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Home → Photography Tutorials

What is Spherical Aberration?

By Nasim Mansurov 21 Comments
Last Updated On December 10, 2019

Spherical Aberration is an optical problem that occurs when all incoming light rays end up focusing at different points after passing through a spherical surface. Light rays passing through a lens near its horizontal axis are refracted less than rays closer to the edge or “periphery” of the lens and as a result, end up in different spots across the optical axis. In other words, the parallel light rays of incoming light do not converge at the same point after passing through the lens. Because of this, Spherical Aberration can affect resolution and clarity, making it hard to obtain sharp images. Here is an illustration that shows Spherical Aberration:

Spherical Aberration

As shown above, light rays refract or change their angle when passing through the lens. The ones closer to the top and the bottom of the illustration end up converging at a shorter distance along the optical axis (black/red dotted line), while the ones closer to the optical axis converge at a longer distance, creating different focal points along the same axis. The point of best focus with the “circle of least confusion” is illustrated as the thick green line. Spherical Aberration is not just caused by lens design, but also by the quality of the lens material. Lenses made of poor quality material and large bubbles can drastically impact light refraction.

A perfect lens would have all light rays converge in a single focal point, as illustrated below:

Corrected Spherical Aberration

The best focus point with the circle of least confusion is therefore located right on this focal point. A normal spherical lens design would not allow the above to happen though, so specialized precise methods by manufacturers have been developed over the years to reduce the effect of spherical aberration.

Ways to Reduce Spherical Aberration

Modern lenses employ different techniques to dramatically reduce spherical aberration. One of the methods employs using a specialized apsherical (meaning non-spherical) lens surface, which is curved outwards on one side for the sole purpose of converging light rays into a single focal point, as illustrated below:

Aspherical Lens

Spherical aberration is most pronounced when the diaphragm of the lens is wide open (maximum aperture). Stopping down the lens even by a single stop dramatically reduces spherical aberration, because aperture blades block the outer edges of spherical lenses. A clear example of this can be found in the focus shift article.

If you are interested in reading more, below is the list of articles on other types of aberrations and issues that we have previously published on Photography Life:

  • Field Curvature
  • Coma
  • Chromatic Aberration
  • Distortion
  • Vignetting
  • Ghosting / Flare
  • Diffraction
  • Focus Shift

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Filed Under: Photography Tutorials Tagged With: Advanced Photography Tips, Lenses, Spherical Aberration, Optics, Camera Terminology

About Nasim Mansurov

Nasim Mansurov is the author and founder of Photography Life, based out of Denver, Colorado. He is recognized as one of the leading educators in the photography industry, conducting workshops, producing educational videos and frequently writing content for Photography Life. You can follow him on Instagram and Facebook. Read more about Nasim here.

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MalcolmKyle
MalcolmKyle
January 28, 2018 3:34 am

Your explanation is greatly appreciated, Nasim. Thanks!

0
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Kasun
Kasun
September 23, 2017 10:30 pm

depth of field is occurred due to Spherical Aberration

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Mubeen Mughal
Mubeen Mughal
September 14, 2016 5:02 am

Nice and concise explanation, I knew it when I saw it but didn’t know what it was, but now I know.

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chetu jm
chetu jm
September 29, 2013 4:44 am

thank u sir today its really helped me thanks a lot

0
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EricD
EricD
February 23, 2013 5:56 pm

Might your aspheric lens work better the other way round ?
I’m thinking of the work of Descartes,
and fossil Trilobyte eyes !
comment image

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Nasim Mansurov
Nasim Mansurov
Author
Reply to  EricD
October 2, 2013 11:11 am

Eric, just noticed your message that you left in February of this year, as I was reviewing some of the old articles. You are absolutely right – my image was flipped and I don’t know how I let that one slip, LOL :) I have just fixed it and uploaded the correct version!

Thank you so much for your feedback.

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Tim Mielke
Tim Mielke
February 4, 2013 9:01 am

After reading your article I wasn’t sure how to apply the concept until the end. The idea of stopping down to reduce the amount of aberrations is brilliant. I have heard that lenses stopped down a couple stops from the maximum aperture are sharper. Know I now the science behind the principle. Thanks for the tip.

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Jean Bosco
Jean Bosco
October 25, 2012 2:11 am

Helpful explanation. Thanks Mr.Nasim

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Spectacular
Spectacular
September 23, 2012 9:34 am

Thanks for dis wonderful info. Am glad 2 say it was very helpful indeed. Keep up wit d gud work

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De REFORMER
De REFORMER
July 3, 2012 3:31 am

thanks; good work and keep it up

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harkabir
harkabir
October 15, 2011 10:39 pm

das ist gutt Mr Nasim :)

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peter
peter
Reply to  harkabir
October 18, 2011 3:25 pm

That’s about the only German I know, other than ‘Das ist alles’ which I told my German butcher at the end of an order. He taught me that phrase.

Es lebe die große Nation Deutschland!

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Reply

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