[Lightstalkers] Product shooting - fisheye distortion problem

Product shooting - fisheye distortion problem

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 18:27:48 +0000

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

As an illustrator, I'm trying to update my web site to show some CD cases on which my work appears. In using our household digital camera's macro setting, I get a fisheye-lens-like distortion around the outer edges of the image.

As you can see, the edges of the case appear curved. I suspect this distortion is due to the 28mm wide angle lens of the camera. Is there a way to avoid this distortion? (I used Photoshop's polygonal lasso tool to drop out the background and then added a drop shadow.)

Oh, it would help if I specified what camera I'm using: Minolta Dimage A1 -- I think it was purchased in early '04.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

--Retsu

Re: Product shooting - fisheye distortion problem

Wed, 26 Oct 2005 11:54:16 +0000

Reshoot at a longer focal length. 28mm will surely distort if your shooting real close. Zoom it out, and step back as need be.

Re: Product shooting - fisheye distortion problem

Wed, 26 Oct 2005 12:37:00 +0000

Yes, the longer focal length will work. Weird enough I learned of this when shooting 3/4 views of horses. Shooting from further back helps get rid of strange proportion distortion.

Re: Product shooting - fisheye distortion problem

Wed, 26 Oct 2005 12:41:44 +0000

I have used that same type camera on many product shots, and as the others have stated, did need to step back some to get the image right. It does nicely with the right amount of lighting, but the disadvantage with the A1 is that it is a fixed lens. There is only so much one can do with it.
Best of luck to you!!

Re: Product shooting - fisheye distortion problem

Wed, 26 Oct 2005 13:11:09 +0000

Thank you all for your insight. I was convinced I had to use the "macro" function, so hadn't considered stepping back. Per your advice, I set up the shot using a tripod and the self-timer. (You're right; I had to pull back much farther, but that seems to have taken care of the distortion.) There's a marked improvement with these new rounds of images!

Cheers!
--Retsu

Re: Product shooting - fisheye distortion problem

Thu, 27 Oct 2005 12:48:20 +0000

An update.
Here's a link to the final images on my web site (http://www.retsu.com/projects.html).

Thanks again for all your help!
--Retsu

p.s. Now I know how they take those fish-eye lens pictures of dogs.

Re: Product shooting - fisheye distortion problem

Thu, 27 Oct 2005 13:29:28 +0000

They look great, Retsu!!