A zoom lens from scratch: the case for number crunching

摘要

The art of lens design has long been divided into two camps: theorists and number crunchers. Both camps have vocal supporters, both manage to get the job done, and both occasionally voice disdain for the other. This paper presents the case for number crunching-while recognizing the important contributions that theorists have made and continue to make. We illustrate this case by designing a zoom lens with no starting design and minimum direction from the designer. To this end we use a feature called ZSEARCHTMfound in the program SYNOPSYSTM.