Quality concave lenses
Description
Negative lenses form a reduced virtual image of a real object (as in door viewers). However, if inserted in a system such as a microscope upstream from an image plane, the image will be magnified and projected further. Such a lens is known in microscopy as a tube-length correction lens and in astronomy as a Barlow lens.
We offer these lenses either uncoated or AR coated: the crown lenses (the majority of the range) are coated for visible plus near-IR (450-900nm), and the SF11 high-index lenses have a single-layer AR coating for the visible (see curves).
These lenses can readily and quickly be supplied edged to your particular requirements if standard diameters do not suit. Simply click on the 'Modify' button and enter the size you require on the web form. We will get back to you very quickly to confirm your needs and can normally provide the edged lens within 5 working days.
|
Form |
planoconcave |
|
Diameter |
+0, -0.1mm |
|
Focal length |
±0.2mm (≤10mm) |
|
Scratch-dig |
|
|
Centration |
0.1mm (FL≤40mm) |
|
AR coating |
multilayer for 450-900nm (except SF11 lenses – SLAR). See below. |
|
Material data |
We give below typical reflectance (per surface) performance for the coated lenses. Two typical curves are shown for the 450-900nm coating. Curve 2 applies only to convex surfaces of short radius (R greater than 1.33 x dia.) and Curve 1 to all other surfaces.
Note that a few lenses (the NX type) have single layer AR coatings, this coating being very effective on a high-index glass. The second curve below shows performance for this coating.


Spherical aberration calculation
To calculate the spherical aberration of a system and evaluate its effect proceed as follows.
1. Calculate element contributions
For each lens element work out the wavefront aberration A:
A = ky4/f3
where y is the semi-aperture, or maximum ray height at the element (from an on-axis object); f is the element focal length, and the coefficient k depends on material, shape and conjugates and is given in the relevant section of this catalogue.
2. Sum contributions
Simply add the contributions algebraically to give the total wavefront aberration ΣA (deviation from the best-fit sphere).
3. Evaluate effect
If ΣA is less than λ/4 the system is diffraction limited and aberration can usually be neglected. For larger aberration, the geometrical spot diameter D is given by:
D = 8 ΣAv/y
where y is as above, for the last element, and v is the distance from this element to the image.
For further detail request our Technical Note ‘Spherical aberration’.

• Mounting (all items)
• Special AR coatings
• Edging to smaller diameters
For more details of your modification needs please enquire.
| Item code | Focal length (mm) | Diameter (mm) | Coating type | Back FL (mm) | Centre thickness (mm) | Edge thickness (mm) | Radius (mm) | Glass type | Price per item (£ GBP) |
Stock available | Volume discount available |
Datasheets & customisation options |
Select amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 NB 25 | 50 | 25 | AR coated 450-900nm | 51 | 1.5 | 4.7 | 25.8 | BK7 | £35.70 | ||||
| 40 NQ 16 | 40 | 16 | Uncoated | 41 | 1.5 | 3.1 | 20.9 | BK7 | TBA | Send us a stock query | |||
| 40 NQ 10 | 40 | 10 | Uncoated | 41 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 20.9 | BK7 | £18.51 | ||||
| 32 NQ 25 | 31.5 | 25 | Uncoated | 32.5 | 1.5 | 7.4 | 16.3 | BK7 | £23.11 | ||||
| 250 NQ 25 | 250 | 25 | Uncoated | 251 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 129 | BK7 | £20.09 | ||||
| 25 NQ 16 | 25 | 16 | Uncoated | 26 | 1.5 | 4.2 | 12.9 | BK7 | £20.09 | ||||
| 25 NQ 10 | 25 | 10 | Uncoated | 26 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 12.9 | BK7 | £18.51 | ||||
| 160 NQ 25 | 160 | 25 | Uncoated | 161 | 1.5 | 2.4 | 82.7 | BK7 | £20.09 | ||||
| 16 NQ 10 | 16 | 10 | Uncoated | 17 | 1.5 | 3.2 | 8.27 | BK7 | £18.51 | ||||
| 100 NQ 25 | 100 | 25 | Uncoated | 101 | 1.5 | 3 | 51.7 | BK7 | £20.09 | ||||
| 100 NQ 16 | 100 | 16 | Uncoated | 101 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 51.7 | BK7 | £19.36 | ||||
| 25 NT 25 | 25 | 25 | Uncoated | 25.8 | 1.5 | 6 | 19.6 | SF11 | £26.14 | ||||
| 10 NT 06 | 10 | 6.3 | Uncoated | 10.8 | 1.5 | 2.2 | 7.85 | SF11 | £18.51 | ||||
| 06 NT 04 | 6.3 | 4 | Uncoated | 6.9 | 1 | 1.4 | 4.95 | SF11 | TBA | Send us a stock query | |||
| 04 NT 025 | 4 | 2.5 | Uncoated | 4.4 | 0.75 | 1 | 3.14 | SF11 | £21.66 | ||||
| 04 NX 025 | 4 | 2.5 | Single-layer AR coated | 4.4 | 0.75 | 1 | 3.14 | SF11 | £49.43 | ||||
| 06 NX 04 | 6.3 | 4 | Single-layer AR coated | 6.9 | 1 | 1.4 | 4.95 | SF11 | £40.05 | ||||
| 40 NQ 25 | 40 | 25 | Uncoated | 41 | 1.5 | 5.6 | 20.7 | BK7 | £20.81 | ||||
| 63 NQ 16 | 63 | 16 | Uncoated | 64 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 32.6 | BK7 | TBA | Send us a stock query | |||
| 50 NQ 25 | 50 | 25 | Uncoated | 51 | 1.5 | 4.7 | 25.8 | BK7 | £20.09 | ||||
| 63 NB 25 | 63 | 25 | AR coated 450-900nm | 64 | 1.5 | 4 | 32.6 | BK7 | £34.36 | ||||
| 63 NB 16 | 63 | 16 | AR coated 450-900nm | 64 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 32.6 | BK7 | TBA | Send us a stock query | |||
| 40 NB 25 | 40 | 25 | AR coated 450-900nm | 41 | 1.5 | 5.6 | 20.7 | BK7 | £35.70 | ||||
| 40 NB 16 | 40 | 16 | AR coated 450-900nm | 41 | 1.5 | 3.1 | 20.9 | BK7 | £33.64 | ||||
| 40 NB 10 | 40 | 10 | AR coated 450-900nm | 41 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 20.9 | BK7 | £31.46 | ||||
| 32 NB 25 | 31.5 | 25 | AR coated 450-900nm | 32.5 | 1.5 | 7.4 | 16.3 | BK7 | £37.87 | ||||
| 250 NB 25 | 250 | 25 | AR coated 450-900nm | 251 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 129 | BK7 | £34.36 | ||||
| 25 NB 16 | 25 | 16 | AR coated 450-900nm | 26 | 1.5 | 4.2 | 12.9 | BK7 | £32.91 | ||||
| 25 NB 10 | 25 | 10 | AR coated 450-900nm | 26 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 12.9 | BK7 | £31.46 | ||||
| 160 NB 25 | 160 | 25 | AR coated 450-900nm | 161 | 1.5 | 2.4 | 82.7 | BK7 | £34.36 | ||||
| 16 NB 10 | 16 | 10 | AR coated 450-900nm | 17 | 1.5 | 3.2 | 8.27 | BK7 | TBA | Send us a stock query | |||
| 100 NB 25 | 100 | 25 | AR coated 450-900nm | 101 | 1.5 | 3 | 51.7 | BK7 | £34.36 | ||||
| 100 NB 16 | 100 | 16 | AR coated 450-900nm | 101 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 51.7 | BK7 | TBA | Send us a stock query | |||
| 25 NX 25 | 25 | 25 | Single-layer AR coated | 25.8 | 1.5 | 6 | 19.6 | SF11 | £40.05 | ||||
| 63 NQ 25 | 63 | 25 | Uncoated | 64 | 1.5 | 4 | 32.6 | BK7 | £20.09 | ||||
| 10 NX 06 | 10 | 6.3 | Single-layer AR coated | 10.8 | 1.5 | 2.2 | 7.85 | SF11 | £40.05 | ||||
For more information regarding stock availability icons, please see our shipping page.
