3D Pop calculator
This interactive calculator helps you determine whether a camera lens is Flat, Mostly Flat, Mostly Poppy, or Highly Poppy, based on its optical design.
The formula used here is inspired by the insightful video “Flat vs Poppy Lenses” by Dirty photography club, which explores how the number of LD (Low Dispersion) elements, the total number of optical elements, and the complexity of lens groups influence the visual character of a lens.
🔍 How does it work?
The main formula is:
- Flat: The lens has 4 or more LD elements.
- Mostly Flat: The lens has 3 or fewer LD elements, and LD glass makes up 10% or more of the total elements.
- Mostly Poppy: The lens has 3 or fewer LD elements, LD glass makes up less than 10%, and the average group complexity is ≤ 1.27.
- Highly poppy : The lens has 3 or fewer LD elements, LD glass makes up less than 10%, and the average group complexity is > 1.27.
Some examples
| Name | #LD el. | #Elements | #Groups | Results |
| Fuji 1.4/35 R | 1 | 8 | 6 | Mostly flat |
| Sony 1.8/55 ZA | 3 | 7 | 5 | Mostly flat |
| Sony 1.4/35 GM | 3 | 14 | 10 | Mostly flat |
| Sony 1.8/85 | 1 | 9 | 8 | Mostly flat |
| Sony 1.2/50 GM | 3 | 14 | 10 | Mostly flat |
| Sigma 1.2/50 DG DN | 4 | 17 | 12 | Flat |
| Sigma 2.8/45 DG DN | 2 | 8 | 7 | Mostly flat |
| Sigma 2/35 DG DN | 1 | 10 | 9 | Mostly flat |
| Sigma 2/50 DG DN | 4 | 11 | 9 | Flat |
| Sigma 2/65 DG DN | 3 | 12 | 9 | Mostly flat |
| Voigtlander 1.4/35 Nokton Classic E | 0 | 8 | 6 | Highly poppy |
| Zeiss Loxia 2/35 | 1 | 9 | 6 | Mostly flat |
| Zeiss Loxia 2/50 | 0 | 6 | 4 | Highly poppy |
| Zeiss Biogon 2/35 ZM | 0 | 9 | 6 | Highly poppy |