# Simulating real camera/lens optics in cycles

**URL:** <https://blenderartists.org/t/simulating-real-camera-lens-optics-in-cycles/1178145>\
**Category:** Lighting and Rendering\
**Created:** [September 2, 2019, 2:57pm UTC](https://blenderartists.org/t/simulating-real-camera-lens-optics-in-cycles/1178145 "2019-09-02T14:57:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Felix\_Kutt](https://blenderartists.org/user_avatar/blenderartists.org/felix_kutt/32/1905_2.png) [@Felix\_Kutt](https://blenderartists.org/u/Felix_Kutt)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 2020, 9:35pm UTC](https://blenderartists.org/t/simulating-real-camera-lens-optics-in-cycles/1178145/21 "2020-06-05T21:35:10Z")

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The reason CAD was recommended was because the lens has to be rather precise. But I have to agree, if the renderer can handle calculating it right then the limit surface of a nurbs/curve mesh should suffice. No matter if it comes from a CAD or any other modeler.

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**Author:** ![pixelgrip](https://blenderartists.org/user_avatar/blenderartists.org/pixelgrip/32/449774_2.png) [@pixelgrip](https://blenderartists.org/u/pixelgrip)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 2020, 10:01pm UTC](https://blenderartists.org/t/simulating-real-camera-lens-optics-in-cycles/1178145/22 "2020-06-05T22:01:39Z")

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> [@Anthony\_Steele](#):
>
> I think I had seen the same post at some point, but couldn’t find it. That’s one of the reasons I made this post, hoping someone would have a link.

I think you mean this thread?

> [@Advanced Optical Experiments!](https://blenderartists.org/t/advanced-optical-experiments/695835):
>
> Hey y’all. We’ve all used chromatic aberration in our projects, but the current method of creating it using the Lens Distortion node in the compositor is very limiting and not very accurate to the real world. I’ve been experimenting with recreating this effect optically, directly in cycles. Not only did I find a way to recreate a more realistic chromatic aberration effect, I’ve also found ways to recreate effects like longitudinal chromatic aberration, spherical aberration, cats eye bokeh, and v…

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**Author:** ![adyall](https://blenderartists.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/9e8a1a/32.png) [@adyall](https://blenderartists.org/u/adyall)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2020, 8:14am UTC](https://blenderartists.org/t/simulating-real-camera-lens-optics-in-cycles/1178145/23 "2020-06-08T08:14:34Z")

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Thanks Anthony - appreciate it!

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**Author:** ![zeealpal](https://blenderartists.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/z/f05b48/32.png) [@zeealpal](https://blenderartists.org/u/zeealpal)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2020, 11:48pm UTC](https://blenderartists.org/t/simulating-real-camera-lens-optics-in-cycles/1178145/24 "2020-06-09T23:48:23Z")

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There’s a nice example here by Fox on the LuxCore Forum:

[https://forums.luxcorerender.org/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1049#p12086](https://forums.luxcorerender.org/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1049#p12086)  
 ![image](https://blenderartists.org/uploads/default/original/4X/c/4/4/c44b0f72a310669eb0af3c939c0ebae29f737044.jpeg)

And I don’t know if you’ve read through this thread either:

> [@Virtual Lens from scratch with Grasshopper and Blender (LuxCore)](https://blenderartists.org/t/virtual-lens-from-scratch-with-grasshopper-and-blender-luxcore/1213126):
>
> You might ask yourself what this is and why it is in the gallery, but bear with me: The images you see are Luxcore renders done with bidir caustics. The photographic chart you see is only a caustic effect, the plane itself is white diffuse with no texture. Before I go into details: Watch the video below - it shows the whole process and will make everything much clearer. [[Virtual Lens from scratch with Grasshopper and Blender (LuxCore)] ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FpaBYwG8D0) after the video - here are some more details…

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