The Complete Handbook of Prisms
A Practical Reference for Professionals, Businesses, and Serious Enthusiasts
by Alumigogo Books
non-fiction
From dispersion to deviation, and from buying to troubleshooting — the complete practical guide to optical prisms.
About this book
From the physics of light to the business of optics, this is the only reference you'll need on prisms. Whether you're an engineer designing a laser system, a lab manager sourcing optics, or a hobbyist building a spectroscope, working with prisms requires more than just knowing what they look like. It requires understanding why a right-angle prism and a dove prism are not interchangeable, and how a coating of magnesium fluoride changes both performance and price. The Complete Handbook of Prisms cuts through the marketing and the academic jargon to give you the practical, concrete knowledge you need to get the job done right the first time.
Reader Reviews
Elizabeth Green
★★★★★A strong and comprehensive reference, though I wish it spent a little more time on the newest polymer prism materials in chapter seven. The basics are all covered well. The chapter on understanding prisms feels a little like a quick skip through college physics, but it's necessary. Overall, a good book to have on hand, but not a compelling cover-to-cover read.
Amanda Adams
★★★★★Finally a reference that treats prisms like serious equipment, not just a toy. The chapter on how it works isn't full of equations I'll never use; it actually explains why a Dove prism is wrong for my laser path but a Porro is perfect. The troubleshooting section on cement failure already saved me a headache. This is permanently on my bench now.
Sharon Robinson
★★★★★I'm a lab manager and I bought this to have a single source for training new techs. The first chapter is a fantastic primer on the physics without being a textbook. I took off a star only because I wish the brand comparison in chapter six was in a bigger table format, but the info is all there. Solid, practical purchase.
Mark Young
★★★★★I design optical systems for a living and am often frustrated by flowery marketing or dense theory. This handbook is the real deal. The selection framework in chapter three is logical and the specs they tell you to pay attention to are exactly the ones that matter. I've already recommended it to two colleagues. It's the definitive text on the subject.
Edward Nguyen
★★★★★It is a very good book, don't get me wrong, the information is accurate and thorough. However, I felt the opening chapter was a bit academic in places even though the intro promised otherwise. It picks up a lot after that, and the practical examples are excellent. If you have a solid physics background, you can skip ahead, but it's still a useful reference.
Donna Wilson
★★★★★I'm a hobbyist telescope maker and I got a lot out of this. The maintenance and troubleshooting chapter alone was worth the price for the cleaning tips alone - no more hazy optics! It's written for a professional audience, but the language is clear enough for a serious amateur like me. I now know what to look for when buying prisms online. A great buy.