Final answer:
Wide-angle lenses offer a broad view and make the scene appear closer to the viewer. They are characterized by short focal lengths and the ability to focus on both near and distant objects in smartphones. Advanced systems use various techniques to correct aberrations and for image enhancements.
Step-by-step explanation:
Characteristics of wide-angle lenses include their ability to give a wide range of view, making them ideal for capturing more of the scene in front of the lens. Such lenses have a shorter focal length, typically around 4-5 mm for something like a smartphone camera. This short focal length contributes to a more extensive field of view as compared to lenses with longer focal lengths. When using a wide-angle lens, the image appears closer to the viewer than the actual object, giving a sense of immersion into the scene.
Wide-angle lenses are also used to make sure images of both distant and close objects are in focus within the restrictions of a fixed lens-to-image distance, as found in smartphone cameras. Advanced smartphones may apply computational techniques to improve image quality and correct aberrations, especially since the optics of these devices are fixed with stationary lenses. In more complex camera systems like DSLRs, different elements and larger diameter lenses are utilized to correct for various aberrations and gather more light for higher quality images
Lens characteristics can be calculated using equations like the lens/mirror equation and the magnification equation, which take into account the optical properties of the lens.