Trees in my Backyard (Lens Distortion)

[Lonewolfjustin]

So for Christmas I got a Tokina AT-X 116 PRO DX (AF 11-16mm f/2.8) lens because I want to start really getting into landscape photography. I'm wondering if the lens distortion ruins the photo? I have been looking on forums for good correction software, but the two I have tried haven't helped at all. Those two have been PTLens and Fisheye-Hemi, I used both as a plug-in to Aperture 3. So I don't know if its because they are plug-ins or trials on why I haven't been able to get them corrected. So I'm just wondering without correction is this still a decent photo? Or is the leaning/curving of the trees too much of a distraction?

Camera: Nikon D7000
Lens: Tokina AT-X 116 PRO DX (AF 11-16mm f/2.8)
Exposure: 0.006 sec (1/160)
Aperture: f/6.3
Focal Length: 11 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: -1 EV
Exposure Program: Program AE

A larger version can be seen here:
Trees in my backyard | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[doctorjames]

To be honest I really dont like the distortion.

It can be fun and in fact desirable in some instances, but I think it is going to get pretty tiring/boring pretty quick.

I suspect that by the time you are done correcting the distortion, the amount of crop required will bring you back to what you would have had with a longer focal length, but without the resolution.

[sk66]

The problem is that most of what you are noticing is not lens distortion. It is perspective distortion due to using such a wide lens and pointing it "up".

[Lonewolfjustin]

Thanks doctorjames for your input. So are you saying you just don't like these wide angle lens in general or just my photo?

I watched a video using on PTLens and took another crack at it. Does this look better?

[Lonewolfjustin]

Originally Posted by sk66

The problem is that most of what you are noticing is not lens distortion. It is perspective distortion due to using such a wide lens and pointing it "up".

That's a really good point, because I was pointing it up towards the sky. So with this lens I need to keep it more level to the ground?

[doctorjames]

Originally Posted by Lonewolfjustin

Thanks doctorjames for your input. So are you saying you just don't like these wide angle lens in general or just my photo?

I watched a video using on PTLens and took another crack at it. Does this look better?

Yes the new version looks a little better.

Being honest I dont like very wide angle lenses in general, because of all the 'faffing' about you have to do to get a decent print out of them in post production.

As you are always going to be pointing up in this kind of shot, you are always going to have the problem, unless of course you are further away and can use a longer lense.

Its not really a critisism of your photo, just an inherent 'problem' with that type of lense.

[sk66]

"So with this lens I need to keep it more level to the ground?"

Yes, I don't use wide angles for architecture or scenics in general..I use them for perspective and detail shots.
Things like this:

_SK13328-Edit.jpg by skersting66, on Flickr

[Lonewolfjustin]

Beautiful photo sk66! I did get a 55-300mm lens too so I'll just have to find out when to use each of them. I got the 55-300mm for nature and portraits. My kit now is:
Tokina 11-16mm F/2.8
Nikon 35mm F/1.8
Nikon 55-300mm F/4.5-5.6

Thank you both for your thoughts!

[doctorjames]

You are welcome.

What you are really missing is something like an 18-50mm. I am a big fan of prime lenses rather than zooms, but you will probably find that this lense would give you a lot of flexibility.