In article
>In article <5g201c$ig1@newsstand.cit.cornell.edu>, d_ruether@hotmail.com (Bob
>Neuman) wrote:
>> In article <5g1cui$nb3@hearst.cc.macalester.edu>, weinstein@macalstr.edu
>> says...
>> >Is the Nikkor 24mm MF known for strong distortion (barrel I think) at the
>> >edges? Is this just a natural effect of wide angle or are there 24mm
>> >lenses w/ low distortion? (squares become very, very noticeable
>> >parallelograms and rhombi at the side.)
>> Hmmm, methinks you may be mixing concepts...
>> "Distortion" refers to the ability (or lack thereof...;-) of the lens
>> to conform to the rules of the particular perspective type it was
>> intended to comply with - with the 24mm (as with most lenses), that
>> is "rectangular" perspective, in which all subject straight lines are
>> rendered straight in the image. The 24mm f2.8 Nikkor typically renders
>> subject straight lines placed parallel with the frame edges and very
>> near to them as very nearly straight lines - but straight lines placed
>> away from the frame edges and well away from the center (where all
>> straight lines are rendered straight regardless of the amount of lens
>> distortion) do show fairly strong barrel-type distortion.
>> "Distortion", refering to converging lines, widened proportions near
>> the frame edge, squashed circular subjects placed near the frame corners,
>> and exaggerated depth, is not truly distortion (since the rules of
>> the perspective type may be adhered to, and still show these things),
>> but are characteristics of rectangular perspective carried to a wide
>> angle of view (indicating by its strangeness that we perhaps do not
>> ourselves see in rectangular perspective...;-), with a tilted frame,
>> and/or with an unusually close viewpoint... Hold the lens straight,
>> remove people from the edges and corners, and keep a normal distance,
>> and all the "distortions" disappear, except for the linear distortions
>> typical of retrofocus (SLR) wideangles (non-retro wides have other
>> problems...). Personally, I prefer a smooth barrel distortion to any
>> other type (even to no distortion with some subject material, since
>> some barrel distortion reduces the edge/corner wideangle
>> rectangular-perspective effects).
>> Hope This Helps
>Hey Bob, you really know your stuff! Jeff Fletcher (ps what do you do at
>Cornell?)
Hmmm, glad someone finally noticed! ;-), ;-), ;-)
And, nothing, really, just look at it on the opposite hill from
me through the window next to my computer upon which I one-fingeredly
peck out these endless diatribes on some of the rec.photo/video groups...;-)
"Hope This Helps" (aka by other names...;-)