This second edition of Lens Design: Automatic and quasi-autonomous computational methods and techniques shows how these new tools can design systems in minutes that would have required weeks or months of labor using older methods. No practising lens designer’s toolkit is complete without the up-to-date and comprehensive knowledge presented here.

This second edition of Lens Design: Automatic and quasi-autonomous computational methods and techniques shows how these new tools can design systems in minutes that would have required weeks or months of labor using older methods.

Powerful search routines that can quickly produce excellent designs starting with plane-parallel plates are described. The principles are explained, and data files are provided so the user can duplicate these systems and learn how to use the new software to solve unexpected problems should they occur. Automatic substitution of real glass types for a glass model, and automatic matching to the testplates of a selected vendor are fully explained with examples.

Key Features

• Discusses the pros and cons of traditional design tools and the role of aberration theory today
• Explains the topology of the lens design landscape and why there are many different solutions
• Shows how to quickly achieve many potential solutions and how to select a preferred solution
• Describes tools for modifying a lens form by automatically inserting or deleting elements
• Lists a variety of tips and ideas that resulted from 50 years of experience