What was the initial magnification range of early Dutch spectacle-makers' devices?
Answer
Around 3x or 4x
The initial optical instruments developed by 17th-century Dutch spectacle-makers were relatively crude devices. These early telescopes employed a specific combination of lenses, usually a convex objective lens paired with a concave eyepiece. This specific configuration resulted in low levels of magnification, which historical accounts quantify as being typically in the range of approximately three to four times the object's actual size. Because of this low power, they were initially regarded more as novelties or practical tools for viewing distant objects on Earth, such as military reconnaissance, rather than serious instruments for deep astronomical study.
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