Wide Lens Talk - Barrel Distortion etc. Nikon (AIS,AF-D) 28mm, 24mm, 20mm

S

Story1kanobw

Member
I remember reading a Philip Bloom recommendation of the Tokina 11-16mm to go with the Canon 60D as the wide lens of choice. But he never mentioned the barrel distortion that goes with an aspherical lens. Forgive me if I'm using the term, barrel disortion if it should be "curve line of focus" or something like that. What I mean is when a close subect matter moves to the edges of the frame, curving is apparent. Or the slightly apparent curve look of the entire image. Although it is desireable at times, it is not the norm and not a cinema flat look. I realize that this is normal for an SLR wide lens - but which have, as well as good color and contrast, the least barrel distortion and light falloff (vignetting) on my new Canon 5D Mark2? For under $700.

For 28mm: I have the Nikon 28mm 2.8 AI-s, a stellar lens according to reviews, with minimal barrel distortion. Wish it was an F2 instead of a 2.8, so I bought the Canon 28mm 1.8 EF USM as well. I just started working with lighting in my film groups video so I expect 2.8 to be enough. Any comments about the Canon 28mm 1.8 as opposed to other fast 28mm lenses like Nikon 28mm f2 AIS, Olympus 28mm f2 (need a mod or special adapter on 5d)? I just really don't trust Canon lens color rendition etc. I know there's the Carl Zeiss Distagon 28mm 2.8, but i believe my Nikon is as good below F8 acording to reviews. Comments?


For 24mm: I have the Nikon 24 mm 2.8 AF-D. First thing I noticed when I slapped it on my 5dMark2 was the light fall off. I felt like I had lost a stop. I read some great things about the Minolta MD W.Rokkor-X 24mm f/2.8 - especially about it having very low barrel distortion. For a 5dM2 it would need a special adapter with glass. I've read good reviews from users, but data says below F4, with the glass adapter, contrast and detail really suffers. There's also the Zuiko 24mm F2. Comments? Other great 24mm lenses, with very low barrel distortion?

For low light and barrel distortion variety I'm considering is the Sigma 24mm 1.8 .

For 20mm: I'll probably get the Nikon 20mm Af-d. The Nikon 20mm AI-S has a huge stump on the rear of the lens that won't fit on a 5DM2 without filing. The zeiss 21mm 2.8 is expensive and Sigma 20mm 1.8 is asperical. Comments, suggestions on good 20mm lenses 2.8 or below (F2, 1.8 etc), with the low barrel distortion etc.

Lastly, having a 20mm, 24mm, and 28mm might be over kill. I really want the 20mm for close quarter (half of a room etc, wide frame.) Are there any real differences between a 24mm and a 28mm in terms of depth of field etc? Does each have place for particular uses. My Canon 28mm 1.8 has pretty significant DOF even at 1.8. Comments?
 
I think you're mistaken on the concept of aspheric. It is used to eliminate distortion not add it. It is the only reason the Tokina is even close to being rectilinear. It actually displays very little barrell distortion at 16mm and less than nearly any other lens at 11mm focal length.

Just get the Tokina for the ultrawide on your 60D and a fast 24mm for a more standard wide and call it good. I'm still trying to justify the 24mm L f1.4 II. I tested it out and it's untouchable on my T3i. Just an unbelievable lens. I have an AIS 20mm f2.8 and it's not even in the same relm, but my bias is that I've come to dislike the older Nikkors for their terrible chromatic abberation and dingy color cast. For vintage lenses, the Olympus OM Zuikos are much better IMHO.

Cheers,
Pete
 
the tokina has nearly no barrel distortion, just a bit at 11mm, but you'll be hard pressed to find anything better at that focal length http://www.photozone.de/canon-eos/666-tokina1116f28eos?start=1 but from your post I'm not 100% you're talking about that, maybe you're talking about something different: on my tests it does have a curved focal plane below 14mm (compare corner sharpness tests focusing at center and focusing at corner: http://www.similaar.com/foto/lenstests/lenstestsa.html), but again I'm also quite sure that on real world scenarios that won't be a big issue (when the subject is not a 80cm wide chart but a room or a building, depth of field will easily make up for this curved focal plane)
 
Thanks Pete. Maybe I'm using the wrong term - I know there's barrel distortion, pincushion distortion and moustache distortion (good article - http://www.canonrumors.com/tech-arti...o-test-a-lens/)

This is my hands on experience: I used the Tokina 11-16mm on several indie project sets last year. It was on my Canon 60D. I'll give two examples of what I mean... On one scene, I was set up about 6-8 feet in front of the actors, at 16mm (abot 24mm equivalent). Actors were framed in center. When they walked directly to the left side of the frame, their image became "warped", noticabley different, appearing closer even maybe.

Second example. On a wide shot - Car arriving at parking lot and parking several feet from my camera. When the car arrived to close proximity (arriving at a side view of the car) it to became a bent "warped" image.

Both times this "glass fun house" look was strong and very apparent. I'm thinking the lens is close to being rectilinear for landscape and distant subjects. Otherwise. Anything close, and/or moving, at the outer 25% of the lens will suffer what I explained above. Granted I have also used this characteristics in creative ways.

That 24mm L 1.4 is a great glass that becomes better because of it's "sweet spot" as frame on the cropped sensort of the t3i. I can only imagine the beauty.

I sold my Canon 60D last month and bought a 5dmark2 so my best lenses (Zeiss 50mm 1.7 etc) can be used more often.

I've been researching the Zuiko 24mm f2 - I thing I would need to file something down to get that lens on my mark2.
 
Thanks NormanBates. Check out my post to C3hammer. It may/may not be called barrel distortion, maybe it's curved focal plane, but whatever it is, there is plenty of it. The characteristics I described really affected the shooting - I had to change lenses and the shooting approach. So while doing research for a wide lens to put on my 5dmark2, I read in reviews that the Minolta MD W. Rokkor-X 24mm 2.8 has the least barrel distortion. http://kenrockwell.com/minolta/24.htm Problem is, it has a glass adapter that loses contrast and goes really soft when opening up below F4. Thaks for the links
 
It has a lot to do with the tilt angle. Try to keep them level to reduce that effect.

Frank
 
Well my 21 mm Leitz Super Angulon is pretty rectilinear, problem is it's f/4 with a really strange iris. One of the best wides is the Leitz 19mm f/2.8 Elmarit R, the second version is better still but won't go on FF (It will fit crop sensor though), unfortunately they're becoming rare, and even the "cheap" first version will set you back the equivilent of £1000 S/H.

Again, you have to distinguish between barrel distortion (Quite common with all wides) and the effect of steap perspective.
 
ok, you're definitely not talking about a curved focus plane, and I don't think you're complaining about barrel distortion either (because the tokina has very little of that); I think what you don't like is the extreme-wide-angle look; any lens with such a wide field of view will display that kind of issues: perspective is wildly distorted; sometimes that's not a problem, sometimes it is - http://stepheneastwood.com/tutorials/Tutorials_Lens_Perspective.htm
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top