An optical system for providing an image of a scene, the optical system comprising: a first lens comprising; (a) a first lens element that is substantially a sphere having a center at a first position, the first lens being dimensioned and arranged to form a first image of the scene at a first spherically shaped image field, the first lens element comprising; (i) a first hemisphere having a first surface whose center of curvature is located at the first position; and (ii) a second hemisphere having a second surface whose center of curvature is located at the first position; wherein the first lens element imparts a first aberration with a first magnitude on light that transits the first lens element; (b) an entry lens shell having a substantially uniform thickness and a center of curvature at the first position; and (c) an exit lens shell having a substantially uniform thickness and a center of curvature at the first position; wherein the first lens element interposes the entry lens shell and exit lens shell, and wherein the first lens element, the entry lens shell, and the exit lens shell collectively impart the first aberration with a second magnitude on light that propagates through the first lens, and wherein the second magnitude is less than the first magnitude; and a plurality of cameras, each camera comprising a second lens and a sensor array; wherein the system is characterized by: the first aberration being selected from the group consisting of spherical aberration and chromatic aberration; and each second lens being operative for relaying a portion of the first image field onto its respective sensor array, wherein the second lens and sensor array collectively define a unique optical axis for their respective camera, and wherein at least one second lens of the plurality thereof is operative for reducing the magnitude of the first aberration in its relayed image portion. a first lens comprising; (a) a first lens element that is substantially a sphere having a center at a first position, the first lens being dimensioned and arranged to form a first image of the scene at a first spherically shaped image field, the first lens element comprising; (i) a first hemisphere having a first surface whose center of curvature is located at the first position; and (ii) a second hemisphere having a second surface whose center of curvature is located at the first position; wherein the first lens element imparts a first aberration with a first magnitude on light that transits the first lens element; (b) an entry lens shell having a substantially uniform thickness and a center of curvature at the first position; and (c) an exit lens shell having a substantially uniform thickness and a center of curvature at the first position; wherein the first lens element interposes the entry lens shell and exit lens shell, and wherein the first lens element, the entry lens shell, and the exit lens shell collectively impart the first aberration with a second magnitude on light that propagates through the first lens, and wherein the second magnitude is less than the first magnitude; and (a) a first lens element that is substantially a sphere having a center at a first position, the first lens being dimensioned and arranged to form a first image of the scene at a first spherically shaped image field, the first lens element comprising; (i) a first hemisphere having a first surface whose center of curvature is located at the first position; and (ii) a second hemisphere having a second surface whose center of curvature is located at the first position; wherein the first lens element imparts a first aberration with a first magnitude on light that transits the first lens element; (i) a first hemisphere having a first surface whose center of curvature is located at the first position; and (ii) a second hemisphere having a second surface whose center of curvature is located at the first position; (b) an entry lens shell having a substantially uniform thickness and a center of curvature at the first position; and (c) an exit lens shell having a substantially uniform thickness and a center of curvature at the first position; a plurality of cameras, each camera comprising a second lens and a sensor array; wherein the system is characterized by: the first aberration being selected from the group consisting of spherical aberration and chromatic aberration; and each second lens being operative for relaying a portion of the first image field onto its respective sensor array, wherein the second lens and sensor array collectively define a unique optical axis for their respective camera, and wherein at least one second lens of the plurality thereof is operative for reducing the magnitude of the first aberration in its relayed image portion. the first aberration being selected from the group consisting of spherical aberration and chromatic aberration; and each second lens being operative for relaying a portion of the first image field onto its respective sensor array, wherein the second lens and sensor array collectively define a unique optical axis for their respective camera, and wherein at least one second lens of the plurality thereof is operative for reducing the magnitude of the first aberration in its relayed image portion.