In optics, an image-forming optical system is a system capable of being used for imaging. Related topic: List of optical topics Optics (appearance or look in ancient Greek) is a branch of physics that describes the behavior and properties of light and the interaction of light with matter. ... Imaging refers to the science of obtaining pictures or more complicated spatial representations, such as animations or 3-D computer graphics models, from physical things. ...

The two traditional sytems are mirror-systems (catoptrics) and lens-systems (dioptrics), although in the late twentieth century, optical fiber was introduced. Optical fibers Optic Fibres are a crazy new invention by the famous physics geniusDr Hartnett, born in a barn, Dr Hartnett is a dirty Liverpool fan, but one who is much loved by his pupils especially his best friend Carl Roberts!!He loves optic fibres and has them all...

Isaac Newton is reported to have designed what he called a catadioptrical phantasmagoria, which can be interpreted to mean an elaborate structure of both mirrors and lenses.

Catoptrics and dioptrics have a focal point, whilst optical fiber transfers an image from one plane to another without an optical focus. A focal point may mean the same as focus. ...

Catoptrics and optical fiber have no chromatic aberration, whilst dioptrics need to have this error corrected. Isaac Newton believed that such correction was impossible, because he thought the path of the light depended only on its color. Chromatic aberration is caused by the dispersion of the lens material, the variation of its refractive index n with the wavelength of light. ...

In 1757 John Dollond was able to create an achromatised dioptric, which was the forerunner of the lenses used in all popular photographic equipment today. 1757 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... John Dollond (June 10, 1706 - November 30, 1761) was an English optician. ...