Winkelgetreue

Winkelgetreue is a German term that translates to "angle-true" or "angle-accurate." It is most commonly used in the context of optical instruments, particularly lenses and prisms, to describe their ability to reproduce angles accurately. When a lens or prism is winkelgetreue, it means that the angles between lines in the object being viewed are preserved in the image formed by the optical system.

This property is crucial in applications where precise angular measurements are important. For instance, in surveying equipment, microscopes, and telescopes, winkelgetreue components ensure that the spatial relationships between objects are not distorted by the optics. A lack of winkelgetreue can lead to errors in measurement and misinterpretation of visual data.

The opposite of winkelgetreue is "winkelverzerrt" or "angle-distorted." Optical aberrations can cause angle distortion. Therefore, manufacturers strive to create optical elements that exhibit high degrees of winkelgetreue for demanding scientific and technical applications. The degree of winkelgetreue can be quantified and is a key specification for optical performance.