Frequently Asked Questions

Linear Optical Technology® is a patented optical design innovation that corrects the fisheye (barrel) distortion that is inherent in wide and ultra-wide angle lenses. The resulting lens is called a rectilinear lens – it keeps straight lines straight and removes the fisheye look. Learn more about our family of ultra wide angle no distortion lenses.

Fisheye distortion is another term for barrel distortion – the rounded, curved image you see when using a wide angle lens. Lines at the edge of the image that should be straight will appear curved. A fisheye lens can image a full hemisphere or more, creating a round image on your camera. Learn more about Theia’s patented technology that corrects fisheye or barrel distortion optically.

‘Resolution’ has many definitions including:

• The number of pixels (vertical lines or total number of mega-pixels) in the sensor
• The level of detail a lens/camera combination can capture, usually expressed as line pairs per millimeter (lp/mm) or MTF (modulation transfer function)
• The required number of pixels across an object (a person or a letter/number), usually expressed in pixels/m.

A more detailed discussion can be found in the white paper “resolution calculation”.

Many cameras use near infrared (IR) illumination from LEDs around the lens or separate IR lights to light a scene at night or for special IR sensitive applications. This IR light is invisible to people so it is useful for stealthy illumination of a scene, or finding defects not visible to the human eye. However it may also require the camera to be “day/night” capable (the “night” being tuned to see the IR illuminated scene) and the lens must be IR corrected (also known as ‘day/night’). Using IR light makes the scene brighter for the camera at night but makes color rendition very inaccurate so most cameras with a “night” mode will display the image in black and white. More information is available from the white paper “day/night demystified”.

There are many variables that must be considered when choosing the correct lens for your camera and application. Generally people start with the lens field of view which is directly correlated to lens focal length (for a given sensor size). This determines how much you can see.

Next there is lens resolution, which should match or exceed the sensor resolution. And for wide angle lenses, how much lens distortion is acceptable. This determines how well you can see. The higher the resolution, the more detail in the image and the easier it will be to pick out a person or license plate or barcode from a given distance.

Beyond that, lens selection is guided by your application and could include f/# (how much light is required for an image), mount style (C, CS, M12, etc.), motorized zoom/focus/iris, visible/IR light correction, physical size and of course lens cost.

Theia provides a helpful tool for exploring the interaction between field of view, object distance, and resolution in our “image resolution simulator and lens calculator”.

Theia offers a wide selection of lenses from wide angle without distortion using our patented Linear Optical Technology® to telephoto and in between. You can narrow down your selection.

Yes, Theia designs and manufactures custom lenses. For high volume applications or specialized applications with challenging requirements this could be an option. Custom lenses may require customer funded up front R & D or a compelling business case for us to pursue such projects.

Theia offers motor control boards for our motorized lenses, filter mount adaptors, and set screw kits for many of our lenses.

Theia's motorized lenses are not autofocus capable by themselves but can be designed to perform as an autofocus routine using Theia's software application that comes with purchase of Theia’s IQ Lens™ System or your own software. For a general recommendation on the autofocus procedure, follow these steps:

1. Move the lens from the photo interrupter home position towards the expected focus step number.
2. Move through the focus position by 20+ steps at a time and measure the image sharpness.
3. Calculate the best focus step position.
4. Move past the calculated focus position in the direction of the home position by 50-100 steps and then back to the best focus position, moving away from the home position. This will eliminate the backlash in the lens.

Note: When we autofocus at Theia, the image sharpness is found every 30 steps. Then we use a quadratic curve for the best 3 points to find the predicted focus step.

Theia’s headquarters and warehouse are located at 29765 SW Town Center Loop W, Suite 4, Wilsonville, OR, USA. Phone us at +1 503 570-3296 between 9am and 5pm Monday through Friday Pacific Time, or contact us.

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Theia’s lenses are designed, marketed and distributed from our headquarters in Wilsonville, Oregon, USA. We proudly manufacture our lenses in an Indonesian factory owned by our Japanese contract manufacturer.

Please find a certificate of origin and other certifications.

Theia’s on time delivery performance is an important factor in measuring the satisfaction of our customers. Theia ships our orders in time to meet our customers’ requested or negotiated delivery dates. We measure our on-time shipping performance quarterly and consistently maintain an excellent on time performance rating.

To request a W9, please contact us.

As a quality conscious organization, Theia strives to achieve the highest level of quality for our products and to exceed our customer’s expectations. The successful operation of Theia’s Quality Management System relies upon the cooperation and involvement of all personnel and the purposeful management of our suppliers. Our commitment to quality ensures the continued success of our Company and the satisfaction of our customers.

Theia’s return rate is a critical success factor and indicator of customer satisfaction. Theia monitors our warranty return rate quarterly and consistently maintain a very low rate of return. We are committed to continuous improvement and strive to reduce our already low rate of returns.

Theia Technologies warrants its Products, when purchased new, to be free from manufacturing and material defects. Theia Technologies further warrants that its Products are fit and safe for their intended purpose for use as lenses on video cameras consistent with the User Manual and relevant Product specifications. Theia Technologies, at its option, will repair or replace a defective Product for a period of 2 years after purchase by the original buyer for covered defects. Shipment for warranty service must be accompanied by a return merchandise authorization (RMA) number which must be obtained from Theia Technologies. Shipment to Theia Technologies will be paid for by the customer. Shipment after repair or replacement of the Product will be paid by Theia Technologies and shipped by ground service unless the customer requests and pays for expedited shipping charges.

Theia Technologies, at its option, will repair or replace a defective Product for a period of 2 years after purchase by the original buyer for covered defects. Shipment for warranty service must be accompanied by a return merchandise authorization (RMA) number which must be obtained from Theia Technologies. Shipment to Theia Technologies will be paid for by the customer. Shipment after repair or replacement of the Product will be paid by Theia Technologies and shipped by ground service unless the customer requests and pays for expedited shipping charges.

Returns for non-warranty issues will only be accepted within 60 days after the purchase by the original buyer, subject to a 15% restocking fee. Shipment for returns must be accompanied by a return merchandise authorization (RMA) number which must be obtained from Theia Technologies. All expenses for shipping and insurance for the return will be borne by the buyer. It is the customer’s responsibility to ensure that the Products are adequately packed to avoid damage during shipping.

Theia strives to conduct our business in a sustainable, ecological and socially responsible manner and seeks to ensure our suppliers do as well. Adherence to norms for RoHS and REACH are monitored and current certifications can be found on our Qualifications & Certifications page.

Theia affirms that no conflict minerals are used in Theia products. Theia actively checks with our suppliers and subcontractors to ensure they do not use conflict minerals either.

Theia’s data privacy policy.

Theia is certified to ISO 9001:2015 quality standards and uses factories that are certified to the same standard, as well as to ISO 14001 environmental standards. Adherence to norms for CE, RoHS, REACH, and Conflict Minerals are monitored and current certifications can be found on our Qualifications & Certifications page.

Please find a certificate of conformity and other certifications on our Qualifications & Certifications page.

Theia sells throughout the value chain with a different price schedule for each role in the supply chain and volume discounts within each schedule. We do our best to honor the efforts that our distribution partners make on our behalf to promote our products around the world. Please let us guide you to the right channel to purchase Theia lenses.

Theia’s lenses are supplied worldwide through our distribution partner network. Theia lenses are also available through numerous OEM camera manufacturers, under the Theia brand or under their own brand.

Check our distributor locator to find a distributor in your area. Most of our distributors are nation-wide or regional and have a virtual presence, so rather than a physical address we provide a web and email address as well as phone number.

Theia regularly provides demonstration samples to our OEM camera company and distribution partners. You may want to ask your local sales or technical representative at those companies if they have a Theia lens sample to try. If they do not, we can also make samples available for evaluation; please contact us to request a sample. Theia participates in leading security, machine vision and other industry events and exhibitions where you may also see our lenses in action; find upcoming events.

Theia has a gallery of applications images and video and on our YouTube channel you will find video clips. If you are not able to find an image that is representative of your application, please contact us and we can search our archives for one that does, or possibly simulate an image matching your use/application. Find a list of exhibitions where you may see a demo. Or if you would like to request a sample to evaluate for yourself, contact us.

Theia participates in leading security, machine vision and other industry events and exhibitions where you may see our lenses in action; find upcoming events.

See Theia’s standard terms and conditions of sale and warranty.

All returned Products must include all accessories (for example: lens caps, desiccant, bubble wrap) and documentation (operations manual) included in the original shipment and the original lens containment box. Upon inspection by Theia Technologies and verification that the returned Product is in like-new condition Theia will issue a credit to the buyer for all undamaged Products. For warranty returns, see the Warranty section above.

Theia’s unit prices do not include shipping. Theia usually ships FCA Wilsonville, Oregon, USA from our warehouse at headquarters; larger orders (minimum 600-unit shipments) may be shipped from the factory in Indonesia via air freight forwarder at Theia’s discretion. Theia can ship against your courier shipping account or can prepay the shipping and add it to your invoice.

MOQs depend on the product type. A $10 handling fee per order is charged for order quantities smaller than a full 20 unit box for non-motorized lenses or a full 25 unit tray for motorized lenses.

Contact us.