Fresnel Lens

[ahab1372]

This is more a snapshot than anything else, but for those who own a Better Beamer, or have wondered what a Fresnel lens in big looks like, here is an image of the lens of the Pigeon Point Lighthouse near Pescadero, CA. It is a first order Fresnel lens. The "order" describes the size and focal length, and first order used to be the largest with a focal length of 920mm and a height of 2.59m, before someone decided that that was not big enough and built an even bigger one.

_AH08762 by ahab1372, on Flickr

[Kayaker72]

Think of the bird shots Joel could get with that!!!

[neuroanatomist]

Here's one local to me, a close up of the Fresnel lens at Boston Light. Second order, and still in operation.

[ahab1372]

Great shot John. They had one of those old 1000W light bulbs on display at pigeon point.


Arnt

[ahab1372]

Btw if someone has a few million USD to spare, they take donations to repair the lighthouse and put the lens back in its original place.


Arnt

[Joel Eade]

Think of the bird shots Joel could get with that!!!

Oh yeah! Give me that with a 25,000mm f/4 lens and a really big tripod and I could get great images from a mile or so