eli5: Why do cameras and other devices use more lenses and not just one more versatile lens?

Question

eli5: Why do cameras and other devices use more lenses and not just one more versatile lens?

In: 19

Answer 1

Different lenses focus light in different ways. If you want a single lens that can both focus for suuuuuuuper up close pictures, and also focus out to the horizon for landscapes, then it’s going to be enormous and expensive. Turns out it’s *so much easier* to just add a couple different lenses for a couple different purposes.