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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CANON EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
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Start HereNew to lens design? Begin with the basics →Articles & Guides
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.
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.
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
View all articles →Recently Added
CANON EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
Oct 30, 2026
16 ELEMENTS / 12 GROUPS · DESIGN f = 18.60–193.23 mm · DESIGN F/3.60–5.88
NIKON AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED VR
Oct 30, 2026
15 ELEMENTS / 11 GROUPS · DESIGN f = 18.4–102.0 mm · DESIGN F/3.6–5.8
OLYMPUS M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 12-200mm f/3.5-6.3
Oct 30, 2026
16 ELEMENTS / 11 GROUPS · DESIGN f = 12.36-196.04 mm · DESIGN F/3.60-6.47
PENTAX HD DA 55-300mm f/4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE
Oct 30, 2026
14 ELEMENTS / 11 GROUPS · DESIGN f = 56.50–291.19 mm · DESIGN F/4.60–6.48
SIGMA 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS | Contemporary
Oct 30, 2026
22 ELEMENTS / 16 GROUPS · DESIGN f = 103.00–387.40 mm · DESIGN F/5.15–6.50
SIGMA 15mm f/2.8 EX DG DIAGONAL FISHEYE
Oct 30, 2026
7 ELEMENTS / 6 GROUPS · DESIGN f = 15.3 mm · DESIGN F/2.8
PANASONIC LEICA DG VARIO-ELMARIT 8-18mm f/2.8-4.0 ASPH.
Oct 29, 2026
15 ELEMENTS / 10 GROUPS · DESIGN f = 8.27–17.24 mm · DESIGN F/2.90–3.99
View all updates →Patent-derived optical models44 articles & guides on numerous topics