Latest or all posts or last 15, 30, 90 or 180 days.
2024-03-18 19:00:17
Designed for the most demanding needs of photographers and videographers.
877-865-7002
Today’s Deal Zone Items... Handpicked deals...
$3399 $2999
SAVE $400

$2997 $2997
SAVE $click

$348 $248
SAVE $100

$999 $699
SAVE $300

$5999 $4399
SAVE $1600

$1049 $879
SAVE $170

$4499 $3499
SAVE $1000

$999 $849
SAVE $150

$999 $799
SAVE $200

$5999 $4399
SAVE $1600

$799 $699
SAVE $100

$1199 $899
SAVE $300

$1099 $899
SAVE $200

$348 $248
SAVE $100

$1602 $998
SAVE $604

$3399 $2999
SAVE $400

$3997 $3697
SAVE $300

$5999 $4399
SAVE $1600

$1397 $997
SAVE $400

Zeiss Batis 40mm f/2: Data Sheets Continue to Omit Optical Distortion, Showing Only Corrected Distortion

Get Zeiss Batis at B&H Photo.

I objected to this change in Zeiss data sheets some years back, and I reiterate it now: Zeiss data sheets no longer show uncorrected distortion (sin of omission) and show only a misleading corrected distortion graph (sin of irrelevance and contradiction vs MTF).

Zeiss is not alone in this misleading behavior. For example, Fujifilm X lenses require distortion correction (in Adobe Camera Raw) and the Leica Q has horrific barrel distortion which notable impaires MTF in outer zones. Other companies do it also.

  • Correcting distortion can lead to a substantial drop in micro contrast in some areas of the frame (for example, the Batis 18mm f/2.8 is visibly inferior in the corners and mid-zones when corrected). If distortion is shown corrected by software, then why is MTF shown without distortion correction? The claimed MTF is not achievable with distortion correction enabled.
  • I rarely correct distortion because I want the full optical performance. I’d like to know the actual optical behavior.
  • What is the point of showing a corrected distortion graph, other than perhaps to mislead? Once corrected, the distortion is so close to zero as to render the exercise meaningless.
Zeiss Batis 40mm f/2: corrected distortion at 1:30
Zeiss Batis lens family

View all handpicked deals...

Nikon Z7 II Mirrorless Camera
$2997 $2997
SAVE $click

diglloyd Inc. | FTC Disclosure | PRIVACY POLICY | Trademarks | Terms of Use
Contact | About Lloyd Chambers | Consulting | Photo Tours
RSS Feeds | X.com/diglloyd
Copyright © 2022 diglloyd Inc, all rights reserved.