Lens distortion. Any cure?

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OK, found. Scroll to the part under "extras".

http://www.digitalsecrets.net/secrets/D70/D70FAQ.html

very nice illustration indeed.

too bad its not a freeware... so many scripts..

 

[photopurist]

I certainly cannot lay claim to be an expert in large format photography, although 90% of my photography is with large format equipments. I am just a newie who like to work with the "big" camera.

I think yOngcheng is talking about the distortion inherent in certain lenses, especially with the very wide angle ones.

I do not use very lenses with my large format, so I do not see obvious "distortions" down to 80mm with my 4x5. There are perspective changes with wide angles, and telephotos for that matter. But distortions inherent in a lens?

Can you advise how a large format equipment can reduce distortions inherent in lenses? I am not talking about "distortions" like perspective changes.

Hey dude,
It is you again! You seem to have a thing against me. Can we sit down together some time, have beer and talk?

First of all, I say "some" distortion problems. Of course what is in a lens cannot be cured by having either large or small formats. We can tweak a little in Photoshop. But I am beginning to dislike Photoshop these days. So I will try to solve my problems even before the actual shoot. Photoshop, to me, is simply the last resort.

 

[eikin]

Just curious, since technology is so advance now..
Are there any softwares that are able to cure lens distortion? Noise images can be cure by Noiseninja and ect. I realise this problem after I shot some images with super wide angle. Anyone?

hmmm ... this is definitely OT, but just to share my view ... i do not know of any software or sort that 'cures' or 'corrects' distortion caused by using wide angle lens, but unlike 'digital noise', i don't find distortions a problem. i'll prefer to work the distortion into the picture ... in fact i love distortions created by WA lens

 

[student]

Hey dude,
It is you again! You seem to have a thing against me. Can we sit down together some time, have beer and talk?

Nothing against you at all! Just making things clearer rfr myself and others.

I could not understand how largeformat movements can cure distortions as you suggested in your first post. My experience in largeformat is really lacking. I do not have formal photography education like you have. So there must be things that I am not aware of. Perspective changes using movements, definitely. But the kind of lens distortions that this thread is talking about? That was why espn asked you to read the starting post again. But you stuck to your point, and I wrote to seek clarification.

Surely, my question was reasonable?

 

[student]

i don't find distortions a problem. i'll prefer to work the distortion into the picture ... in fact i love distortions created by WA lens

That was my suggestion in the first place. An example is using very wide lenses, distortions are often apparent. Sometimes knowing how the lens work can minimise these distortions. But as you said, sometimes distortions can be used to good effect.

An example is the use of distortions in Bill Brandt's nudes. Take a look at these images. Quite amazing!

 

[Ansel]

hmmm ... this is definitely OT, but just to share my view ... i do not know of any software or sort that 'cures' or 'corrects' distortion caused by using wide angle lens, but unlike 'digital noise', i don't find distortions a problem. i'll prefer to work the distortion into the picture ... in fact i love distortions created by WA lens

Agree with you on this point. We have to take distortions as part and parcel of a wide angle lens, especially the super wides where distortions are more obvious, and in some cases can be used to great artistic effect.

However, if you are using a wide angle lens for panoramic stitching purposes, then lens distortion becomes a serious nuisance because it makes it tricky when adjacent frames don't overlap nicely due to distortions. The PTlens tool suggested by the earlier poster is actually part of a suite of Panoramic Tools (PT). The amazing thing about these tools is that they are all freeware!! :thumbsup:

Hey photopurist and student, lighten up, and yes, let's have some beer and wine sometime.