Linslag

Linslag is a term used in optics and photography to describe a classification of lens designs based on their internal construction and intended application. The concept serves to distinguish how many optical elements are assembled, the types of glass and coatings used, and the arrangement of elements to correct aberrations. Typical linslag categories include simple or single-element lenses, achromatic doublets, apochromatic triplets, and more complex multi-element systems. Additional distinctions are often made for designs aimed at particular tasks, such as wide-angle, telephoto, macro, and fisheye lenses.

The choice of linslag affects image quality factors such as geometric and chromatic aberration, sharpness, field of view, distortion, and transmission. In historical catalogs, linslag was used to summarize a lens's structural concept before more detailed specifications were developed. Today, lens specifications focus on focal length, maximum aperture, image circle, and aberration specs, while the broader notion of linslag remains a helpful framework in optical engineering and education for understanding how lens construction relates to performance.

See also: optics, lens design, camera lens, aberration.