How can lens quality influence chromatic aberration?

• A. Lenses have no effect on chromatic aberration.
• B. Only post-processing can fix CA.
• C. CA is a sensor issue.
• D. Higher-quality lenses and lens correction profiles can reduce CA.

Answer: (D)

Chromatic aberration shows up when different colors bend by different amounts as light passes through a lens, so the quality of the lens design and materials directly affects how much CA appears. Higher-quality lenses use advanced glass, extra optical elements, tighter tolerances, and coatings that reduce dispersion and color fringing, which helps keep colors sharp across the frame. In-camera lens correction profiles and post-processing can further minimize any residual CA, but the strongest influence comes from the lens itself. Cheaper lenses tend to exhibit more CA, especially at wide angles or when used wide open, whereas sensors don’t cause CA—the distortion comes from how the optics bend light.