multilens

Multilens is an optical arrangement that uses two or more lens elements to form or control an image. The term encompasses systems where multiple lenses are combined in a single housing or in a sequence to modify light before it reaches a sensor or display. Multilens designs aim to improve image quality, expand functionality, or adjust field of view.

In camera optics, multilens configurations are standard. Lenses are designed as a compound assembly, often with different refractive powers and shapes, to correct aberrations such as spherical aberration, coma, and chromatic aberration. Zoom lenses, for example, use groups of elements moved relative to one another to change focal length while maintaining focus, while fixed focal length sets use multiple elements to optimize resolution and brightness.

Beyond photography, multilens systems appear in projection devices, light-field and plenoptic cameras, and virtual reality headsets, where arrays of lenses help capture or deliver information across a range of viewpoints. In microscopy, multilens objectives combine several lens elements to achieve high numerical aperture and accurate color rendition across the field.

Challenges of multilens designs include precise alignment of elements, refractive index matching, and coating quality to minimize reflections. Manufacturing cost and size increase with the number of elements, and calibration may be required to maintain optical performance, especially under varying temperature and mechanical stress.

Related topics include compound lenses, achromatic and apochromatic designs, zoom optics, and plenoptic imaging.