What is Barrel Distortion

Barrel distortion is a type of lens distortion that causes straight lines to appear curved outward, giving the effect of a barrel or fish-eye shape. It is most commonly seen in wide-angle lenses, but it can occur in other types of lenses as well.

Barrel distortion occurs because different points in the image are projected onto the camera sensor at different angles. As a result, objects near the edges of the frame are stretched outward, while those in the center remain relatively unaffected. This distortion is more pronounced as you move closer to the edges of the frame.

Barrel distortion can be undesirable in certain situations, especially when capturing architectural or product photography where straight lines and shapes are important. However, it can also be creatively used for artistic effect or in situations where a wider field of view is desired, such as in some landscape or panoramic photography.