Why is the image formed by a camera lens inverted?
A camera lens produces an inverted image because it functions as a converging lens, typically a biconvex element, which redirects light rays to form a real image.12
When light rays from an object pass through a converging lens, they are refracted at both surfaces. For objects located beyond the focal length, the lens causes these rays to converge at a point in space behind the lens, creating a real image. Because the light rays from the top of the object are directed toward the bottom of the image plane and rays from the bottom are directed toward the top, the resulting projection is inverted. This process is governed by the principles of geometrical optics, where the lens effectively maps the object onto the focal plane in an upside-down orientation.3412