Quantifies the range of angles over which an optical system can accept or emit light. In a single lens, it is proportional to the optics diameter and inversely proportional to the focal length.
It is the free space between the object plane (sample) and the first surface of the first element from the object in a complex lens (optical assembly) or the front edge of a single lens.
The focal length measures the strength of an optical system to converge (focus) or diverge light. It is related to the radius of curvature and inversely proportional to the optical power.
The field of view (FOV) of an optical system is the viewable area of the object seen at any given time, and at a fixed orientation, by an observer or a device such as a camera, microscope, or telescope.
The f/# is the ratio of the focal length, (f), of the lens to the effective aperture diameter. The larger the f-number, the smaller the aperture, and the lower the light throughput.
The clear aperture is the pupil of the system that preserves all specifications defined by the manufacturer. It is always smaller than the diameter of the optic.
Surface quality measures surface imperfections and is expressed by two numbers separated by a hyphen (scratch-dig). The first number refers to scratches and the second to digs or pits, where lower numbers indicate higher quality.