Ngaphambilini, lapho ukhetha ama-lens, abathengi bavame ukubeka kuqala imikhiqizo kuqala. Idumela labakhiqizi abakhulu bamalensi ngokuvamile limelela ikhwalithi nokuzinza ezingqondweni zabathengi. Kodwa-ke, ngokuthuthukiswa kwemakethe yabathengi, "ukusebenzisa ukuzithokozisa" kanye "nokwenza ucwaningo olunzulu" kube yizici ezibalulekile ezithonya abathengi banamuhla. Ngakho-ke amakhasimende anaka kakhulu imingcele yamalensi. Kuwo wonke amapharamitha ilensi, inani le-Abbe libaluleke kakhulu lapho uhlola amalensi.
Inani le-Abbe liyisilinganiso sezinga ukukhanya okuhlakazeka noma okuhlukaniswa ngalo lapho kudlula ilensi. Ukuhlakazeka kwenzeka noma ngasiphi isikhathi lapho ukukhanya okumhlophe kwephulwa kube yingxenye yemibala yayo. Uma inani le-Abbe liphansi kakhulu, khona-ke ukuhlakazeka kokukhanya kuzobangela ukushintshashintsha kwechromatic okubonakala embonweni womuntu kufane nothingo oluzungeze izinto ezibukwayo ikakhulukazi eziqashelwa eduze kwemithombo yokukhanya.
Isici saleyo lens ukuthi ukuphakama kwevelu ye-Abbe, i-peripheral optics izoba ngcono; lapho inani le-Abbe eliphansi liwukuthi, ukuphambuka kwechromatic kuzoba ngaphezulu. Ngamanye amazwi, inani le-Abbe eliphakeme lisho ukuhlakazeka okuphansi kokubona okucacile, kuyilapho inani eliphansi le-Abbe lisho ukuhlakazeka okuphezulu nokufiphala kombala okwengeziwe. Ngakho-ke uma ukhetha amalensi okubona, kungcono ukhethe amalensi anevelu ye-Abbe ephezulu.
Lapha ungathola inani le-Abbe lezinto eziyinhloko zamalensi emakethe:
