COMPACT OBJECTIVE LENS WITH TWO LENS GROUPS

A lens system for a folding reflex camera is provided. The system includes: (a) a first group on the object side of the system's stop which (i) has a positive dioptric power, (ii) includes an aspheric surface, and (iii) has a concave surface adjacent to the stop; and (b) a second group on the image side of the stop consisting of either a single positive component or the combination of a single positive component and one or more focusing elements. The system includ es at least two elements made of materials differing in dispersive powers where at least one of the elements is of plastic. The syste m may comprise one or more aspheric surfaces. The system can comprise just two plastic elements and even with such a simple co nfiguration achieves excellent optical performance including a relatively flat field, relatively low distortion and at least partia l correction for lateral chromatic aberration.