Scioptric ball
Encyclopedia
The scioptic ball is a universal joint allowing an optical instrument mounted on a ball to be swiveled to point anywhere in a wide arc. It was inspired by studies of the human eye. It has a number of applications. The scioptic ball may provide a firm anchor for a microscope
, camera
or telescope
allowing it to be swiveled in all directions, for example to follow the course of an eclipse
or for drawing panoramic views
. Scioptric balls have been used as camera obscura
s, projecting images from the outside on walls in darkened rooms. Scioptric balls have been used simply as light sources. It was an early example of a type of wide-angle lens
.
(1585-1636), professor of mathematics and oriental languages, developed the scioptic ball in 1636. In 1685, Johann Zahn
illustrated a large workshop camera obscura
for solar
observations using the telescope and scioptic ball.
Microscope
A microscope is an instrument used to see objects that are too small for the naked eye. The science of investigating small objects using such an instrument is called microscopy...
, camera
Camera
A camera is a device that records and stores images. These images may be still photographs or moving images such as videos or movies. The term camera comes from the camera obscura , an early mechanism for projecting images...
or telescope
Telescope
A telescope is an instrument that aids in the observation of remote objects by collecting electromagnetic radiation . The first known practical telescopes were invented in the Netherlands at the beginning of the 1600s , using glass lenses...
allowing it to be swiveled in all directions, for example to follow the course of an eclipse
Eclipse
An eclipse is an astronomical event that occurs when an astronomical object is temporarily obscured, either by passing into the shadow of another body or by having another body pass between it and the viewer...
or for drawing panoramic views
Panorama
A panorama is any wide-angle view or representation of a physical space, whether in painting, drawing, photography, film/video, or a three-dimensional model....
. Scioptric balls have been used as camera obscura
Camera obscura
The camera obscura is an optical device that projects an image of its surroundings on a screen. It is used in drawing and for entertainment, and was one of the inventions that led to photography. The device consists of a box or room with a hole in one side...
s, projecting images from the outside on walls in darkened rooms. Scioptric balls have been used simply as light sources. It was an early example of a type of wide-angle lens
Wide-angle lens
From a design perspective, a wide angle lens is one that projects a substantially larger image circle than would be typical for a standard design lens of the same focal length; this enables either large tilt & shift movements with a view camera, or lenses with wide fields of view.More informally,...
.
History
Daniel SchwenterDaniel Schwenter
Daniel Schwenter was a German Orientalist, mathematician, inventor, poet, and librarian. He was professor of oriental languages and mathematics at the University of Altdorf...
(1585-1636), professor of mathematics and oriental languages, developed the scioptic ball in 1636. In 1685, Johann Zahn
Johann Zahn
Johann Zahn was the seventeenth-century German author of Oculus Artificialis Teledioptricus Sive Telescopium...
illustrated a large workshop camera obscura
Camera obscura
The camera obscura is an optical device that projects an image of its surroundings on a screen. It is used in drawing and for entertainment, and was one of the inventions that led to photography. The device consists of a box or room with a hole in one side...
for solar
Sun
The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields...
observations using the telescope and scioptic ball.