Fundamentals of geometrical optics
The simulation of a complex optical system with a thin lens
The example in figure 45 shows an objective lens for 7 lens field of view, with focus positions and principal planes positions.
Figure 45
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H, H', F and F' suffice to perfectly define the system in the paraxial approximation.
The translation of the entire image space by vector
which do not modify the conjugate formulae in relation to H and H', as well as magnification, this complex objective can be perfectly simulated with a thin lens situated on H and H' and with the same focal distance.
Most complex optical systems in the air, made of thick lenses or of multi-lens optical sub sets can be studied in this way by replacing these elements with thin lenses.