Surface & Stop
Interactive Camera Lens Cross-Section Visualizer
Explore real camera lens designs built from optical patent data. Trace rays through multi-element systems, adjust focus and aperture in real time, inspect individual elements, and analyze chromatic aberrations.
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KONICA FL-HEXANON AR 300mm f/6.3
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Articles & Guides
Spherical Aberration: Start Hereguide
Aug 7, 2026
A brief introduction to spherical aberration and a choice between a concise photographer-focused guide and a full technical treatment.
Lens Stories from the Manufacturersguide
Jul 27, 2026
A company-by-company index of official lens design and development articles, cross-linked to matching interactive lens diagrams on Surface & Stop.
Cardinal Points of a Lensguide
May 1, 2026
A gentle introduction to focal, principal, and nodal points — the six reference locations that define how any lens forms an image.
Lens Dimensions and Distancesguide
May 1, 2026
A beginner-friendly tour of the five first-order distances — EFL, BFD, FFD, hiatus, and total track — that summarize a lens as a geometric object.
From Achromat to APO: Chromatic Correction, Optical Glass, and the Evolution of Color-Corrected Lensesarticle
Apr 29, 2026
The evolution of chromatic control in lenses
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KONICA FL-HEXANON AR 300mm f/6.3
Sep 1, 2026
9 ELEMENTS / 5 GROUPS · 300mm f/6.3 (MARKETED) · EFL 299.705 mm (TRACED)
KONICA HEXANON 135mm f/3.5
Sep 1, 2026
4 ELEMENTS / 4 GROUPS · f = 134.995mm DESIGN · F/3.5
KONICA HEXANON 60mm f/1.2 L
Sep 1, 2026
7 ELEMENTS / 6 GROUPS · 60mm MARKETED / 58.2635mm DESIGN EFL · f/1.2 MARKETED / F1.24 DESIGN
NIKON AF-S DX ZOOM-NIKKOR 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED
Aug 31, 2026
14 ELEMENTS / 10 GROUPS · 17.55-52.70 mm DESIGN · F/2.89-2.91 DESIGN
NIKON AF-S DX ZOOM-NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II
Aug 31, 2026
7 ELEMENTS / 5 GROUPS · 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 (MARKETED) · 18.5-53.5mm f/3.56-5.90 (EXAMPLE 4)
NIKON AF-S DX ZOOM-NIKKOR 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED
Aug 31, 2026
15 elements / 13 groups (physical count) · 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5 (production) · 18.7-67.9mm f/3.6-4.6 (Example 1)
KONICA ZOOM-HEXANON AR 35–70mm f/3.5
Aug 29, 2026
9 ELEMENTS / 9 GROUPS · 35–70mm · f/3.5-f/22
View all updates →Patent-derived optical models41 articles & guides on numerous topics