“Max Dist. 97%” usually refers to the maximum focusing distance performance index of the lens under specific conditions. The specific meaning needs to be analyzed in combination with the lens type and application scenario.

1. Core definition and possible meanings

Max Dist. (Maximum Distance)

Indicates the “maximum distance” or “limit distance” of the lens, usually refers to the effective working range of the lens under specific parameters.

Potential interpretation of 97%

Depending on the context, there may be two main meanings:

Focus accuracy/coverage:

The lens can still maintain 97% of the image clarity or focus accuracy at the maximum focusing distance (for example, the edge area may be slightly out of focus, but the center area is clear).

Optical performance degradation:

When the lens is at the maximum distance, the optical performance (such as resolution, distortion control) reaches 97% of the design value (that is, there is a 3% performance loss).

2. Typical application scenarios and cases

Surveillance camera lens

Meaning: At the maximum monitoring distance (such as 50 meters), the lens can still capture 97% of the target details (for example, the recognition rate of license plates or faces).

Example: A lens is marked with “Max Dist. 97% @ 50m”, which means that at a distance of 50 meters, the recognition accuracy or image quality is 97% of the design value.

Industrial lens (such as machine vision)

Meaning: When the lens is at the maximum working distance (such as 300mm), the MTF (modulation transfer function) value or resolution reaches 97% of the nominal value.

Example: An industrial lens is marked with “Max Dist. 97% @ 300mm”, which means that at a distance of 300mm, the lens resolution is still 97% of the nominal value.

Zoom lens or telephoto lens

Meaning: When the lens is at the telephoto end (such as the maximum focal length of 200mm), the edge image quality or focus accuracy is 97% of the design value.

Example: A telephoto lens is marked with “Max Dist. 97% @ 200mm”, which means that at a focal length of 200mm, the edge image quality may be slightly reduced, but the overall quality remains high.

3. Technical background and influencing factors

Optical design limitations

At the maximum distance, the lens may suffer from performance degradation due to aberrations (such as spherical aberration, coma) or diffraction effects. 97% may be the result of design compromise.

Sensor and algorithm compensation

Modern lenses may compensate for performance losses through sensor optimization or image processing algorithms (such as sharpening and noise reduction), making the actual performance close to 100%.

Environmental factors

Lighting conditions, target contrast, etc. may affect the actual performance. 97% may be the test value under ideal conditions.

4. How to understand and choose a lens

Clear requirements

If high-precision monitoring or measurement is required, you need to pay attention to the performance degradation under “Max Dist.” (such as whether 97% is acceptable).

For general shooting, 97% performance may be sufficient.

Comparison parameters

The “Max Dist.” performance of different lenses may vary greatly, and needs to be comprehensively evaluated in combination with MTF curves, distortion diagrams, etc.

Consult the manufacturer

If the meaning of the label is unclear, it is recommended to contact the manufacturer directly to obtain technical documents or test reports.

5. Summary

“Max Dist. 97%” usually indicates the performance retention rate of the lens at the maximum distance (such as clarity, resolution or focus accuracy).

The specific meaning needs to be combined with the lens type (surveillance, industrial, photography, etc.) and the manufacturer’s definition.

When choosing, it is necessary to weigh performance and cost to ensure that it meets the actual application requirements.Recommended Reading:Fisheye HD lens.

Example:

A surveillance lens is marked with “Max Dist. 97% @ 30m”, which means that at a distance of 30 meters, it can still clearly identify the target (such as a face or license plate), but there may be slight blur or loss of details (3% performance loss).

An industrial lens is marked with “Max Dist. 97% @ 200mm”, which means that at a working distance of 200mm, the resolution is still 97% of the nominal value, which is suitable for high-precision measurement.

By understanding the specific meaning of “Max Dist. 97%”, users can more accurately choose the lens suitable for the scene.