"...mechatronics often demand a much higher level of precision than classical tools do, but mainly it is the difference that counts. Take as example the recent Leica Q. This is a complex and integrated opto-mechatronic product that can hardly be reviewed in the classical traditions. The Q has a very slim body and a relatively large lens unit. This lens unit incorporates a leaf shutter with certain dimensions and the optical construction must be such that all the light collected at the front will pass through to the sensor. There is also an optical stabilizer that requires an additional lens group. The AF has to be fast and this requires a lens group with hardly a moving mass and also a stepper motor that must be located somewhere in the lens unit. Looking at the lens with only the specifics of aperture and focal length (as we do when looking at Leica M lenses) is the wrong way. The lens is now an opto-mechatronic unit and should be evaluated as such. This does not mean that classical parameters as performance should be neglected. Again on the contrary. The fact that the Q offers a digital zoom with the classical Tri-Elmar steps (28-35-50) implies that to hold the image quality over this range the performance of the lens must have a reserve or excess-performance that may not be visible when looking at the 28-setting, but in comparison with the 50-setting becomes important."
Quelle ("mechatronics" 20/06/15 09:05):
http://www.imx.nl/photo/blog/