. In the diagrams showing distortion, a solid line represents the distortion (%) for the d-line.
    TABLE 1
    Construction Data of Example 1
    f = 7.5˜25.5˜50.6, FNO = 2.55˜2.96˜3.60
    Radius of Axial Refractive Abbe
    Curvature Distance Index Number
    r1 = 63.832
    d1 = 1.200 N1 = 1.74000 ν1 = 28.26
    r2 = 46.105
    d2 = 4.909 N2 = 1.49310 ν2 = 83.58
    r3 = 557.712
    d3 = 0.100
    r4 = 41.139
    d4 = 3.518 N3 = 1.49310 ν3 = 83.58
    r5 = 95.433
    d5 = 1.000˜28.553˜
    40.964
    r6 = 28.766
    d6 = 0.800 N4 = 1.80420 ν4 = 46.50
    r7 = 8.145
    d7 = 6.254
    r8 = −24.683
    d8 = 0.800 N5 = 1.80741 ν5 = 31.59
    r9 = 408.759
    d9 = 2.972 N6 = 1.84666 ν6 = 23.82
    r10 = −15.616
    d10 = 0.727
    r11 = −12.222
    d11 = 0.800 N7 = 1.52510 ν7 = 56.38
    r12* = −72.536
    d12 = 24.622˜4.490˜
    1.000
    r13 = ∞(ST)
    d13 = 0.800
    r14 = 11.863
    d14 2.033 N8 = 1.78831 ν8 = 47.32
    r15 = 212.313
    d15 = 5.251
    r16 = −66.079
    d16 = 1.795 N9 = 1.48749 ν9 = 70.44
    r17 = −10.997
    d17 = 0.800 N10 = 1.84666 ν10 = 23.82
    r18* = 29.156
    d18 = 0.100
    r19 = 12.934
    d19 = 3.092 N11 = 1.48749 ν11 = 70.44
    r20* = −19.433
    d20 = 0.100
    r21 = −788.619
    d21 = 4.662 N12 = 1.79850 ν12 = 22.60
    r22 = −27.115
    d22 = 1.000˜7.000˜
    1.000
    r23 = 23.066
    d23 = 0.800 N13 = 1.85000 ν13 = 40.04
    r24 = 11.361
    d24 = 3.500
    r25 = 11.740
    d25 = 1.826 N14 = 1.79850 ν14 = 22.60
    r26 = 14.538
    d26 = 2.381˜2.000˜
    13.578
    r27 = ∞
    d27 = 3.000 N15 = 1.51680 ν15 = 64.20
    r28 = ∞
  • [0090]
    TABLE 2
    Construction Data of Example 2
    f = 7.5˜25.5˜50.6, FNO = 2.48˜3.07˜3.60
    Radius of Axial Refractive Abbe
    Curvature Distance Index Number
    r1 = 62.012
    d1 = 1.200 N1 = 1.79850 ν1 = 22.60
    r2 = 50.059
    d2 = 3.893 N2 = 1.49310 ν2 = 83.58
    r3 = 264.139
    d3 = 0.100
    r4 = 57.561
    d4 = 2.818 N3 = 1.49310 ν3 = 83.58
    r5 = 155.066
    d5 = 1.000˜30.739˜
    48.448
    r6 = 29.965
    d6 = 0.800 N4 = 1.75450 ν4 = 51.57
    r7 = 9.032
    d7 = 7.570
    r8 = −52.559
    d8 = 0.800 N5 = 1.75450 ν5 = 51.57
    r9 = 21.530
    d9 = 4.134 N6 = 1.79850 ν6 = 22.60
    r10 = −18.800
    d10 = 0.486
    r11 = −15.910
    d11 = 0.800 N7 = 1.84666 ν7 = 23.82
    r12* = −107.564
    d12 = 25.513˜
    4.405˜1.000
    r13 = ∞(ST)
    d13 = 0.800
    r14 = 13.086
    d14 = 1.832 N8 = 1.80750 νv = 35.43
    r15 = 84.611
    d15 = 3.644
    r16 = 15.627
    d16 = 2.756 N9 = 1.75450 ν9 = 51.57
    r17 = −12.357
    d17 = 0.800 N10 = 1.84666 ν10 = 23.82
    r18 = 9.111
    d18 = 0.100
    r19 = 7.143
    d19 = 1.343 N11 = 1.52510 ν11 = 56.38
    r20* = 13.828
    d20 = 2.118
    r21 = 31.671
    d21 = 1.530 N12 = 1.79850 ν12 = 22.60
    r22 = −35.431
    d22 = 1.000˜5.669˜
    4.095
    r23 = 26.961
    d23 = 0.800 N13 = 1.85000 ν13 = 40.04
    r24 = 9.331
    d24 = 2.307
    r25 = 11.028
    d25 = 1.289 N14 = 1.79850 ν14 = 22.60
    r26 = 14.503
    d26 = 2.123˜2.989˜
    8.644
    r27 = −130.604
    d27 = 1.347 N15 = 1.79850 ν15 = 22.60
    r28 = −33.480
    d28 = 0.858
    r29 = ∞
    d29 = 3.000 N16 = 1.51680 ν16 = 64.20
    r30 = ∞
  • [0091]
    TABLE 3
    Construction Data of Example 3
    f = 7.4˜23.0˜49.5, FNO = 2.22˜2.64˜3.60
    Radius of Axial Refractive Abbe
    Curvature Distance Index Number
    r1 = 63.356
    d1 = 1.200 N1 = 1.79850 ν1 = 22.60
    r2 = 49.435
    d2 = 4.655 N2 = 1.49310 ν2 = 83.58
    r3 = 579.022
    d3 = 0.100
    r4 = 35.101
    d4 = 4.695 N3 = 1.49310 ν3 = 83.58
    r5 = 120.463
    d5 = 1.000˜20.900˜
    28.705
    r6 = 70.488
    d6 = 0.800 N4 = 1.78831 ν4 = 47.32
    r7 = 8.526
    d7 = 5.198
    r8 = −90.436
    d8 = 0.800 N5 = 1.75450 ν5 = 51.57
    r9 = −785.404
    d9 = 2.674 N6 = 1.84666 ν6 = 23.82
    r10 = −17.628
    d10 = 0.515
    r11 = −14.870
    d11 = 0.800 N7 = 1.48749 ν7 = 70.44
    r12 = 45.809
    d12 = 1.366
    r13 = −26.330
    d13 = 1.344 N8 = 1.84666 ν8 = 23.82
    r14* = −30.311
    d14 = 23.018˜5.870˜
    1.000
    r15 = ∞(ST)
    d15 = 0.800
    r16 = 11.633
    d16 = 2.165 N9 = 1.80420 ν9 = 46.50
    r17 = 78.024
    d17 = 4.756
    r18 = −96.322
    d18 = 1.561 N10 = 1.75450 ν10 = 51.57
    r19 = −14.086
    d19 = 0.800 N11 = 1.84666 ν11 = 23.82
    r20* = 20.484
    d20 = 0.155
    r21 = 10.937
    d21 = 2.506 N12 = 1.48749 ν12 = 70.44
    r22* = −29.274
    d22 = 2.186
    r23 = 90.101
    d23 = 1.374 N13 = 1.79850 ν13 = 22.60
    r24 = −61.263
    d24 = 1.000˜4.206˜
    1.000
    r25 = 29.977
    d25 = 0.800 N14 = 1.85000 ν14 = 40.04
    r26 = 10.683
    d26 = 3.356
    r27 = 11.252
    d27 = 1.235 N15 = 1.79850 ν15 = 22.60
    r28 = 13.786
    d28 = 1.399˜3.217˜
    16.734
    r29 = 22.159
    d29 = 1.546 N16 = 1.79850 ν16 = 22.60
    r30 = 89.583
    d30 = 1.176
    r31 = ∞
    d31 = 3.000 N17 = 1.51680 ν17 = 64.20
    r32 = ∞
  • [0092]
    TABLE 4
    Construction Data of Example 4
    f = 7.4˜35.9˜49.6, FNO = 2.88˜3.04˜3.63
    Radius of Axial Refractive Abbe
    Curvature Distance Index Number
    r1 = 60.590
    d1 = 1.200 N1 = 1.84666 ν1 = 23.82
    r2 = 47.616
    d2 = 5.549 N2 = 1.49310 ν2 = 83.58
    r3 = 603.843
    d3 = 0.100
    r4 = 39.319
    d4 = 4.325 N3 = 1.49310 ν3 = 83.58
    r5 = 105.185
    d5 = 1.000˜32.186˜
    36.134
    r6 = 50.395
    d6 = 0.800 N4 = 1.85000 ν4 = 40.04
    r7 = 8.808
    d7 = 5.350
    r8 = −22.935
    d8 = 0.800 N5 = 1.85000 ν5 = 40.04
    r9 = 16.429
    d9 = 5.107 N6 = 1.71736 ν6 = 29.50
    r10 = −17.500
    d10 = 0.100
    r11* = 54.395
    d11 = 2.000 N7 = 1.84506 ν7 = 23.66
    r12 = 1000.000
    d12 = 1.278
    r13 = −19.690
    d13 = 0.800 N8 = 1.75450 ν8 = 51.57
    r14 = −77.927
    d14 = 22.063˜
    4.444˜1.300
    r15 = ∞(ST)
    d15 = 0.800
    r16 = 12.783
    d16 = 2.898 N9 = 1.85000 ν9 = 40.04
    r17 = 105.738
    d17 = 3.453
    r18* = 37.506
    d18 = 2.226 N10 = 1.84506 ν10 = 23.66
    r19 = 9.939
    d19 = 1.104
    r20 = 12.962
    d20 = 4.135 N11 = 1.69680 ν11 = 55.43
    r21 = −8.915
    d21 = 0.800 N12 = 1.84666 ν12 = 23.82
    r22 = 26007.802
    d22 = 1.396
    r23 = 186.617
    d23 = 2.183 N13 = 1.83350 ν13 = 21.00
    r24 = −21.147
    d24 = 1.810˜6.450˜
    1.000
    r25 = 38.703
    d25 = 0.800 N14 = 1.85000 ν14 = 40.04
    r26 = 13.436
    d26 = 4.085
    r27 = 14.114
    d27 = 1.362 N15 = 1.83350 ν15 = 21.00
    r28 = 18.526
    d28 = 1.000˜5.337˜
    17.559
    r29 = 16.513
    d29 = 1.967 N16 = 1.48749 ν16 = 70.44
    r30 = 44.597
    d30 = 1.479
    r31 = ∞
    d31 = 3.000 N17 = 1.51680 ν17 = 64.20
    r32 = ∞
  • [0093]
    TABLE 5
    Construction Data of Example 5
    f = 8.9˜33.7˜84.8, FNO = 2.43˜3.17˜3.60
    Radius of Axial Refractive Abbe
    Curvature Distance Index Number
    r1 = 171.427
    d1= 1.497 N1 = 1.84666 ν1 = 23.82
    r2 = 114.665
    d2 = 6.918 N2 = 1.49310 ν2 = 83.58
    r3 = −850.123
    d3 = 0.100
    r4 = 96.816
    d4 = 4.523 N3 '2 1.49310 ν3 = 83.58
    r5 = 348.049
    d5 = 2.486˜40.898˜
    95.614
    r6* = 24.483
    d6 = 2.000 N4 = 1.75450 ν4 = 51.57
    r7 = 12.754
    d7 = 11.729
    r8 = −33.584
    d8 = 0.800 N5 = 1.52208 ν5 = 65.92
    r9 = 21.063
    d9 = 4.926 N6 = 1.84705 ν6 = 25.00
    r10 = 281.045
    d10 = 0.838
    r11 = −40.184
    d11 = .800 7 = 1.74495 7 = 24.47
    r12 = 99.136
    d12 = 41.883˜2.565˜
    1.250
    r13 = ∞(ST)
    d13 = 1.500
    r14 = 12.436
    d14 = 3.485 N8 = 1.75450 νv = 51.57
    r15 = −172.448
    d15 = 1.166
    r16 = 375.028
    d16 = 0.800 N9 = 1.71675 ν9 '2 26.91
    r17 = 30.185
    d17 = 1.000˜1.169˜
    1.244
    r18* = 16.888
    d18 = 1.922 N10 = 1.84666 ν10 = 23.82
    r19 = 11.475
    d19 = 1.988˜11.017˜
    23.820
    r20* = 25.613
    d20 = 0.800 N11 = 1.75000 ν11 = 25.14
    r21 = 14.963
    d21 = 0.077
    r22 = 15.312
    d22 = 1.202 N12 = 1.75450 ν12 = 51.57
    r23 = 16.980
    d23 = 0.356
    r24 = 16.249
    d24 = 6.391 N13 = 1.49310 ν13 = 83.58
    r25 = −22.015
    d25 = 1.962
    r26 = −13.823
    d26 = 3.437 N14 = 1.84666 ν14 = 23.82
    r27 = −14.151
    d27 = 2.000˜12.427˜
    6.704
    r28* = 20.728
    d28 = 2.834 N15 = 1.52510 ν15 = 56.38
    r29 = 15.822
    d29 = 1.307
    r30 = ∞
    d30 = 3.000 N16 = 1.51680 ν16 = 64.20
    r31 = ∞
  • [0094]
    TABLE 6
    Construction Data of Example 6
    f = 7.1˜53.0˜68.6, FNO = 2.55˜3.60˜3.60
    Radius of Axial Refractive Abbe
    Curvature Distance Index Number
    r1 = 81.309
    d1 = 1.400 N1 = 1.84666 ν1 = 23.86
    r2 = 63.920
    d2 = 4.957 N2 = 1.49310 ν2 = 83.58
    r3 = −2566.999
    d3 = 0.100
    r4 = 72.424
    d4 = 2.914 N3 = 1.49310 ν3 = 83.58
    r5 = 204.372
    d5 = 0.900˜54.218˜
    57.909
    r6* = −2187.849
    d6 = 1.200 N4 = 1.77250 ν4 = 49.77
    r7* = 14.815
    d7 = 8.614
    r8 = −22.207
    d8 = 1.500 N5 = 1.84668 ν5 = 23.86
    r9 = −39.485
    d9 = 0.100
    r10 = 528.712
    d10 = 4.283 N6 = 1.84666 ν6 = 23.82
    r11 = −27.851
    d11 = 1.412
    r12 = −19.591
    d12 = 1.000 N7 = 1.49310 ν7 = 83.58
    r13 = −80.805
    d13 = 40.111˜
    0.619˜0.100
    r14 = ∞(ST)
    d14 = 1.200
    r15* = 20.034
    d15 = 3.327 N8 = 1.77112 νv = 48.87
    r16 = 2658.231
    d16 = 0.100
    r17 = 24.453
    d17 = 1.028 N9 = 1.61287 ν9 = 33.36
    r18* = 9.473
    d18 = 0.432
    r19 = 12.678
    d19 = 2.612 N10 = 1.75450 ν10 = 51.57
    r20 = −167.012
    d20 = 0.537˜1.270˜
    1.348
    r21 = −32.395
    d21 = 6.981 N11 = 1.64379 ν11 = 56.31
    r22 = −11.929
    d22 = 0.100
    r23* = −13.515
    d23 = 1.708 N12 = 1.63456 ν12 = 31.17
    r24* = 24.372
    d24 = 0.263˜
    19.944˜27.790
    r25 = 19.740
    d25 = 4.770 N13 = 1.79850 ν13 = 22.60
    r26 = 13.053
    d26 = 0.100
    r27 = 13.309
    d27 = 5.694 N14 = 1.68636 ν14 = 54.20
    r28 = −129.207
    d28 = 4.148˜5.575˜
    2.763
    r29 = ∞
    d29 = 3.000 N15 = 1.51680 ν15 = 64.20
    r32 = ∞
  • [0095]
    TABLE 8
    Construction Data of Example 8
    f = 7.5˜45.0˜71.5, FNO = 2.17˜2.89˜3.60
    Radius of Axial Refractive Abbe
    Curvature Distance Index Number
    r1 = 65.664
    d1 = 1.200 N1 = 1.75518 ν = 129.92
    r2 = 47.591
    d2 = 5.244 N2 = 1.49310 ν2 = 83.58
    r3 = 217.318
    d3 = 0.100
    r4 = 51.066
    d4 = 4.398 N3 = 1.49310 ν3 = 83.58
    r5 = 185.539
    d5 = 1.000˜45.300˜
    49.091
    r6 = 45.239
    d6 = 0.800 N4 = 1.75450 ν4 = 51.57
    r7 = 10.516
    d7 = 7.570
    r8 = −40.143
    d8 = 0.800 N5 = 1.80223 ν5 = 44.75
    r9 = 23.630
    d9 = 5.046 N6 = 1.79123 ν6 = 22.82
    r10 = −18.887
    d10 = 0.656
    r11 = −15.690
    d11 = 0.800 N7 = 1.84666 ν7 = 23.82
    r12* = −43.100
    d12 = 35.75˜5.453˜
    4.000
    r13 = ∞(ST)
    d13 = 0.800
    r14 = 13.866
    d14 = 2.194 N8 = 1.78923 ν8 = 46.34
    r15 = 74.387
    d15 = 5.348
    r16 = 13.726
    d16 = 3.113 N9 = 1.73284 ν9 = 52.33
    r17 = −13.373
    d17 = 0.800 N10 = 1.84758 ν10 = 26.81
    r18 = 8.964
    d18 = 0.100
    r19 = 7.206
    d19 = 1.439 N11 = 1.52510 ν11 = 56.38
    r20* = 14.351
    d20 = 2.601
    r21 = 21.969
    d21 = 1.379 N12 = 1.79850 ν12 = 22.60
    r22 = −1723.989
    d22 = 1.000˜
    3.838˜2.749
    r23 = 342.635
    d23 = 0.800 N13 = 1.66384 ν13 = 35.98
    r24 = 8.966
    d24 = 3.000
    r25 = 24.255
    d25 = 1.566 N14 = 1.79850 ν14 = 22.60
    r26* = 120.635
    d26 = 1.000˜5.947˜
    14.698
    r27 = 25.459
    d27 = 1.667 N15 = 1.79850 ν15 = 22.60
    r28 = 884.189
    d28 = 1.019
    r29 = ∞
    d29 = 3.000 N16 = 1.51680 ν16 = 64.20
    r30 = ∞
  • [0096]
    TABLE 9
    Construction Data of Example 9
    f = 7.5˜54.0˜86.0, FNO = 2.10˜2.84˜3.60
    Radius of Axial Refractive Abbe
    Curvature Distance Index Number
    r1 = 90.273
    d1 = 1.200 N1 = 1.83304 ν1 = 41.53
    r2 = 50.609
    d2 = 6.584 N2 = 1.49310 ν2 = 83.58
    r3 = 491.903
    d3 = 0.100
    r4 = 50.212
    d4 = 5.970 N3 = 1.49310 ν3 = 83.58
    r5 = 293.841
    d5 = 1.000˜56.319˜
    60.499
    r6 = 53.739
    d6 = 0.800 N4 = 1.75450 ν4 = 51.57
    r7 = 11.112
    d7 = 7.570
    r8 = −105.475
    d8 = 0.800 N5 = 1.76442 ν5 = 49.91
    r9 = 16.958
    d9 = 6.473 N6 = 1.77039 ν6 = 23.51
    r10 = −22.262
    d10 = 0.563
    r11 = −19.229
    d11 = 0.800 N7 = 1.84666 ν7 = 23.82
    r12* = −140.106
    d12 = 34.166˜
    4.250˜1.000
    r13 = ∞(ST)
    d13 = 0.800
    r14 = 14.098
    d14 = 2.180 N8 = 1.83255 ν8 = 41.58
    r15 = 75.309
    d15 = 4.215
    r16 = 13.256
    d16 = 3.141 N9 = 1.71070 ν9 = 53.17
    r17 = −15.268
    d17 = 0.800 N10 = 1.80992 ν10 = 25.83
    r18 = 7.879
    d18 = 0.274
    r19 = 7.000
    d19 = 1.461 N11 = 1.52510 ν11 = 56.38
    r20* = 13.820
    d20 = 3.133
    r21 = 21.375
    d21 = 1.301 N12 '2+1.79850 ν12 = 22.60
    r22 = 2254.283
    d22 = 1.000˜
    3.613˜1.086
    r23 = 2109.616
    d23 = 0.800 N13 = 1.64794 ν13 = 36.7S
    r24 = 9.838
    d24 = 2.907
    r25 = 21.069
    d25 = 1.316 N14 = 1.79850 ν= 1422.60
    r26* = 59.731
    d26 = 1.000˜6.745˜
    18.339
    r27 = 21.610
    d27 = 1.710 N15 = 1.84666 ν15 = 23.82
    r28 = 97.515
    d28 = 1.154
    r29 = ∞
    d31 = 3.000 N16 '2 1.51680 ν16 = 64.20
    r30 = ∞
  • [0097]
    TABLE 10
    Focusing Data
    Focusing Unit: Fourth Lens Unit (Gr4)
    Shooting Distance (from Object Point
    to Image Plane): D = 0.5 (m)
    Movement Distance Movement Direction
    of Focusing Unit of Focusing Unit:
    W M T Toward
    Example 1 0.29 3.717 5.181 Image Plane
    Example 2 0.144 1.448 3.372 ImagePlane
    Example 3 0.172 1.360 4.638 ImagePlane
    Example 4 0.234 3.393 3.349 Image Plane
    Example 5 0.264 2.549 9.552 Object
    Example 6 0.163 5.338 7.961 Object
    Example 7 0.314 1.929 8.601 Image Plane
    Example 8 0.133 2.754 4.258 Image Plane
    Example 9 0.155 4.251 5.783 Image Plane
  • [0098]
    TABLE 11
    Actual Values of Conditional Formulae
    Conditional Conditional Conditional Conditional
    Formula (1) Formula (2) Formula (3) Formula (4)
    f1/ff |f4/fT| D34W/D34T βW4
    Example 1 1.65 0.95 1.00 1.20
    Example 2 1.90 0.59 0.26 1.36
    Example 3 1.30 0.60 1.00 1.34
    Example 4 1.48 0.86 1.81 1.35
    Example 5 1.93 0.60 0.80 1.63
    Example 6 1.54 0.36 0.40 2.36
    Example 7 1.27 0.79 0.37 1.40
    Example 8 1.30 0.35 0.36 1.58
    Example 9 1.21 0.32 0.92 1.52

Claims (25)

What is claimed is:
1. An optical device comprising:
a zoom lens system which comprises of a plurality of lens units and which achieves zooming by varying unit-to-unit distances; and
an image sensor for converting an optical image formed by the zoom lens system into an electrical signal,
wherein the zoom lens system comprises at least, from an object side thereof to an image side thereof, a first lens unit having a positive optical power, a second lens unit having a negative optical power, a third lens unit having a positive optical power, and a fourth lens unit having a negative optical power, and the following conditional formula is fulfilled:
b 1.1<f1/fT<2.5
where
f1 represents a focal length of the first lens unit; and
fT represents a focal length of an entire optical system at a telephoto end.
2. An optical device as claimed in
claim 1
,
wherein focusing is achieved by moving the fourth lens unit along an optical axis, and the following conditional formula is additionally fulfilled:
0.3<|f4/fT|<2
where
f4 represents a focal length of the fourth lens unit; and
fT represents the focal length of the entire optical system at the telephoto end.
3. An optical device as claimed in
claim 2
,
wherein, as zooming is performed from a wide-angle end to the telephoto end, the first lens unit is moved and a distance between the third lens unit and the fourth lens unit increases from the wide-angle end to a middle-focal-length position and decreases from the middle-focal-length position to the telephoto end.
4. An optical device as claimed in
claim 2
wherein the second lens unit has an aspherical surface.
5. An optical device as claimed in
claim 1
,
wherein, as zooming is performed from a wide-angle end to the telephoto end, the first lens unit is moved and a distance between the third lens unit and the fourth lens unit increases from the wide-angle end to a middle-focal-length position and decreases from the middle-focal-length position to the telephoto end.
6. An optical device as claimed in
claim 1
further comprising a low-pass filter, said low-pass filter located between the first lens unit and the image sensor, wherein the low-pass filter adjusts spatial frequency characteristics of the optical image formed by the zoom lens system.
7. An optical device as claimed in
claim 6
wherein the low-pass filter is kept stationary during zooming.
8. An optical device as claimed in
claim 1
wherein the second lens unit has an aspherical surface.
9. An optical device as claimed in
claim 1
wherein the zoom lens system further comprises a fifth lens unit having a positive optical power.
10. An optical device as claimed in
claim 9
wherein the zoom lens system further comprises a sixth lens unit having a negative optical power.
11. An optical device as claimed in
claim 9
wherein the zoom lens system further comprises a sixth lens unit having a positive optical power.
12. A digital camera comprising:
an optical lens device, and
a memory;
wherein said optical lens device comprises a zoom lens system which comprises a plurality of lens units and which achieves zooming by varying unit-to-unit distances; and an image sensor for converting an optical image formed by the zoom lens system into an electrical signal;
wherein the zoom lens system comprises at least, from an object side thereof to an image side thereof, a first lens unit having a positive optical power, a second lens unit having a negative optical power, a third lens unit having a positive optical power, and a fourth lens unit having a negative optical power, and the following conditional formula is fulfilled:
1.1<f1/fT<2.5
where
f1 represents a focal length of the first lens unit; and
fT represents a focal length of an entire optical system at a telephoto end; and
wherein said memory is adapted for storing image data from said image sensor, and said memory is not removable from said digital camera.
13. A digital camera as claimed in
claim 12
wherein the following conditional formula is fulfilled:
0.3<|f4/fT|<2
where
f4 represents a focal length of the fourth lens unit; and
fT represents the focal length of the entire optical system at the telephoto end.
14. An optical device comprising:
a zoom lens system which comprises of a plurality of lens units and which achieves zooming by varying unit-to-unit distances; and
an image sensor for converting an optical image formed by the zoom lens system into an electrical signal,
wherein the zoom lens system comprises at least, from an object side thereof to an image side thereof, a first lens unit having a positive optical power, a second lens unit having a negative optical power, a third lens unit having a positive optical power, and a fourth lens unit having a negative optical power, the first lens unit being moved as zooming is performed, and
wherein the following conditional formula is fulfilled:
0.3<D34W/D34T<2.5
where
D34W represents an aerial distance between the third lens unit and the fourth lens unit at a wide-angle end; and
D34T represents an aerial distance between the third lens unit and the fourth lens unit at a telephoto end.
15. An optical device as claimed in
claim 14
,
wherein, as zooming is performed from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end, the fourth lens unit is moved toward the object side.
16. An optical device as claimed in
claim 15
,
wherein, as zooming is performed from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end, a distance between the third lens unit and the fourth lens unit increases from the wide-angle end to a middle-focal-length position and decreases from the middle-focal-length position to the telephoto end.
17. An optical device as claimed
claim 15
,
wherein focusing is achieved by moving the fourth lens unit along an optical axis, and the following conditional formula is additionally fulfilled.
0.5<βW4<2
where
βW4 represents a lateral magnification of the fourth lens unit at the wide-angle end.
18. An optical device as claimed in
claim 14
,
wherein, as zooming is performed from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end, a distance between the third lens unit and the fourth lens unit increases from the wide-angle end to a middle-focal-length position and decreases from the middle-focal-length position to the telephoto end.
19. An optical device as claimed
claim 18
,
wherein focusing is achieved by moving the fourth lens unit along an optical axis, and the following conditional formula is additionally fulfilled:
0.5<βW4<2
where
βW4 represents a lateral magnification of the fourth lens unit at the wide-angle end.
20. An optical device as claimed
claim 14
,
wherein focusing is achieved by moving the fourth lens unit along an optical axis, and the following conditional formula is additionally fulfilled:
0.5<βW4<2
where
βW4 represents a lateral magnification of the fourth lens unit at the wide-angle end.
21. An optical device as claimed in
claim 14
wherein the zoom lens system further comprises a fifth lens unit having a positive optical power.
22. An optical device as claimed in
claim 21
wherein the zoom lens system further comprises a sixth lens unit having a negative optical power.
23. An optical device as claimed in
claim 21
wherein the zoom lens system further comprises a sixth lens unit having a positive optical power.
24. A digital camera comprising:
an optical lens device, and
a memory;
wherein said optical lens device comprises a zoom lens system which comprises a plurality of lens units and which achieves zooming by varying unit-to-unit distances; and an image sensor for converting an optical image formed by the zoom lens system into an electrical signal;
wherein the zoom lens system comprises at least, from an object side thereof to an image side thereof, a first lens unit having a positive optical power, a second lens unit having a negative optical power, a third lens unit having a positive optical power, and a fourth lens unit having a negative optical power, the first lens unit being moved as zooming is performed, and wherein the following conditional formula is fulfilled:
0.3<D34W/D34T<2.5
where
D34W represents an aerial distance between the third lens unit and the fourth lens unit at a wide-angle end; and
D34T represents an aerial distance between the third lens unit and the fourth lens unit at a telephoto end; and
wherein said memory is adapted for storing image data from said image sensor, and said memory is not removable from said digital camera.
25. A digital camera as claimed in
claim 24
wherein the following conditional formula is fulfilled:
0.5<βW4<2
where
βW4 represents a lateral magnification of the fourth lens unit at the wide-angle end.
US09/826,600 2000-04-07 2001-04-05 Taking lens device Expired - Lifetime US6449433B2 (en)

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JP2000111927 2000-04-07
JP2000-111927 2000-04-07
JP2000368339A JP3598971B2 (en) 2000-04-07 2000-12-04 Imaging lens device
JP2000-368339 2000-12-04

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