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Thorlabs' Zoom Lenses are ideal for high-magnification machine vision and imaging applications, providing an optimal balance between optical performance and a large zoom range. These zoom lenses must be used with an extension tube (sold below), and can optionally be used with the appropriate 6.5X or 12X system magnifying lens attachment (also sold below).

These magnifying lens attachments provide additional magnification to the zoom lens and extension tube system. These attachments are compatible with the 6.5X zoom lenses sold above, and provide a magnification factor of 0.25X, 0.5X, 0.75X, 1.5X, or 2.0X (see the Magnification Calculation section in the Overview tab above). Please note that only one lens attachment may be used at a time.

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The MVLCMC adapter allows for the integration of our zoom lenses with a standard C-mount camera. The adapter features external C-mount (1.000"-32) threads and provides the correct lens spacing for the standard C-mount 17.526 flange focal distance. Additionally, when used with the SM1A9 or SM1A10 adapters, the zoom lenses sold on this page can be integrated with Thorlabs' SM1-threaded optomechanics.

These magnifying lens attachments provide additional magnification to the zoom lens and extension tube system. These attachments are compatible with the 12X zoom lenses sold above, and provide a magnification factor of 0.25X, 0.5X, 0.75X, 1.5X, or 2.0X (see the Magnification Calculation section in the Overview tab above). Please note that only one lens attachment may be used at a time.

*The MVL6X3Z Zoom Lens with Coaxial Illumination port is fully compatible with the MVL6X15L 1.5X and MV6X20L 2X Magnifying Lens Attachments. While the MVL6X3Z can be used with the MVL6X025L 0.25X, MVL6X05L 0.5X, and MVL6X075L 0.75X Magnifying Lens attachments, there will be some vignetting.

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Our 12X Zoom Lenses feature a variable magnification of 0.58 - 7X, which provides a 12X magnification adjustment (zoom) range. The MVL12X12Z provides 12 mm of fine focus travel for a large working distance range, while the MVL12X3Z provides 3 mm of fine focus travel, along with a coaxial illumination port, which is compatible with the fiber bundles included with our OSL2 and OSL2IR fiber light sources and our Ø5 mm liquid light guides.

The MVLCMC C-mount adapter is available for attaching these lenses to cameras that use a standard C-mount. The MVL20FA 2X extension tube with an F-Mount bayonet mount is also available. Please note that the zoom lenses must be used with an extension tube (or the image will not be able to be focused), while the magnifying lens adapters are optional. Additionally, when used with our SM1A9 or SM1A10 adapters, the zoom lenses sold on this page can be integrated with Thorlabs' SM1-threaded optomechanics.

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Please note that our 6.5X zoom lenses must be used with an extension tube (sold below), and can optionally be used with a 6.5X system magnifying lens attachment (also sold below). The threaded end of the zoom lenses have M25 x 0.75 internal threads and 1.093"-32 external threads. Our 6.5X zoom lenses can easily be mounted using the C1512(/M) fixed or C1513(/M) kinematic V-clamp.

Magnification CalculationThe net magnification, M, of the system (M = image size / object size) is equal to the magnification of the magnifying lens attachment, multiplied by the magnification of the zoom lens (at its current setting), multiplied by the magnification of the extension tube. For example, the 12X zoom lens can be set to a magnification between 0.58X and 7X (corresponding to a 12X zoom range). If it is used at its maximum magnification setting of 7X, along with a 2X lens attachment and a 2X extension tube, the maximum system magnification of 2 x 7 x 2 = 28 is realized. See the Specs tab for the maximum and minimum magnifications of each lens combination.

All images shown were taken with a previous-generation Thorlabs DCC1240C color CMOS camera, MVL20A extension tube, MVL12X3Z zoom lens, and MVL12X20L magnifying lens attachment. The bottom pair of images are far-field (bottom-left) and close-up (bottom-right) views of a previous-generation Thorlabs camera.

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These extension tubes are required for the use of our 6.5X or 12X zoom lenses, and they are compatible with both systems. They may be attached to a camera using the MVLCMC C-Mount adapter sold below. Additionally the MVL20FA extension tube has an integrated F-Mount bayonet mount for direct attachment to a camera.

Please note that our 12X zoom lenses must be used with an extension tube (sold below), and can optionally be used with a 12X system magnifying lens attachment (also sold below). The MVL12X12Z and MVL12X3Z have 1.093"-32 internal and 1.500"-32 external threads. Our 12X zoom lenses can easily be mounted using the C1512(/M) fixed or C1513(/M) kinematic V-clamps.

Our 6.5X Zoom Lenses feature a variable magnification of 0.7 - 4.5X, which provides a 6.5X magnification adjustment (zoom) range. The MVL6X12Z provides 12 mm of fine focus travel for a large working distance range, while the MVL6X3Z provides 3 mm of fine focus travel, along with a coaxial illumination port, which is compatible with the fiber bundles included with our OSL2 and OSL2IR fiber light sources and our Ø5 mm liquid light guides. These zoom lenses also offer direct compatibility with our LEDRW40 Ring Light, as shown for the MVL6X12Z in the image to the right.

Our modular system consists of a 0.7 - 4.5X zoom lens (6.5X zoom range) or 0.58 - 7X zoom lens (12X zoom range), along with 0.50X, 0.67X, 1X, 1.33X, and 2X extension tubes and optional 0.25X, 0.5X, 0.75X, 1.5X, and 2.0X magnifying lens adapters. Together, these components allow our 6.5X systems to provide a net magnification of 0.09 - 18 with a 6.5X magnification adjustment range, and they allow our 12X systems to provide a net magnification of 0.07 - 28 with a 12X magnification adjustment range. The magnification adjuster (zoom) is a recessed rotating collar on the barrel of the lens, which allows the magnification to be adjusted even when the lens is mounted in a V-clamp. Please note that only one magnifying lens attachment may be used at a time.

*The MV12X3Z Zoom Lens with Coaxial Illumination port is fully compatible with the MVL12X15L 1.5X and MV12X20L 2X Magnifying Lens Attachments. While the MVL12X3Z can be used with the MVL12X025L 0.25X, MVL12X05L 0.5X, and MVL12X075L 0.75X Magnifying Lens attachments, there will be some vignetting.