1.
lens
lens; a piece of curved glass or plastic used in optical devices like cameras, eyeglasses, or microscopes
レンズ is a loanword from Dutch "lens" (originally from Latin "lens" meaning lentil, due to the shape). It refers to any optical lens used for focusing light.
Types
- コンタクトレンズ (contact lens)
- 望遠レンズ (telephoto lens)
- 広角レンズ (wide-angle lens)
- 単焦点レンズ (prime lens)
- ズームレンズ (zoom lens)
- 凸レンズ (convex lens)
- 凹レンズ (concave lens)
Common collocations
Photography
In camera contexts, レンズ often refers to interchangeable camera lenses. Japanese camera manufacturers (Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm) are world leaders in lens production.
Register: Neutral. Standard technical and everyday vocabulary.