Lens distortion

ams99

ams99

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Name
Alan
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Hi all,

Following a recent family day out in London i discovered the meaning of lens distortion. Whilst taking the usual snaps of Big Ben and the houses of parliament with my 18-55 lens i was shocked at the level of vertical distortion. So much so that it looked as though the famous clock was about to topple over. Having tried photoshop lens distortion correction tool i eventually had to give in so severe was the lean.

Is there a way of taking photos at a fairly wide angle which will minimize the effects of vertical distortion?

Thanks.
 
This isn't lens distortion, it is perspective distortion. You reduce it by shooting horizontal to the ground or if you really want rid you need a tilt/shift lens.
 
Ah! So am i right in assuming that because i was inclining my camera upwards i was in effect exaggerating this perspective distortion?

If so, is that where i would benefit from a wide angle lens to capture the whole building without lifting the camera at an angle to capture the interesting top half?
 
ams99 said:
Nice one. Thank you Sir
Click to expand...

It's not that easy unfortunately. The problem is that you're close to the subject. If you use a wide lens, and it would have to be very wide to include the whole of Big Ben from the same side of the river, you must hold it absolutely horizontal. And that means you also get acres of foregound.

You can correct converging verticals in post processing, and even go quite a long way with it, but then you get the opposite effect and the subject begins to look top heavy. We're used to seeing subjects like that, at close range, with the top being smaller than the bottom, becuase it's closer to the camera. Tilt & Shift lenses work in a similar way, and have to be used with care for the same reason.

If you want buildings with square sides to look square, then you have to shoot from greater distance, with a longer lens.
 
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