Is focus a plane to plane affair?

[pgk]

I wonder if Leica may reduce lens quality and correct lens aberrations in their software rather than producing better lenses as in the past.

Certainly true of Leica lenses which can 'talk' to the camera, but not so much for M lenses which can only relay their focal length.

[Drew Wiley]

Unlike our malleable curved retina, film is flat. That fact is not lost on optical designers, and in fact, controllable curvature surfaces do exist, especially in very sophisticated astronomical mirrors. But that kind of thing is way way beyond ordinary photographic budgets and realistic bulk and weight requirements. So the necessary correction has to be made to the lens itself, as best as possible given the likely photographic application.

It must have been fun to be an actual optical engineer like Jason. I once worked with a man who engineered the optics for the Pioneer satellite program, and now his son works for NASA in his stead. But I'm too stupid at physics for much of anything except a torque wrench; and torquing lenses themselves just results in shattered glass, so I don't carry one around.

[Nodda Duma]

I’m not dead yet, Drew. And I still design optics. This time as head of the engineering department at the country’s largest optical shop.

[Tin Can]

Agree

but not with the spec on your 8X10 plate holder some of us bought

No worries, I will still buy your coated plates

I appreciate your dedication to REAL things

and willingness to lead with visible example

I’m not dead yet, Drew. And I still design optics. This time as head of the engineering department at the country’s largest optical shop.