Why do compact cameras have a square front element?

[Jayceyned]

Maybe a seemingly random question, but I'm keen to understand why so many (nearly all from what I can see) compact digital cameras with telescopic lenses have a square / rectangular shaped front element to the lens - so few have a circular one as you would expect like am SLR?

My best guess is something to do with cost reduction in some way?

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated,

Thanks loads,

Jay.

 

[blade_922]

I have absolutely NO IDEA but i'll hazard a few guesses at it

Maybe something to do with the way light enters and hits the sensor
Maybe something to do with cost reduction as you said
Maybe something to do with the shutter opening and closing

 

[lawrie29]

Mass produced elements mean that there is a cost saving by using less materials in the lenses, so instead of having a fully circular one, they use less glass by having a rectangular one.

(dunno really, but sounds good!)

 

[GrittyShaker]

The front element has the same curvature, doesn't it? Otherwise you would get some weird distortion. My guess would be that it's easier to produce a fully circular element that will work with a lens that is designed to rotate in front of the sensor, as in an SLR. A compact camera lens just moves in and out, so the lens only needs to be big enough, and the same shape and proportion as, the sensor that is behind it.

I might be way off, but that's my guess.