How do I match a subsea dome to my lens, and what optics specs should I specify?

7. How do I match dome curvature to my lens?

A dome port works as part of an optical system, not as a transparent hemisphere on its own. To review the match, send us:

• Lens model, focal length and sensor format.
• Entrance-pupil position, if available.
• Your existing port or housing geometry.

We then review inner/outer radii, thickness uniformity, concentricity and the mounting position together. This catches integration risks before you pay for a prototype. A note on honesty: final image-quality acceptance — whether by analysis or underwater test — has to be defined separately and agreed in writing; we won't promise a sharp image on a drawing review alone.

8. What surface quality, clear aperture and concentricity should I specify?

When you write the RFQ, you can pin these directly:

• Clear aperture — the optical area that must meet spec.
• Surface quality — e.g. a scratch-dig grade, if your application needs it.
• Surface figure — only when your imaging truly requires it.
• Concentricity — alignment of the optical surfaces.

A practical caution: the tighter you set every parameter, the higher the cost and the longer the lead time. Set the specs your image actually needs — not the tightest number you can think of.

9. Why do I get edge blur or distortion with my dome port?

Usually it's not just "a bad dome." The common causes:

• Dome curvature and lens focal length don't match.
• Wall thickness isn't uniform across the aperture.
• The lens sits at the wrong distance from the dome.
• There's an unplanned medium (air, water, adhesive layer) between lens and dome.

Because it's a lens-plus-dome problem, swapping in a different dome alone may not fix it. Send us your lens model and we'll review the combination before you machine another housing.

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Related: browse the underwater optical dome product family, read the subsea optical dome engineering hub, or explore the subsea dome FAQ library.