Mamiya 6 50 mm edge distortion

[waileong]

For those curious what kind of distortion to expect with the above lens, here's a pix for you.

M6 with 50 mm at 5.6, 1/500 (flash).

 

[Turtle]

there's no evident rectilinear distortion (as one would expect as it is a biogon design) only perspective being shown here. You can confidently shoot straight lines and have them stay straight with the Mamiya RF wides as they are based on biogons and so have virtually no distortion. Converging verticals is something else.

 

[waileong]

I shoot people, not brick walls square on.

 

[degruyl]

As Turtle said: as good as you can get with a wide angle lens.

The problem with wides is that the stretch the corners.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perspective_distortion_(photography)

[note: I have a Mamiya 7. I assume the lenses are the same in terms of construction]

Obviously, the 65 and 80 have less issue with this, but you probably knew that already. I expect the 43 is worse. (my widest is 65).

 

[sevo]

I shoot people, not brick walls square on.

Use a fisheye, then - their projection may be better in some cases and for some viewing distances.

 

[vincentbenoit]

Perspective distortion - nothing wrong with the lens.

 

[Turtle]

I shoot people, not brick walls square on.

Was this a little dig in the ribs? 😉

Lots of things are straight, not just brick walls. Shots with people in (i.e. street scenes) look much better without banana shaped lamp posts and curly buildings. Building interiors also have tonnes of straight lines, like door frames, skirting boards etc.... the same environment you photographed your children in.

 

[Gary E]

Perspective distortion - nothing wrong with the lens.

Ditto. This lens is known for minimal distortion, but what you show can be replicated with any lens < 28mm at that distance and angle.