Do I have a poor lense?

[fuse04]

I would very much appreciate your advice as I am still very new to this. My walkaround lense is a Sigma 17-70 but I am now on my third (new) copy under warranty. I am still unhappy with the barrell distortion I appear to be getting when shooting wide....would you expect this much distortion?

thanks

 

[Code]

Distortion won't generally be a product of a bad copy of a lens but rather just the lens design (unless you are just unfathomably unlucky ). All the reviews of this lens I can find note average barrel distortion for a lens of this zoom range & price, but certainly not outside the range of an easy and effective fix with software.

 

[fuse04]

Distortion won't generally be a product of a bad copy of a lens but rather just the lens design (unless you are just unfathomably unlucky ). All the reviews of this lens I can find note average barrel distortion for a lens of this zoom range & price, but certainly not outside the range of an easy and effective fix with software.

thanks code that makes sense. Sigma have alreday replaced two lenses without question. The retailer has told me today that SIgma have stated it is within tolerance; strange as they haven't seen the lense nor the photo's ! Apparently my last lense was changed for goodwill as it was also within tolerance....the returned repair sheet and new lense said nothing about this.

 

[fuse04]

any other views on whether you would expect this level of distortion?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

My foremost thought is that you are not happy with the distortion. I don't think that I would be either. If Sigma feels it is within tolerance then I would probably be returning it and looking for a different walk around. I have a Tamron 17-50 for my walk around and do not get that distortion at the wide end so I am surprised by the Sigma.

 

[Code]

Here are 3 different reviews of the Sigma 17-70, all 3 note the barrel distortion at the wide end:

http://www.ephotozine.com/equipment/tests/testdetail.cfm?test_id=415
http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/sigma_1770_2845/index.htm
http://www.slrgear.com/reviews/showproduct.php/product/349/cat/10

The Tamron 17-50 that KAT4DISNEY mentioned will have slightly less barrel distortion at the wide end but slightly more pincushion at the long end.

 

[Anewman]

The Tamron 17-50 that KAT4DISNEY mentioned will have slightly less barrel distortion at the wide end but slightly more pincushion at the long end.

17-50mm vs 17-70mm

I think the TAMRON produces less distortion period, but mostly because it is easier to produce a lens with less distortion if that lens has a smaller focal range.

 

[pjacobi]

I don't think this distortion is a result of the lens, but rather as a result of tipping the lens up above the horizon. Almost any wide angle lens will produce this same result.

To avoid this problem, keep the camera level with the horizon.

Note that barrel distortion produces *curved* line, but all lines in these photos are straight and caused by tilting the camera upward.


-Paul

 

[fuse04]

I don't think this distortion is a result of the lens, but rather as a result of tipping the lens up above the horizon. Almost any wide angle lens will produce this same result.

To avoid this problem, keep the camera level with the horizon.

Note that barrel distortion produces *curved* line, but all lines in these photos are straight and caused by tilting the camera upward.


-Paul

I had no idea it would make so much difference......now I feel embarrased

thanks so very much