Many camera and lens manufacturers make wide-angle lenses and say things about them not having any distortion. But that’s really not always true at all. Sure, you can fix it in post-production if anything. But that’s like buying a computer monitor with 5K resolution when it’s actually not 5K at all. It’s a lie. Some of that lie is hidden with in-camera correction data that isn’t even always activated. Indeed, this has become the problem with various lenses over the past decade. We saw it a lot with Fujifilm over the years — especially with their 16mm f1.4 lens. So here’s how you can spot issues with distortion easily.
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The In-Camera Movement Method
To find distortion in your lens, consider the in-camera movement method. This is where you slow the shutter speed down and equalize the exposure, then purposely move the camera up or down during the exposure. It reveals a lot about the lens. In the photo above, there is less distortion in the lens, but you can still see some of it near the corners.
In this image above, you see more distortion in the sides for sure. And below, the image was shot with the Sigma 14-24mm f2.8 lens. Sigma doesn’t say anything specifically about distortion. But the customers say that it’s low. Would you say that this is low distortion?
Here’s how to do this method:
- Set your camera to a slow shutter speed of anywhere 1/15 and below. Lower the ISO and perhaps even stop the lens down a bit.
- Focus on a subject in the middle of the frame
- Slide the camera up a bit
- As you’re releasing the shutter, pull the camera downward
What you’ll get is this in-camera painting effect. From there, you can see how straight the scene is. If anything, you have a nice artistic effect.
Other Ways to Get Rid of Distortion
Of course, there are other ways to get rid of distortion besides post-production. Several cameras on the market have the ability to offer distortion correction of some sort. Even if the camera doesn’t support the lens, you can sometimes dial in specific settings. Then, the camera will try to figure out what it thinks will work. OM System cameras, for example, have this. But it could also have adverse effects. Many cameras from Canon do this with Tamron or Sigma lenses when adapted and create these weird circular effects on the scene.
Get What You Pay For
You’re probably wondering why any of this is important. Well, if a brand promises zero distortion in a lens, then you should have zero distortion and no problems at all with it. Sometimes, distortion can be used very creatively. In fact, I use it this way all the time, and I care nothing for clinical lenses. But several photographers still care about that, unfortunately. So, when you’re shooting photographs, consider returning the lens for another copy. If several copies have the issue, then the brand is probably not telling the whole truth in its marketing.
It’s very important for people to do this alongside the reviewers and journalists like us. This is all just part of the misinformation game that camera and lens manufacturers play with customers in order to get sales. And overall, they just shouldn’t be lying to customers like this to begin with.