Sony A7Rii - Distortion using wide angle and slow shutter

[ChrisHeathcote]

I wondered if anybody else found this and is it something with the camera or the lens?

Basically I was shooting a lighthouse at dawn this morning using the Sony FE16-35mm f4 and when I got the photos back, it looked more like the leaning tower of Pisa. I was wondering is this down to the lens or the camera. I am editing in LRM (now LRCC) on the iPad and have enabled lens correction but wondered if I was missing something, I was using a 4” shutter

Here is the image ( I know there is a strong cast, this os due to the Cokin 3 Stop ND, never used before, however I will be investing in a better set)

 

[Mr Perceptive]

I would suggest that since both the lighthouse and the marker (RHS) are leaning in, that the camera was pointing upwards and not dead level.

 

[Kodiak Qc]

Distortion using wide angle and slow shutter

I would not associate one with the other… nor the body
for that matter. This is normal optical barrel effect of non
rectified wide angle.

Two remedies…

1. using the pin cushion tool — will solve the barrel
   effect but not the verticals
   
2. using the keystone tool — will solve the verticals
   but not the barrel effect

Making sure the combo is levelled will less exacerbate the
problem… less exacerbate but not solve.

 

[Mr Perceptive]

I would not associate one with the other… nor the body
for that matter. This is normal optical barrel effect of non
rectified wide angle.

Two remedies…

1. using the pin cushion tool — will solve the barrel
   effect but not the verticals
   
2. using the keystone tool — will solve the verticals
   but not the barrel effect

Making sure the combo is levelled will less exacerbate the
problem… less exacerbate but not solve.

I don't disagree with @Kodiak Qc but the fact that inwards distortion occurs below the halfway level in the image, does suggest it was pointing skywards. If it was just barrel distortion then this should be equally applied to both top and bottom of the image, unless of course the image has been cropped, then its an open field!!! @ChrisHeathcote you need to post an uncropped image if it has been cropped.

 

[ChrisHeathcote]

Thanks for the advice, I think from what has been said that it is down to it possibly pointing upwards, here is another that is sooc

 

[Mr Perceptive]

Thanks for the advice, I think from what has been said that it is down to it possibly pointing upwards, here is another that is sooc

View attachment 120815

Apply a vertical (or keystone) correction, and you'll be sorted

 

[mickledore]

Horizon is also way out.

 

[Kodiak Qc]

Horizon is also way out.

Yes, on the uncropped version.

 

[ChrisHeathcote]

Apply a vertical (or keystone) correction, and you'll be sorted

Yes, on the uncropped version.

Thanks for the help guys, I have to admit to being a bit of a newbie when it comes to taking landscape seriously. I’m trying to push myself to improve this year

Horizon is also way out.

Thanks, although I’d hardly say 0.58 is way out

 

[mickledore]

Thanks, although I’d hardly say 0.58 is way out

That may be my mistake. Looking again that's a cloud bank on RH side not the sea level.
Note to self....look closer next time

 

[ChrisHeathcote]

Haha, don’t worry about. Thank you for taking the time to comment anyway

 

[HoppyUK]

I would not associate one with the other… nor the body
for that matter. This is normal optical barrel effect of non
rectified wide angle.

Two remedies…

1. using the pin cushion tool — will solve the barrel
   effect but not the verticals
   
2. using the keystone tool — will solve the verticals
   but not the barrel effect

Making sure the combo is levelled will less exacerbate the
problem… less exacerbate but not solve.

It's a normal rectilinear wide-angle zoom, ie straight lines are rendered straight, it's not a fish-eye design. It may have a bit of residual barrel distortion though, most wide zooms do.

That's what happens with wide-angles when close to the subject and the camera is tilted up a bit. If vertical subjects are to be shown as vertical, the camera must be perfectly upright. If the camera has a leveling indicator/aid, then use that or a spirit level. It can be fixed in post processing, but you'll lose a lot of sky when the lighthouse is pulled straight.

 

[woof woof]

It's a normal rectilinear wide-angle zoom, ie straight lines are rendered straight, it's not a fish-eye design. It may have a bit of residual barrel distortion though, most wide zooms do.

That's what happens with wide-angles when close to the subject and the camera is tilted up a bit. If vertical subjects are to be shown as vertical, the camera must be perfectly upright. If the camera has a leveling indicator/aid, then use that or a spirit level. It can be fixed in post processing, but you'll lose a lot of sky when the lighthouse is pulled straight.

I'd expand that to distant subjects that are big enough in the frame to show the effect.

I have the grid lines on but no level as sadly with my A7 I can have the histogram or the level but not both and I choose to have the histogram. When using wider lenses I try to relate the subject to the grid lines.

 

[HoppyUK]

I'd expand that to distant subjects that are big enough in the frame to show the effect.

I have the grid lines on but no level as sadly with my A7 I can have the histogram or the level but not both and I choose to have the histogram. When using wider lenses I try to relate the subject to the grid lines.

No, it's the angle of tilt that causes it, and that reduces dramatically with distance. It's just a perspective effect, often referred to as 'converging verticals'. So it's common with wide-angles, much less so with telephotos when you have to move much further back to include the whole of the subject.

 

[woof woof]

No, it's the angle of tilt that causes it, and that reduces dramatically with distance. It's just a perspective effect, often referred to as 'converging verticals'. So it's common with wide-angles, much less so with telephotos when you have to move much further back to include the whole of the subject.

Hoppy. I know what it is but you're missing my point. You stated close objects but that needn't be the case. Of course it's the angle of tilt but things don't have to be close to the camera to show it. Yes it may be less visible with distance but shoot a big enough distant object when tilting the camera or look with a magnified view and see at what you'll get.

You don't even need a camera to see this, hold a picture frame up to the scene and reference the object to the sides of the frame, tilt your frame and see the effect.

 

[HoppyUK]

Hoppy. I know what it is but you're missing my point. You stated close objects but that needn't be the case. Of course it's the angle of tilt but things don't have to be close to the camera to show it. Yes it may be less visible with distance but shoot a big enough distant object when tilting the camera or look with a magnified view and see at what you'll get.

You don't even need a camera to see this, hold a picture frame up to the scene and reference the object to the sides of the frame, tilt your frame and see the effect.

You can call it how you like Alan, but it's just a perspective effect - how the relative size of things changes with distance. Close-to, relative size changes dramatically (wide-angle, exagerated perspective), further away, it doesn't (telephoto, flattened perspective).