> > A pop-up flash? It's got a relatively high-power converter to
> > generate flash voltages, high-power timing-accurate switching for P-
> > TTL, a
> > flash tube, a whole slew of precision mechanical linkages to
> > retract, etc.
>
> I disagree. The components of a small flash unit like this are so
> cheap that they can embed them into a disposable camera which sells,
> retail, for $4, today. The hinged cover over the prism housing and
> its latch are very low tech and cheap to manufacture.
>
> A precision lens coupling for aperture position sensing that has at
> least high enough accuracy to detect 1/3 stop position information is
> quite a bit more costly to assemble and calibrate.
>
This argument is hauntingly familiar to JCO's rantings of the $5
aperture coupling... see my post about the "computer mouse equivalent" of
the hardware. A pop-up flash requires stamped stainless parts, bushings,
a flash tube, a large-ish high-voltage capacitor, some mosfets for
voltage-boosting and switching, etc. An aperture coupling requires a few
bits of molded plastic, an LED, and a phototransistor.
-Cory
--
*************************************************************************
* Cory Papenfuss, Ph.D., PPSEL-IA *
* Electrical Engineering *
* Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University *
*************************************************************************
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