An optical lens assembly comprising, in order from an object side to an image side: a) a first lens element with positive refractive power having a focal length f1 and having a convex object-side surface; b) a second lens element with negative refractive power having a thickness d2 on an optical axis, having a focal length f2, and separated from the first lens element by a first air gap, wherein the second lens element has a meniscus convex object-side surface; and further comprising: c) a third lens element with negative refractive power, having a focal length f3 and separated from the second lens element by a second air gap; d) a fourth lens element having a positive refractive power and separated from the third lens element by a third air gap, wherein the fourth lens element has a positive meniscus and a concave object-side surface; and e) a fifth lens element having a negative refractive power and separated from the fourth lens element by a fourth air gap and having a thickness d5 on the optical axis, wherein the fifth lens element has a negative meniscus and a concave object-side surface; wherein the fourth air gap is smaller than 1.5d5, wherein 1.2 × f3 > f2 > 1.5 × f1, wherein a lens system that includes the lens assembly plus a window positioned between the fifth lens element and an image plane has a total track length, wherein a ratio between TTL and an effective focal length of the optical lens assembly is smaller than 0.9, wherein f1 is smaller than TTL/2, wherein the third air gap is greater than TTL/5, wherein the first lens element has a low dispersion by having an Abbe number greater than 50 and the second lens element has a high dispersion by having an Abbe number smaller than 30, wherein the third element has a low dispersion and the fourth and fifth lens elements have different dispersions to help in minimizing chromatic aberration, wherein all lens element surfaces are aspheric, and wherein a F# of the optical lens assembly is smaller than 3.2. a) a first lens element with positive refractive power having a focal length f1 and having a convex object-side surface; b) a second lens element with negative refractive power having a thickness d2 on an optical axis, having a focal length f2, and separated from the first lens element by a first air gap, wherein the second lens element has a meniscus convex object-side surface; c) a third lens element with negative refractive power, having a focal length f3 and separated from the second lens element by a second air gap; d) a fourth lens element having a positive refractive power and separated from the third lens element by a third air gap, wherein the fourth lens element has a positive meniscus and a concave object-side surface; and e) a fifth lens element having a negative refractive power and separated from the fourth lens element by a fourth air gap and having a thickness d5 on the optical axis, wherein the fifth lens element has a negative meniscus and a concave object-side surface; wherein the fourth air gap is smaller than 1.5d5, wherein 1.2 × f3 > f2 > 1.5 × f1, wherein a lens system that includes the lens assembly plus a window positioned between the fifth lens element and an image plane has a total track length, wherein a ratio between TTL and an effective focal length of the optical lens assembly is smaller than 0.9, wherein f1 is smaller than TTL/2, wherein the third air gap is greater than TTL/5, wherein the first lens element has a low dispersion by having an Abbe number greater than 50 and the second lens element has a high dispersion by having an Abbe number smaller than 30, wherein the third element has a low dispersion and the fourth and fifth lens elements have different dispersions to help in minimizing chromatic aberration, wherein all lens element surfaces are aspheric, and wherein a F# of the optical lens assembly is smaller than 3.2.