A measure of optical distortion where light rays passing through the edge of a lens do not converge at the exact same point as rays passing through the center. It is measured perpendicular to the optical axis at the focal plane. This causes a blurred or smeared image rather than a sharp point of light.
The lateral aberration on this cheap condenser lens is throwing a nasty halo around the gobo projection.
Also heard as
- transverse aberration
Related terms
Chromatic aberration
Color fringing caused by a lens failing to focus all wavelengths at the same point.
Coma
An optical aberration where off-axis light rays focus into a comet-like blur rather than a sharp point.
Optical axis
The imaginary straight line passing through the center of curvature of a lens or optical system.
Focal plane
The flat surface perpendicular to the optical axis where an image is sharply formed.