Z-Series Zoom Cameras + Close-Up Lenses

What is a close-up lens?

A close-up lens is an additional optical lens mounted in front of the Z-Series camera's integrated zoom lens. It allows the camera to focus on objects at shorter working distances than the integrated zoom lens can achieve on its own.

Close-up lenses are available in +1.0, +2.0 and +4.0 diopters, allowing the Z-Series to be adapted to different working distances and magnification requirements.

Why would I need a close-up lens?

A close-up lens can be useful when the object is too close to the camera to be brought into focus with the integrated zoom lens alone.

This can occur particularly at certain zoom positions, because the minimum object distance of the integrated zoom lens varies with focal length.

A close-up lens shifts the usable focus range toward the camera, making the Z-Series suitable for shorter working distances and higher-magnification applications.

Which close-up lens should I choose?

As a general guideline:

Close-up lens	Typical working distance*	Recommended for
+1.0 dpt	approx. 0.5-1.0 m	Moderate close-up
+2.0 dpt	approx. 0.3-0.5 m	General close-up inspection
+4.0 dpt	approx. 0.2-0.25 m	Very short working distances / high magnification

The +2.0 dpt lens is a good general-purpose choice for many close-up applications.

*Typical values are provided as a guideline. The actual achievable working-distance range depends on the camera model, zoom position and focus setting.

What does "+1, +2 or +4 diopters" mean?

The diopter value describes the optical power of the close-up lens.

A useful approximation is:

Working distance ≈ 1 / diopter

Therefore:

• +1.0 dpt → ~1 m

• +2.0 dpt → ~0.5 m

• +4.0 dpt → ~0.25 m

Higher diopter values provide stronger close-up capability and are therefore suitable for shorter working distances.

Does a close-up lens increase the optical zoom?

Not directly. The close-up lens does not change the 12× or 20× zoom ratio of the integrated zoom lens.

Instead, it changes the optical characteristics of the system so that the camera can focus closer and achieve higher magnification at short working distances.

The result is genuine optical magnification - not a digital crop of the image.

Can I still use the camera's autofocus?

Yes. The integrated autofocus remains available when using a compatible close-up lens.

The close-up lens extends the camera's close-range focusing capability, while the motorized focus mechanism of the Z-Series provides automatic or manual focusing within the resulting focus range.

Can I still use the complete zoom range?

The zoom remains functional, but the usable focus range and optical performance depend on the selected zoom position and the close-up lens used.

For applications requiring a specific working distance and field of view, we recommend checking the corresponding camera/zoom configuration.

Does the close-up lens affect image quality?

As with any additional optical element, a close-up lens can influence the optical performance of the complete system.

For best results, use close-up lenses that are matched to the Z-Series optical system and select the appropriate diopter for the required working distance.

Can I use a close-up lens together with autofocus and autoiris?

Yes. The close-up lens is an additional optical element and does not disable the Z-Series' integrated optical functions.

Depending on the camera model and configuration, you can continue to use:

• Motorized optical zoom

• Autofocus

• Autoiris

• Manual iris control

• IR-cut filter control

This makes the system particularly suitable for applications where working distance, magnification and lighting conditions can change.

Can I use a stronger close-up lens to get even closer?

Not necessarily.

A higher diopter provides a shorter focal distance, but it also changes the usable focus range and optical characteristics of the system. Therefore, simply choosing the strongest available close-up lens is not always the best solution.

Choose the diopter according to the required working distance and application.

Can I use close-up lenses for inspection applications?

Yes. Close-up lenses can be particularly useful for applications such as:

• Small-part inspection

• Electronics and PCB inspection

• Surface inspection

• Character and label inspection

• Barcode and code reading

• Connector inspection

• Laboratory applications

• Robotic inspection

• Quality control

They are especially useful when the camera must remain at a fixed position but the object is located relatively close to the camera.

How do I select the right close-up lens?

Start with the required working distance:

~0.5-1.0 m → +1.0 dpt

~0.3-0.5 m → +2.0 dpt

~0.2-0.25 m → +4.0 dpt

Then consider the required field of view, magnification and zoom position.

For applications close to the limits of the specified ranges, we recommend testing the complete camera, lens and close-up-lens configuration.