What’s the difference between standard, high-performance, and megapixel lenses?
In a simple presence/absence application, a standard lens in the right focal length is a good choice. Standard lenses are inexpensive and are adequate for many applications. The high-performance and megapixel lenses are of better construction (metal housings rather than the plastic of the standard lenses) and most have the ability to adjust the aperture and to lock both the aperture and focus settings in place. By being able to adjust the aperture, you have more options as to where you place the part. By being able to lock the settings in place, you reduce the chance that vibration will eventually cause out-of-focus problems. When working with gauging and pattern matching applications, choose a megapixel lens because it offers less image distortion. Optically and mechanically, there is little difference between the high-performance and megapixel lenses, so we usually recommend the megapixel lenses.
