Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site rabbit.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!alice!rabbit!ark
From: ark@rabbit.UUCP (Andrew Koenig)
Newsgroups: net.rec.photo
Subject: wide-angle lens distortion
Message-ID: <2587@rabbit.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 9-Mar-84 15:49:22 EST
Article-I.D.: rabbit.2587
Posted: Fri Mar  9 15:49:22 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 10-Mar-84 13:04:53 EST
References: <212@iwu1c.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill
Lines: 15

A well-designed wide-angle lens does not distort (fish-eye lenses aside).
Specifically, straight lines in the subject are rendered as straight
lines on film.

However, a non-distorting wide-angle lens can cause some pretty
strange-looking things to appear on film.  This is a necessary
consequence of reproducing straight lines as straight lines.
The wider the lens, the harder it is to use it without making
things look weird, unless you're careful about how you use it.

My gut feeling is that the 'average' amateur photographer should
be able to handle a 35 mm lens, that a 28 might cause trouble,
and that a 24 will almost surely cause trouble.

On the other hand, a 35 isn't all that much different from a 50.