Peter Branch Posted July 2, 2014 Share #1 Â Posted July 2, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) I'm involved with a local Industrial Archaeology project and have been asked to produce some exhibition quality A3 prints of sites that were formally used by printers. Â My experience to date is that although the distortion of lenses, such as the 35mm 'lux FLE, is described by Leica as very low - barely detectable - etc. in practice it is sometimes quite intrusive when photographing this type of subject matter. Â I can correct the distortion, to a first approximation, using the function in ACR 8.4 but the complex nature of the distortion makes it quite difficult and the result is better but not perfect. Â Since Leica publish exact figures for the distortion of all current lenses is there any software which can utilise this data to do a much better job of distortion correction? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 2, 2014 Posted July 2, 2014 Hi Peter Branch, Take a look here Distortion Correction. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
wattsy Posted July 2, 2014 Share #2  Posted July 2, 2014 The lens profiles in ACR (not enabled by default) do a decent job of correcting the inherent distortion in current Leica lenses but if you need better you really should be using a more suitable lens (and, arguably, camera) in the first place. I have the 35 "FLE" and it wouldn't be my first choice for anything that is distortion critical. Obviously, it also pays to make sure you are using a properly levelled camera in the first place but I'm sure you will already know that. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/229840-distortion-correction/?do=findComment&comment=2622416'>More sharing options...
Peter Branch Posted July 2, 2014 Author Share #3 Â Posted July 2, 2014 The lens profiles in ACR (not enabled by default) do a decent job of correcting the inherent distortion in current Leica lenses but if you need better you really should be using a more suitable lens (and, arguably, camera) in the first place. I have the 35 "FLE" and it wouldn't be my first choice for anything that is distortion critical. Obviously, it also pays to make sure you are using a properly levelled camera in the first place but I'm sure you will already know that. Â Just the sort of advice I was looking for - thanks. It does a much better job than I can do manually. Â I well understand that there are more appropriate cameras and lenses. The issue is that as an amateur who cannot get tax allowances for depreciation etc. I'm somewhat obliged to use what I've got. I'd far rather buy another Leica M lens than an alternative camera for which I would have very limited use. Â The question arises as to which Leica lens, which absolutely has to be a wide angle for working in narrow Victorian streets, would be most appropriate. I'm forced to the conclusion, based on Leica's published data, that all the designs with focal length less than 50mm have noticeable complex "Negative", i.e. barrel, distortion. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted July 2, 2014 Share #4  Posted July 2, 2014 I'm forced to the conclusion, based on Leica's published data, that all the designs with focal length less than 50mm have noticeable complex "Negative", i.e. barrel, distortion.  I think that's probably correct. My only "wide" is the 28 Summicron and that certainly isn't free of distortion (though better, I think, than the 35 Summilux) but it does straighten up quite nicely using the ACR lens profile. I'm pretty sure the same will be true for the other wides for which there are Adobe lens profiles (see attached). Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/229840-distortion-correction/?do=findComment&comment=2622459'>More sharing options...
Nick_S Posted July 2, 2014 Share #5 Â Posted July 2, 2014 The question arises as to which Leica lens, which absolutely has to be a wide angle for working in narrow Victorian streets, would be most appropriate. I'm forced to the conclusion, based on Leica's published data, that all the designs with focal length less than 50mm have noticeable complex "Negative", i.e. barrel, distortion. The 35mm Summicron-M 35 mm f/2 ASPH lens has minimal pincushion (+ve), rather than barrel distortion. Older versions of the 35mm Summicron had even less distortion. Â Nick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Branch Posted July 2, 2014 Author Share #6  Posted July 2, 2014 The 35mm Summicron-M 35 mm f/2 ASPH lens has minimal pincushion (+ve), rather than barrel distortion. Older versions of the 35mm Summicron had even less distortion. Nick  You are absolutely correct - the reason I did not look at this one is that I sold mine because it never quite gave me what I wanted and expected.  As I've written elsewhere there was nothing wrong with it but compared with the 35mm f/1.4 'lux ASPH FLE it just seemed to underperform.  Please note: I know full well that there are forum members who are more than happy with the 35mm f/2 ASPH even declaring it to be their best and favourite lens - I respect that.  Regarding distortion, the ACR correction profile renders the problem imperceptible. So there is now no reason not to use the 35mm f/1.4 'lux ASPH FLE. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NightSun Posted July 5, 2014 Share #7 Â Posted July 5, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) Among 35mm M lenses, probably Zeiss Biogon f/2 is the one, which has the least (close to zero) distortion. If I were you, I would probably choose this for critical work. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted July 6, 2014 Share #8 Â Posted July 6, 2014 PT Lens by tom Nieman has perfect corrections or lenses that do not have simple distortion, ie barrel or pin cushion. Â If not in his data base, send a sample and he will compute corrections. Follow his instructions exactly exactly exactly on how to take a sample. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Geschlecht Posted July 8, 2014 Share #9 Â Posted July 8, 2014 Hello Peter, Â Welcome to the Forum. Â What happens when you put your lens/camera on a solid tripod w/ a large ball head & a cable release and then photgraph separately @ F5.6 & F8? You might also try F11. Don't forget your lens hood. Â Best Regards, Â Michael Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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