Abstract: A composite photography system of a registered matte type having foreground and background camera optical systems is provided. The respective images from each camera optical system are maintained in registration whereby objects in the background scene can be viewed by one camera and objects in a foreground scene can be viewed by the other camera to produce a realistic composite image. The optical systems permit the maintenance of a substantially constant magnification ratio of image to object during a variable focussing of at least one of the foreground and background optical systems. Additionally, substantially stationary entrance pupil positions are maintained during the focussing mode of operation. The background lens system is, by itself particularly adapted for incorporation into optical scanning probes such as simulators to provide a minimum altitude and constant image magnification during focussing.

Abstract: A telescopic optical system adapted to form an image of an object of interest which is only slightly angularly displaced in space from a bright object such as the sun. The optical system is pointed directly at the object of interest such that the geometrical image of the sun is not within its field of view. However, radiation from the sun is of such great intensity that radiation diffracted into the optical system may be many times greater than radiation forming the image of interest. In the preferred embodiment the image of interest is positioned beyond the hundredth diffraction ring of the sun. Undesired diffracted radiation is substantially reduced by apodizing the edge of the entrance aperture to the optical system to change the diffraction pattern of the solar radiation. In a first embodiment, the edge of the entrance aperture is apodized by placing a saw tooth pattern along selected edges of the aperture.