Lens Collection (#18)

Biconvex lens model, 19th century
Biconvex lens model. This model is designed to show students of optics how light rays passing through a biconvex lens invert the image of an object

17th Century microscope, artwork
17th Century microscope. Historical artwork of a microscope built in the second half of the 17th Century by the Italian watchmaker and optician Giuseppe Campani (1635-1715)

Gecko eye lens, SEM
Gecko eye lens. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a freeze fractured lens (crystalline lens) from a geckos eye. The cells are in a stacked linear, fibre-like arrangement

Historical microscope, artwork
Historical microscope. 18th Century artwork of a microscope designed to observe aquatic organisms. This device was invented by the Swiss naturalist Abraham Trembley (1710Ôé¼" 1784) in 1747

Eye anatomy. Cutaway artwork passing vertically through a human eye, showing its internal anatomy and structure. The front of the eye is at left, and the structures here include the cornea

Leeuwenhoeks microscope, 17th century. This is one of the early microscopes used by the Dutch scientist Antonie van Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723)

Laser reading digital pits on a CD / DVD
Computer artwork showing light emitted by a laser diode being focussed onto a compact disc by a small lens. The metal disc underneath is etched by a laser beam to produce the microscopic pits which

Optical effects in shallow sea water
Optical lens effects in shallow sea water show coloured fringing as the uneven water surface forms temporary and imperfect lenses which split incident light into its constituent colours (like a prism)

Surface of a lens

Mutant fruit fly compound eye, SEM
Mutant fruit fly compound eye. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the abnormal compound eye of a mutant fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster)

Camera lens

Augustin Jean Fresnel, French physicist
Augustin Jean Fresnel (1788-1827), French physicist. Fresnel qualified as an engineer, but was temporarily removed from his government post in 1815 for supporting the Royalists against Napoleon

Confocal microscope, artwork
Confocal light microscope, artwork. Confocal microscopy uses fluorescent dyes to highlight tissues, cellular structures and proteins in the samples being analysed

Glasses in a denim pocket

Eye lens fibres, SEM
Eye lens fibres. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a freeze-fracture of a lens of an eye, showing the regular arrangement of fibres

Compound eye of wasp, SEM
Compound eye of wasp, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). This is the eye of a digger wasp (family: Sphecidae). The eye consists of hundreds of individual structures called ommatidia

Concentrating sunlight, 17th century
Concentrating sunlight. Illustration showing various methods of concentrating sunlight in order to ignite some material. The main illustration depicts a lens mounted on a castle turret being used to

Converging lens. Musical score being viewed through a converging lens. This magnifies the musical notes, making them easier to read. For the same scene through a diverging lens, see image A210/020

Chromatic aberration, seen through a lens that is also showing the words chromatic aberration. Unless it is engineered to be achromatic, a lens will separate light that passes through it

Lens forming image of lamp
Lens forming an image of a lamp. The image of a carbon filament lamp is inverted and projected on to a screen in a darkened room

Diverging lens. Musical score being viewed through a diverging lens. This expands the field of vision and allows more notes to be seen. For the same scene through a converging lens, see image A210/019

Newtons rings on clouds
Newtons rings. This is an optical effect that is produced by interference between light reflected from a hemispherical surface and a flat plane. It can be caused by photographic lenses

Focusing light. Light rays passing through a lens are focused inwards to a point. When light passes from one optical medium to another in which it travels at a different speed

Refraction. Computer artwork showing the refraction of light beams through a biconvex lens. Light changes direction, or is refracted, when it meets a different transparent medium such as a lens

Compound eye of a gnat, SEM
Compound eye of a gnat. Scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the surface of a compound eye from a fungus gnat (suborder Nematocera). The eye consists of many rounded lenses known as ommatidia

Beetle compound eye, light micrograph
Beetle compound eye. Polarised light micrograph of a portion of the compound eye of a great diving beetle (Dytiscus sp.), showing the massed circular lenses of the simple eyes, the ommatidia

Dogfish head, transverse section
Dogfish head. Light micrograph of a transverse section through the head of a lesser spotted dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula), in the region of the eyes (upper left and upper right)

Rabbit eye, longitudinal section
Rabbit eye. Light micrograph of a longitudinal section through the eye of a rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). The rabbit has a typical mammalian eye structure

BASEBALL: CAMERA, c1911. Herman A. Germany Schaefer, baseball player for the Washington Senators, using a camera, New York. Photograph, c1911

German pillbox WWI
Destroyed German pillbox near Lens in Pas de Calais, France, during World War I

German observation post 1917
A German observation post on the Lens Arras Road on the Western Front in France during World War I in June 1917

Smile
A woman with a camera adopts a photographers pose for - another photographer

Camera Obscura
A camera obscura, invented in 1558 by Porta, can be set up in a tent, with a lens and mirror on top and a suitable surface inside onto which the view is projected

Point Vincente Lighthouse lens, Palos Verdes Peninsula, Los Angeles, California, United States of America, North America

a mans eye
Ashley Cooper / SpecialistStock

Stereoscopic Viewer 19C
A stereoscopic viewer, with a stereoscopic card in place

Bakers Mounted Lens
Bakers mounted lens microscope

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"Lens: Unveiling the World through Optics and Vision" Step into a world of wonder as we explore the captivating realm of lenses. From Sir Isaac Newton's groundbreaking work in his masterpiece "Opticks" to unraveling the mesmerizing color spectrum, lenses have been instrumental in our understanding of light. Delve into the intricate anatomy of the human eye, where lenses play a vital role in focusing incoming light onto our retinas. Witness how artists throughout history have skillfully depicted this remarkable feature, capturing its essence on canvas for eternity. Travel back to the 17th century and discover René Descartes' revolutionary optics theory that laid the foundation for modern lens technology. Marvel at camera lenses, which enable us to freeze moments in time with unparalleled clarity and precision. Take a closer look at nature's ingenious creation - the compound eye of a fly - magnified under an SEM Z340/0698 microscope. Appreciate its complexity and marvel at how it inspired advancements in lens design. Learn about The Royal Society's endorsement of skilled lens-grinders during the 1600s, recognizing their invaluable contributions to science and innovation. Explore Kilauea Lighthouse perched majestically on Kilauea Point, Hawaii – guiding ships safely with its powerful lens since 1913. Reflect upon history as you visit Vimy Canadian Memorial near Lens, Nord Pas de Calais – a poignant tribute honoring those who fought valiantly during World War I. Discover how cameras equipped with lenses captured these significant moments forever etched in our collective memory. Transport yourself to 1894 when hand-held stereoscopic cameras revolutionized photography; witness an advertisement from Stereoscopic Company showcasing their innovative products that brought images to life like never before. Witness firsthand how television cameras capture live events while skilled cameramen navigate every angle effortlessly. Celebrate your own roots by exploring your family tree through generations captured by various lenses throughout time. Finally, embrace the nostalgia of film cameras and their timeless charm.