Wide angle lens and camera system for peripheral field of view imaging including eight lenses of ---++-++ or nine lenses of ----++-++ refractive powers

A wide angle lens having an angular field of view, FOV, of more than 150 degrees spanning an optical axis and a central half-field of view, FOV1/2, spanning the optical axis such that a ratio of the angular range FOV1/2 of the central half field of view versus the angular range of the field of view FOV is FOV/FOV1/2=2, the lens being constructed and arranged such that a ratio of a diameter (D1) at an image plane of an image circle of the field of view versus the diameter (D1/2) of an image circle of the central half-field of view is D1/D1/2>2 and comprising a region of interest disposed between the FOV1/2 and FOV, wherein the lens has a longitudinal spherical aberration throughout the region of interest less than half of the longitudinal spherical aberration on-axis.