In the Star Trek TNG ep,
The Nth degree, the Cytherian has an interesting material as his 'third eye'. I've had two tiles of it as a kid. It doesn't appear to be a hologram, but looking at it at different angles one sees a lattice of circles/spheres. What is this material and where can I purchase it in larger areas?
posted by oonh
on May 26, 2013 -
2 answers
In my previous question about photo/optical detectors I received a LOT of great advice and I'm back for more.
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posted by nickerbocker
on May 14, 2013 -
4 answers
I have severe synesthesia, and part of it means that I hear what I see. Would this be specifically useful in any professional capacity?
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posted by nímwunnan
on Mar 4, 2013 -
14 answers
Giving my sister my old dslr for her 18th birthday. I'd like to also give her a book that explains the principles of photography. I'd like it to be clear and easy to understand in regards to aperture, depth of field, dynamic range etc. , but I'd also like it to have some ray optics to get her to think about why the camera works the way it does (focal depth, optics etc). Any suggestion would be great.
posted by Large Marge
on Dec 16, 2012 -
11 answers
I am looking for a pair of glasses / companies which produce eyewear which have two metal cylindrical posts as their style. Brands appreciated. I have so far been looking at Oliver People and Salt Optics but would like to broaden my research and options. Any history (who originated it)/name to this style would be appreciated! Cheaper alternatives will also be considered. Examples:
1,
2. Thanks!
posted by nathanm
on Oct 8, 2012 -
10 answers
Eyes 20/10 with correction, where to get the sharpest prescription in the US?
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posted by zippy
on Sep 17, 2012 -
12 answers
In search of clear-framed glasses that aren't massive but are awesome.
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posted by tmcw
on Apr 30, 2012 -
16 answers
Please help me find a component photocell (photoconductor) that works well in the IR range. I'm trying to find a photocell that works in the micrometer wavelength range. The market is full of Cadmium Sulfide (CdS), but those peak at a little less than 1 micrometer wavelengths.
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posted by nickerbocker
on Apr 12, 2012 -
9 answers
Do any open source raytracers support an output of luminance incident on a surface? I want to determine the distribution of light on a surface in a scene based on the sun position. There are commercial packages that support this, but with the popularity of open source raytracing packages, is there one that can do what I need?
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posted by demiurge
on Jan 23, 2012 -
5 answers
Why are there two different methods (positive and negative) for recording astigmatism?
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posted by dmd
on Jan 6, 2012 -
3 answers
I've got an idea to fix the crappy automatic brightness sensor on my Android phone. Will it work / screw anything up?
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posted by anthill
on Nov 2, 2011 -
8 answers
Why are microscope lenses small and camera lenses large? Surely having large lenses on microscopes would let you gather more light from the thing you're trying to examine and give you a clearer picture.
posted by Joe in Australia
on Sep 3, 2011 -
9 answers
An optical illusion based on retinal fatigue allowing you to "see" an "impossible color"?
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posted by darkstar
on Jul 5, 2011 -
10 answers
If you lay your forehead on the palm of your hand and look down at your forearm, you get a distorted view of the connection between wrist and forearm, as well as a sort of "ghost" forearm silhouette at the margins. What's this called, why does it happen, and are there any paintings or other art that captures these effects?
posted by shivohum
on Nov 29, 2010 -
13 answers
Why doesn't the speckle pattern that you see around the source of a laser change when you move your head, and what causes the pattern?
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posted by Bugbread
on Nov 14, 2010 -
3 answers
I am currently in the process of designing an optical system for my lab and I am looking into different controller options. I'm trying to figure out how to wire different motors, voltage sources, and detectors into a computer.
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posted by Aanidaani
on Nov 11, 2010 -
7 answers
I thought I knew how the current crop of 3D glasses worked, but an experiment with my glasses and my laptop screen proved that something weird is going on. Why does the direction I'm looking through the glasses change what I see, and why do the polarising filters appear to be oriented the same way?
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posted by metaBugs
on Aug 2, 2010 -
7 answers
Help me solve an optical puzzle. How might I make this fictional camera obscura work, given the parameters of my fictional location?
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posted by np312
on Jul 6, 2010 -
12 answers
I think I heard a lie from a cave tour guide as a kid, and it's only recently that I realized I took it for granted as a property of optics. Can you confirm this?
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posted by Countess Elena
on May 25, 2010 -
19 answers
When a camera is focused on a bright light, there is a "star" flare around that light. I've noticed that in different situations, that flare has a varying number of points... What decides how many point the lens flare has? BONUS QUESTION: I've only ever seen even point counts... Can odd happen?
posted by frwagon
on Jun 9, 2009 -
8 answers
Find-that-website filter: Website with a unique explanation of lens focal length with respect to photography and zoom lenses.
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posted by odinsdream
on Dec 24, 2008 -
7 answers
What are some of your favourite bokeh lenses and settings for head-and-shoulder portraiture?
posted by johannahdeschanel
on Sep 12, 2008 -
19 answers
Where can I buy fiber optic cable in a brick-and-mortar store in NYC? Small quantities only. Thanks.
posted by boots
on Aug 1, 2008 -
5 answers
What's the proper name for that kind of image-switching material that switches between two pictures as you tilt it? I mostly associate it with novelty baseball cards, toys, children's books, and so forth. That plastic-y corrugated stuff? If I wanted to order a bunch of postcards printed with it, what am I looking for?
posted by paul_smatatoes
on Jun 1, 2008 -
5 answers
Tips for working with optical fibers (stripping, cleaving, aligning, etc.)?
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posted by Mapes
on Apr 3, 2008 -
3 answers
I've noticed that many cars seem to have headlights that change colour depending on angle. Is this deliberate or unintentional, and how do I avoid buying bulbs that do this?
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posted by le morte de bea arthur
on Mar 3, 2008 -
6 answers
What can I do with a "ruined" autofocus SLR zoom lens? Anything cool/neat I can turn it into? Any fun optics demonstrations I can do with the lenses inside?
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posted by kcds
on Nov 20, 2007 -
5 answers
Let's say I'm toying with the idea of making my own scanner for negative film. I've found a suitable sensor, and the rest of the mechanism looks manageable. Can I get a suitable light source that will compensate for the orange mask, at a reasonable price?
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posted by Joakim Ziegler
on Sep 20, 2007 -
17 answers
Optics n00b question: I'm working on an art project wherein I etch drawings onto glass and then project shadows of said srawings onto a wall. I've done this before using an overhead projector as a light source and it worked great. This time around I bought some lights that don't work quite as well...
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posted by garethspor
on May 15, 2007 -
7 answers
I'm interested in fitting odd lenses -- and making custom lenses -- to/for digital cameras and digital video cameras. I'm not terribly concerned with the electronic side of things, so you shouldn't be either. What I'm looking for is a crass/crash course in optics -- something (a book, a video, a class, a kit) that will teach me the basics of optics and allow me to force photocopier lenses, telescopes, and microscopes onto unsuspecting recording devices.
posted by fake
on Dec 28, 2006 -
12 answers
2 different cameras, 2 lenses, how can I get the closest possible recreation?
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posted by tip120
on Dec 13, 2006 -
5 answers
Let's say I find a shiny spherical object and under point lighting, I move it very close to my eye. I then focus on the bright spot, but focus at a distance of 1-2 feet until the patterns are in focus. At this point, it looks like a bad microscope. Am I looking at part of my own eye? Is this a documented phenomenon I could read about?
posted by aye
on Oct 21, 2006 -
19 answers
Re: binoculars. What do I look for and what is the best for my money? We are hiking/mountaineering with kids.
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posted by snsranch
on Jan 30, 2006 -
9 answers
The image on the left side of
zeus.com shows a photo of a man with some sort of optical effect partially overlying his head. Any ideas on what caused this? Both a name and a simple explanation if possible?
Suggestions I've heard so far include lens flare or reflections on an intervening pane of glass but noone seems entirely sure of it.
posted by edd
on Nov 23, 2005 -
10 answers
When I look at something (without my glasses) that's about 100 feet away, it looks a little blurry. If I look at a photo that includes stuff that's 100 feet away from the perspective, it's not blurry, of course, it's just smaller. BUT, if I look in a mirror, let's say a rear view mirror of a car, at something that's 100 feet behind me, it looks blurry, rather than just small.
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posted by Framer
on Jul 19, 2005 -
20 answers
