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Distortion for Milvus 15/2.8
Distortion shown here was computed for the Zeiss ZF.2/ZE 15mm f/2.8 Distagon since the optical formula is unchanged.
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Though Zeiss and Leica consider 2% distortion as “nearly invisible”, distortion of 2% is visible on straight horizons and any straight-structure (such as a building). Yet 2% easily goes undetected on most subjects, which does make it fair to call it nearly invisible.
A 2% distortion figure is very low for a 15mm lens (indeed outstandingly low). Many designs this wide or even less wide have 3% or more distortion, so 2% is exemplary. For example, the Leica 16/18/21 f/4 Tri-Elmar-M has about 3.3% distortion, and it is of a wave-type.
The inoffensive barrel distortion rather than the wave-type shape is a big plus; wave-type distortion that inflects from barrel distortion to a steep pincushion distortion gradient as in the 21/2.8 Distagon is distracting; the human eye is more accepting of barrel distortion.
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