NEX 3 picture distortion

[Barquero2]

Why is it that images towards the horizontal edges of the frame in pictures taken with my Nex 3 fitted with the 16mm pancake lens are so distorted?

[Watashiwateshdes · Accepted solution]

Well the right term I can say it is "perfectly normal". I say perfectly because this what is expected when using wide angle lenses. Since the lens has to bend more light from a wider angle, the corners and edges especially are emphasised with having distorsion.

This is common on pretty much all wide angle lenses regardless of brands and without spending £100's on development and manufacturing, it cannot be solved that easily since those costs would end up being passed down to the customer.

What you will find is a few mm more like the 18-55 and that distorsion disappears the more you zoom. Since it starts using the most central part of the lens element which has less of a curve if that makes sense.

Hope that helps

[fine12]

Have you accidentally flipped the AF-MF switch on the lens, if so, flip it back to AF to enable auto focus.

[Watashiwateshdes]

There is no AF/MF switch on these lenses at the moment. It has to be done via the menu but that would not cause distorsion only out of focus/blurrer images.

[Barquero2]

Thanks.  That is the answer I expected!

[giornata]

You can reduce this distortion by using the lens correction filter in Photoshop, or Photoshop Elements.