WhatConstitutesaHighPerformance4KLens?

ByLarryThorpe,SeniorFellow,CanonUSA,Inc.

Introduction

Highendprofessionallensescananticipatealongworkinglifeoftheorderofadecadeormore.This
putsauniquecontextonexpectationsforcontemporary4Klenses.Agivenlensmustanticipateawide
range of productions including theatrical motion pictures, major television dramas and episodics,
commercials,andadiverserangeofnonentertainmentorigination.Largescreenportrayalwillbecome
the norm. And, it is that fact that imposes on the 4K lens a range of performance imperatives that
cannotbeignored.
Sowhataretheperformanceparametersthatcollectivelydefine4Kopticalperformance?Thefollowing
paperwillenumeratetheseparametersanddiscussuserexpectations.

4KResolution

4Kimmediatelyinvokeshighresolutionandtheopticalimplicationsasweshallseeareverysignificant
indeed.4Kisfundamentallydefined bythesamplinglatticeof theimagesensorina4Kcamera.This
entails4096horizontalphotositesand2160verticalsamplesforatotalof8,847,360spatialsamples.
In sampling theory it has been longestablished that a given spatial sampling frequency can only
faithfully reproduce spatial frequencies that are half that number. The limit of such spatial
reproductionisknownastheNyquistfrequencywhichissimplisticallyexplainedfor4KinFigure1.

4096
Horizontal
1.896:1

i tF

or

Figure1
Showingontopthesamplingstructureofa4KimagesensorandtheNyquistfrequency
associatedwiththatsampling;thebottomimagerepresentsthespatialdetailofa4KSuper35mmlens
thatcanfulfilltheresolutioncapabilityofthat4Kimagesensor
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4KLensCriteriaOpticalNyquistSpatialFrequencyis80LP/mmforS35mm

WehavedefinedtheopticalNyquistfrequencyfora4KS35mmlens.Itmeansthatthislensneedsto
beabletopassthroughitsentireopticalsystem80blackandwhitelineswithineverymillimeterofthe
image size defined in Figure 1. To get a sense of the high demand of a 4K lens we show in Figure 2
belowwhat80linepairslookslike.Considerwhatittakestopassthatthrougheveryhorizontal(and
vertical)millimeterofthelensoutputimageandtodosowithashighacontrastaspossible.

Figure2

Conveyingwhat80linepairswithineachmillimeteroftheoutputimageofthe
4klens(onelinepairisoneblacklineandanadjacentwhiteline)

4KLensCriteriaOpticalContrastRatio

Cinematographersoftenspeakoftheclarityandbrillianceofaspecificlensandinsodoingtheyare
largelyreferringtotheopticalcontrastperformanceofthatlens.TheContrastRatioofalensisaformal
definitionofthatperformance.Itistheratiooftheleveloftransmissivitythroughtheopticalsystemto
thelevelofopticalblackcontaminationontheoutputcausedbyflareandveilingglare.Itissometimes
likenedtoanopticalsignaltonoise.Thesecrettoelevatinglenscontrastlieinthedeepsciencesof
multilayer optical coatings that are deposited on each and every lens element surface. When a lens
thatdoesNOTemploysuchcoatingsimagesablackandwhitecharttheleveloftransmittedwhitelight
throughtheopticalsystemincursalossintransmissivityduetoreflectionsateachandeveryairglass
surface(approximately4%foreachuncoatedsurface).Thesesamereflectionscausealightscattering
within the overall optical system creating flare and veiling glare that contaminates what should be
zero light transmission for the black portion of the chart. The deposition of the multilayer coating
creates secondary reflections that cancels the primary reflection thus elevating light transmission
through the optical system, and at the same time lowering the light scatter so that a superior black
reproduction is simultaneously made possible. Multilayer coatings of different materials on each
surfacearerequiredtomanageallofthewavelengthsacrossthevisiblecolorband.
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4KLensCriteriaCriticalLinkagebetweenResolutionandContrast
Highemphasisisplacedontheimportanceofanexcellentcontrastratioina4Klensfortwoimportant
reasons:
1. A high contrast lens will greatly contribute to a lenscamera capture system being able to
portrayvividreproductionofscenescontainingbothbrightanddarksections

2. Perceivedpicturesharpnessonalargescreenviewedfromtypicalviewingdistancesisdirectly
influencedbyanestablishedmethodofmeasuringtheresolutionbehavioroflenses,cameras,
anddisplaysnamely,theModulationTransferFunction(MTF)ofeachofthosesystems.

4KLensCriteriaModulationTransferFunction

ModulationTransferFunctionisquiteatechnicalmouthfulandsmacksofsomeformofmathematical
terminology.Andindeeditis.Forsimplicity,itisgenerallyabbreviatedtoMTF.MTFisapowerfuland
practicaltoolforassessingtheresolutionbehaviorofindividualcomponentsofatotalimagingsystem
(suchasalens,acamera,adisplay,aprinteretc).Italsoallowsanassessmentoftheoverallresolution
ofthattotalsystemwhich,isafterall,whatultimatelyimpactsourhumanvisualsystem.Andyes,the
humanvisualsystemitselfisendowedwithanMTFofsomeconsiderablecomplexity.
UponconfrontingthetermModulationTransferFunction,thequestionimmediatelyarisesastowhatis
beingmodulated,whatisbeingtransferred,andhowdoesallofthisbearuponresolution?Itwillbe
shown that these terms help us provide a linkage between the resolution capability of an imaging
componentandthecontributionthatcomponentmakestotheperceivedsharpnessseenwhenwelook
atthefinalreproducedimage.
Thetermscanbestbeunderstoodbystartingatthefrontendoftheimagingsystemnamely,thelens.
Thecentralroleofthelensistointercepttheopticalwavefrontsemanatingfromanilluminatedthree
dimensional object within a given scene and to transfer that into an output two dimensional object
image. The lens creates an optical representation of that scene. Consider a lens imaging a very low
frequencysetofadjacentblackandwhitebars(twoorthreepairsoflines)asdepictedinFigure2.As
thelenstransmitsthelightfromthatsceneobjecttherewillbeamodestlossofthewhiteandtherewill
beanelevationoftheblack(duetointernalflarephenomenon).Thus,theoutputopticalreproduction
oftheblackandwhitescenewillincurasmalllossofcontrastandtheformalContrastRatioofthat
lenswillthenbeasdefinedinFigure3.

Figure3
Theverybestlenseshavelessthan100%transmittanceandalsohavesomedegreeof
black contamination due to flare and internal reflections the combination defining the lens contrast
ratio
Asthespatialfrequencyoftheblackandwhitebarsbeingimagedbythelensisincreasedthecontrast
oftheiropticalreproductionatthelensoutputlowers.ThisissimulatedinFigure4below.Thehigher
thatspatialdetailbecomestheloweritscontrastatthelensoutputport.Thus,thereisamodulationof
thetransferofcontrastthroughthelensasafunctionofspatialfrequency.HencethetermModulation
TransferFunctionusuallyabbreviatedtoMTF.

Figure 4
Modulation Transfer Function is the ratio of the contrast in the Scene Object to the
contrast in the Object Image as a function of spatial frequency.


Ifthelensoutputopticallevelrelativetotheleveloftheinputsceneobject(100%blackandwhitebars)
wereplottedasafunctionofspatialfrequencyitwouldplotthisprogressivelossofcontrastwithinthe
lensinthemannershowninFigure3.

Figure5

Showingarepresentativefalloffinlenscontrastspanningverylowspatialdetailtothe

highestspatialdetailthatdefinesthepassbandofinterestforagivenimagingsystem

Ifthiscontrastcharacteristicofagivenlensisplottedasagraphwithspatialfrequencyasthehorizontal
axis we have the portrayal of the MTF of that specific lens. In the optical world, the unit of spatial
frequencyistypicallyinlinespermmthatis,thenumberofblackandwhitelinepairspassedthrough
each millimeter dimension of a lens. The spatial frequency at which the MTF has dropped to a level
below10%isreferredtoastheLimitingResolutionortheResolvingPowerofthelens.

4KLensCriteriaImportanceoftheHalfNyquistFrequency
Extraordinaryadvancesinopticaldesignshavetakenplaceoverthepasttwentyfiveyears.Therehave
been the steady advances in Super 35mm lenses (and larger formats) used in motion picture film
production over many decades. The 1990s saw the arrival of production HDTV systems based largely
uponthesmall2/3inchimageformatwhichwastospurhighlycompetitiveworldwidedevelopmentsin
HD studio, field, EFP, and ENG lenses. Significant and sustained optical developments were
necessitatedbythatcompetitivedrivetoalevelwherethelatestgenerationofhighendHDlenseshas
quiteextraordinaryopticalperformance.
A decade ago saw the emergence of Super 35mm single sensor digital cameras that started at the
2K/HDlevelbutwhichhasrapidlyadvancedtothebroadeningarrayof4Ksystemsweseetoday.The
accumulatedsubjectiveexperiencearoundtheworldhasshownthatwhatweactuallyseeonthelarge
screen(televisionortheater)whatistermedPerceivedPictureSharpnessisdirectlyrelatedtothe
levelofcontrastatHALFoftheNyquistfrequencythanattheNyquistlimititself.
So,forthe4KlensouropticaldesignersfocusonelevatingtheMTFat40LP/mmashighaspossibleas
showninFigure6below.
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Figure6

ShowingthenaturalfalloffofresolutionatPicturecenterofa4Klens

The lens optical MTF is multiplied by the camera electronic MTF (largely determined by the sampling
mechanismoftheimagesensoranditsassociatedopticallowpassfilter)toproducetheeffectiveMTF
ofthelenscameraimagingsystemasshowninFigure7.ThatoverallMTFcurvegreatlyaffectsthe
faithfulness of the video representation of the scene being imaged. The higher that composite MTF
curveisaroundthehalfNyquistspatialfrequency1080TVL/phinvideotermsand40LP/mminoptical
terms)thesharperthemostimportantelementsofanimagewillappeartotheviewer.Edgesharpness
is critically important to closeups and to very wideangle scenes. Textural reproduction (facial, hair,
clothing,materialsetc)isalsoakeyelementinhighresolutionreproductions.

Figure7

Emphasizing the importance of achieving a high lenscamera MTF at the half

Nyquistspatialfrequency
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4KLensCriteriaResolutionacrosstheImagePlane

Sofarwehavediscussedissuesrelatingto4Kresolutionattheallimportantpicturecenterthesweet
spotinalllenses.However,itisafundamentalopticalbehaviorthatMTFwillfallofffromitspeakat
picturecentertowardtheimageextremities.Thishaslongposedachallengetoopticaldesigners,and
overthedecadesmanyingeniousopticalstrategieshavebeendevelopedtocounteractthisfalloff.Itis
animportantquestbecauseourhumanperceptionofpicturesharpnessassimilatestheresolutionofthe
imageacrossthetotalimageplane.Thisacquiresanevenhigherimportancewiththesuperbpicture
sharpnessofthe4Kimagingsystemespeciallyonalargecinemascreen.Recognizingtheimpossibility
of achieving a totally constant MTF across the image plane, the optical designers define two circular
zonesbaseduponyearsofcollaborativeexperienceswithcinematographerswheretheymakeevery
attempttomaintainclosetoconstantMTF.

Figure8
ShowingthetwozonesusedtoseparatelyspecifyMTFbehaviorintheCanon4KSuper
35mmcinematographylenses
These spatial zones are related to the interest of cinematographers who seek a constant sharpness
across the most important middle zone that typically will encompass a facial closeup or a medium
closeup as shown in the left of Figure 9. The outer zone encompasses the greater portion of a wide
anglesceneandheretherewillbeawellcontrolledrolloffofMTFattheouterportions.

Figure9
Showingthepicturecontentimplicationsofthetwozonesthatareusedtomanage
MTFcharacteristicsacrosstheimageplane
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4K Lens Criteria Maintaining 4K Resolution over the Total Focal Range

ThechallengeoftightlycontrollinglensMTofisfurthercomplicatedinzoomlensesbecauseitisalso
an optical reality that MTF changes over the focal range of the zoom lens. And again, the optical
designersmobilizefurtherinnovativeopticaldesignstrategiestominimizethesechanges.Thedemands
on 4K lens design are higher than that of HDTV lenses because of the anticipated very high bar in
imageresolution.ItiscustomarytoshowthevariationsinMTFacrosstheimageplaneanditsvariations
with focal range in one chart as depicted in Figure 10 (NOTE these are the final computer
simulationsofthelenses).

Figure10
ShowingtheMTFcharacteristicsoftheCanonCNE14.560mmandtheCNE30300mm
4Klensesasafunctionofboththetwospatialzonesandthetotalfocalrange

4KLensCriteriaLateralChromaticAberration

All lenses have optical aberrations. There are the famous four monochromatic (independent of
wavelength) aberrations known respectively as astigmatism, coma, curvature of field, and spherical
aberration. There are two additional aberrations that are both wavelength dependent lateral and
longitudinalchromaticaberration.Theformeristhemostdifficulttocontendwithinopticaldesignand
isaconsequenceofeachwavelengthoflighthavingadifferentmagnification.Theimagesensorinthe
cameracanreadthisasmisregistrationbetweenthevariouswavelengthswhichcancausecolorfringing
onimagetransitions,andwhenaddedtothefourmonochromaticaberrations,thisconstituteswhatare
collectivelycalledtheaggregatedefocusingdistortionsthatimpairlensMTFespeciallyatethewider
aperturesettings.
Becausethe4KimagesensorcanseefourtimesmorespatialdetailthananHDimagesensoritbecomes
imperativetomoretightlycontrolopticalaberrationsina4Kcinelensandmostespeciallytocurtail,to
thedegreepossible,thelateralchromaticaberration.

Figure11
here)

Showingthetwoboundariestoresolutioninalllenses(thisisagenericcurveshown

InFigure11abovethecurvelabelleddiffractionlimitedisafixedcurveforalllensesofagivenimage
format size. No optical design ingenuity can counteract that limitation which imposes a progressive
loweringofMTFasthelensapertureisstoppeddown.Theredcurveonthelefttheaggregateofallof
the lens aberrations is, to quite a degree, under control of the optical designer. If enough optical
strategies are mobilized (number of lens elements increased, adroit combinations of different glass
materialsdeployed,selectiveshapingoftheindividuallenselements,andselectiveuseofasphericlens
elements)thenthisredcurvecanbedriventotheleftwhichopensuptherangeofaperturestopsthat
candeliverthefull80LP/mmandmore.Thesestrategiesdonotcomecheaply,whichisonereasonthat
highperformance4Klensesarenotinexpensive.In4Klensdesignyoureallydogetwhatyoupayfor.

4KLensCriteriaVariationofMTFwithObjectDistance

Itisnotoveryet!Itisalsoanopticalfundamentalthatthedistanceofthesceneobjecttothelens
frontfacealsoaffectstheMTFbehaviorofthelens.But, this toocanbecontrolled toa degreewith
strategicopticaldesign.Theimperativetodosoisthatmuchgreaterina4KlensthaninanHDlens
becauseoftheanticipatedbroadusefortheatricalmotionpictures.Onthoseverylargescreensarack
focus between two subjects at different depths within a given scene that entails a change in image
sharpnessislikelytobeseenmorereadilythanona50or60inchHDhomeviewingdisplay.

Figure12
ShowingingenericfashionthetendencyoflensMTFtovaryasafunctionofobject
distanceandthedesiretobettercontrolthisinahighperformance4Klens.

The4KHighPerformanceLensaSummary

It has been shown that the 4K lens confronts a much higher bar of overall image quality than a high
performance HD lens. 4K cameras are evolving with extraordinary rapidity and the escalating global
competitioncontinuestodrivetheirperformancetoeverhigherlevels.TherecentCESshowsawmany
manufacturers with 84inch diagonal 4K consumer displays and a few topping 100inch diagonal.
Competitive forces are clearly spurring everlarger consumer 4K display sizes. Separately, 4K digital
projectors for large screen cinema viewing are steadily proliferating and they have excellent image
sharpness.
It is this anticipation of stellar 4K imagery being portrayed on such large screens that places a special
onusontheperformanceofthatwhichoriginatesthatimagerynamely,the4Klens.ShortfallsinMTF
andvisibilityofopticalaberrationsbecomemoreapparentonlargescreens.Thereisnocircumventing
theextraordinarilyadvancedtechnologies,highlysophisticatedmanufacturingtechniques,andprecision
assemblypracticesthatcombinetomakeagenuinefullperformance4Klens.

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