Science for the Curious Photographer, 2nd Edition

CHAPTER 6 Elementary Optics: How Do Lenses Work?

 

 

Now, let’s have some fun. Let’s “fool the light,” so that all the paths take exactly the same amount of time.

—RICHARD P. FEYNMAN

 

 

I will start with a few basic rules of optics and show how they work in simple lenses. Of course, science is not just a list of independent rules, and it should be recognized that these rules can be derived from more general laws of physics. The rules are not only consistent with Maxwell’s electromagnetic theory, but they can be derived from the quantum theory of photons and electrons. Showing how all that works is really the fun part for those who enjoy physics and mathematics. An introduction to these ideas can be found in Appendix B.

The most important ...