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Sigma FE 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art

Distortion

This page looks at the hideous pincushion distortion of the Sigma FE 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art. The distortion is so strong that it really makes distortion correction all but mandatory.

Pincushion distortion is far more unnatural looking than barrel distortion, particularly for human faces, but it is also a Big Deal for horizons, architecture, etc. The world tends to bow-out or round-out, not pinch in as with pincushion distortion—it feels unnatural to me.

The de-facto requirement to correct this level of distortion guarantees sub-optimal micro contrast and sharpness in a substantial portion of the central areas of the frame. That makes the sharpness and MTF chart misleading at best.

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Special emphasis is placed on Sony full-frame, including Sony lenses and the high performance Zeiss Batis and Zeiss Loxia lenses plus Rokinon/Samyang and others. Fujifilm X, Olympus and Panasonic M4/3, Sigma dp Merrill and dp/sd Quattro are also covered in depth. Years in the making, it offers a wealth of material for choosing and using a mirrorless camera.

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Built-in lens profile does not correct hideous pincushion distortion — approximate manual correction shown
Variants Uncorrected,Corrected available in full article
f1.4 @ 1/100 sec handheld, ISO 800; 2020-09-11 08:15:38
Sony A7R IV + Sigma FE 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art
RAW: +40 Whites, +15 Clarity, USM {15,50,0}

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