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Message: <blockquote data-quote="elkcub" data-source="post: 1762302" data-attributes="member: 14473">Brian,Two basic issues are involved: (1) image degradation, and (2) consciousness of color fringing.1.  Chromatic aberration is an equal-opportunity optical flaw; it degrades image quality equally for everyone.2.  Consciousness of color fringing is what people mean when they say it bothers them.  This varies between individuals, some being more aware of it than others.  The optics of the normal human eye produce considerable CA, but no one is particularly conscious of it.  This is because the brain is able to suppresses awareness of constant signals that contain no new or useful information.  However, the brain is still expending energy to process the useless signals.  For example, if one habituates to the drone of a lawn blower (some people can actually do that), one immediately becomes aware when it stops.  And there is a sense of relief.  In the case of instrument CA, even those who are able to suppress consciousness of it completely, still become aware of the improved image when it is reduced.  This is also often accompanied by the feeling that observing has become less stressful and more comfortable.  End of postcard.Ed</blockquote>