A new application that takes advantage of an ultrashort throw lens with a catadioptric relay (USTCR) is reported in this study. In an optical system for stereoscopic use, a high resolution of 4 K or higher and a field of view of 120° or greater are required to conform to the widening of a head-mounted display. In a conventional optical system, as the lens diameter increases, the stereo base becomes longer as the lens diameter increases, which gives a sense of incongruity to the 3D image. Because the pupil on the object side of the USTCR is formed, the USCTR can be used as a wide-angle stereoscopic optical system capable of reducing the stereo base. A wide-angle stereoscopic optical system with a half-field angle of approximately 126° and a stereo base of 62 mm is proposed.
