Tight supply of optical glass may result in a shortage of molded glass lenses for digital cameras and threaten expansion of Taiwan’s OEM production of more advanced digital cameras, according to sources at Taiwanese lens producers.
Slim-type digital cameras with 3-megapixel or above sensors use a lens with at least four molded glass elements. According to the local lens producers, about 55 million of the digital cameras sold this year will need molded glass lenses, with 20 million from Sanyo and 14 million from Canon. In addition to digital cameras, some projectors and camera phones also use molded glass lens.
Currently, Hoya and Matsushita Electric Industrial (MEI – Panasonic) are the world’s top two producers of molded glass lens, each with an annual capacity of 60 million units. The Taiwanese makers estimate that global production of molding glass lens will only be able to support production of 44 million digital cameras this year, resulting in a shortfall of as many as 11 million cameras.
Taiwanese lens makers, including Asia Optical, Kinko Optical and E-Pin Optical Industry, produce molded glass lens. Because of high technology barriers for developing molding processes and a short life of only 4 to 5 months for a mold, Taiwanese makers still need to work hard to raise yield rates.
Article translated by Adam Hwang and edited by Stephen Taylor
