Technical reference on geometric optics and lens design for photographers seeking to understand the optical principles behind their equipment. Examines light sources and propagation, the pinhole camera concept, refraction and reflection, simple and centered lens systems, and the full spectrum of optical aberrations—spherical, chromatic, astigmatism, coma, and field curvature. Discusses ray limitation, orthoscopy, image brightness, and depth of focus. Covers optical glass selection, principal lens types including astigmats and anastigmats, reflection and absorption losses in photographic lenses, and telephoto design. Provides working methods for calculating equivalent focal length, relative aperture, angle of view, focal lengths for specific plate sizes, and assessing lens quality. Features 57 technical illustrations. Originally translated from German, this material was serialized in American Photography magazine and serves as a practical workshop reference for understanding lens construction and optical performance.

Table of Contents:

Chapter I Sources and Propagation of Light .... 1
Chapter II The Pinhole Camera .... 5
Chapter III The Course of the Light Rays on Passing into another Medium .... 15
Chapter IV Refraction of Light at Several Planes .... 24
Chapter V Reflection of Light at a Curved Surface .... 32
Chapter VI The Simple Lens .... 41
Chapter VII Centered Lens Systems .... 51
Chapter VIII The Actual Realization of Optical Image Formation .... 65
A. Spherical Aberration of an Axial Pencil .... 67
B. Aberrations in the Imaging of a Small Surface near the Axis .... 74
C. Astigmatism .... 76
D. Coma .... 82
E. Curvature of Field .... 84
Chapter IX Limitation of the Rays .... 87
Chapter X Orthoscopy .... 94
Chapter XI The Brightness of the Image .... 98
Chapter XII Depth of Focus .... 110
Chapter XIII Color Aberrations and Optical Glass .... 120
Chapter XIV The Principal Types of Lenses .... 135
Part I. Astigmats .... 135
1. The Simple Collecting Lens .... 135
2. The Achromatic Collecting Lens .... 137
3. The Aplanat of A. Steinheil as Representative of the Symmetrical Objectives .... 138
4. A. Steinheil's Periscope .... 144
5. The Portrait Objective of J. Petzval .... 144
6. The Antiplanet of A. Steinheil .... 147
Part II. Anastigmats .... 148
1. The Protars of P. Rudolph .... 150
2. The Protar Set of P. Rudolph .... 151
3. Symmetrical Objectives with Cemented Elements .... 155
4. Von Höegh's Anastigmatic Meniscus .... 158
5. The Celor and Syntor of E. von Höegh .... 162
6. The Symmetrical Objective of the Gaussian Type .... 164
7. The Symmetrical Objectives with Cemented and Single Lenses .... 167
8. The Unar of P. Rudolph .... 168
9. The Unofocal of R. Steinheil .... 169
10. The Cooke Lens of H. Dennis Taylor .... 170
11. The Triplets with Collecting Cemented Surfaces of H. Harting and P. Rudolph .... 171
12. Objectives Corrected for the Secondary Spectrum .... 174
13. Conclusion .... 174
Chapter XV Reflection and Absorption in Photographic Lenses .... 178
Chapter XVI The Teleobjective .... 184
Chapter XVII Conclusion .... 194
A. Determination of Equivalent Focal Length .... 194
B. Determination of Relative Aperture .... 196
C. Determination of the Size of the Circle of Illumination and Angle of View .... 197
D. Determination of the Distance Relation from the Scale of Reduction .... 202
E. Focal Length for a Given Size of Plate .... 207
F. Determination of the Quality of Correction of a Lens .... 208
I. Chemical Focus .... 209
II. Focal Difference .... 210
III. The Extent of the Sharp Image .... 211
G. Technical Defects of the Lens .... 212
H. The Position of the Ray Filter with Relation to the Lens .... 213

Optics for Photographers

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