SPIE Press 2006 (The International Society for Optical Engineering); Hardcover, 7-1/4 x 10-1/4", 320 pages.

This book is an exploration and appreciation of cameras and their optics, covering all major lens types from the earliest to the most recent--including those roving the surface of Mars. A recurrent theme of this book is that lens types invented in the 19th century are just as useful in the 21st century. Another continuing theme is the impact of the digital revolution and the use of imaging in radically new circumstances. This book should be of interest to any who are curious and want to know more about the glass on the front of their cameras.

Features:
CONCEPTS AND TECHNIQUES
Introduction - Films and Emulsions - Electronic Image Sensors - Limiting Resolution of Image Sensors - Silver and Silicon - Cameras as Systems - Basic Geometrical Optics - Aberrations - Basic Physical Optics - Designing Camera Lenses - How to Handle Vignette - Optical Glass - Evaluating Camera Lens Performance - Spatial Frequency Response of Lenses - How Camera Lenses Perform Stopped Down - Optics-Limited or Detector-Limited - Choosing your camera

LENSES FOR LARGE-FORMAT 4 X 5 FILM CAMERAS:
Pre-Anastigmatic Early Lenses - Symmetrical Anastigmats - Higher Performance and Modern Anastigmats - Wide-Angle Lenses

LENSES FOR SMALL-FORMAT 35MM FILM AND DIGITAL CAMERAS
Moderate-speed Standard Lenses - High-speed Standard Lenses - Wide-Angle Lenses - Tele-Lenses - Zoom Lenses

SPECIAL-PURPOSE OPTICS
Astrocameras - Telecentric Machine-Vision Metrology Lens - Ultraviolet and Infrared Lenses - Widescreen Movie Systems - The MARS ROVER Camera Lenses

Timeline of Advances and Milestones

Optical Prescriptions