[size=1em]One complaint common when using 'Sport' Cams for our Aerial Photo/Video needs is the inerrant 'barrel distortion' which is also often associated with the use of Wide Angle Lenses. In short the wider the 'angle of view' the greater the 'barrel distortion' and a[/size][size=1em]lthough this distortion can be fixed (somewhat) in post-processing but for it to be done in-camera the manufacture needs to implement it within the hardware's Firmware. Which they may or may NOT have done because videoing general 'sports' action 'barrel distortion' is not that much of a concern. Either way it's not an easy fix as it's a issue with ALL wide angle lenses and to fix in-lens would certainly drive up the cost of it's manufacture. This would also drive up the cost for a market that does not require it fixed ... I might even go so far and say 'Sports' Cams although can be cheap and easy to implement (thus operate) might NOT be your best choice for an Aerial Camera and especially if 'barrel distortion' is your number one concern.[/size] [size=1em]Barrel Distortion is only one characteristic and issue often associated with LENS design so with that in mind [/size][size=1em]as it was only the lead-in to what I want to share ... I've found a pretty darn good read about the challenge of lens design, lenses and their associated characteristics which may help one choose a more suitable camera and lens system for their NEXT AP Bird. Which is more or less in keeping with what you might want out of your next Aerial Camera or if simply looking for a new camera/lens it would certainly be in your best interest to read, it's worth the read ... Anyways for this in-depth primer to Lenses by none other than CANON, download and read the PDF, The EF Lens World - Canon Europe ... This material is often quoted as the source material by a number of on-line photographic tutorials and their authors Google Search: The EF Lens World[/size] FYI: [acronym=EYE See! "w00d's Photo Musings" LINK to my BLOG][shadow=grey,left][size=1em]w[/size][size=1.25em]00[/size][size=1em]d[/size][/shadow][/acronym]
Haha, EF and EFS lenses are what I use for both my Canon digital SLR's! I can attest to their excellent quality and durability - two of these I've had for over 8 years and no issues! GREAT products!! As good as other camera lenses may be from other manufacturers, I'll never switch. Wish they made one to replace the POS that comes on the Go Pro cams!
"1933, the Precision Engineering Research Laboratory (later changed to “Canon”) was established in a room in a three floor apartment building in Roppongi in Tokyo, as a workshop for building high-quality 35mm cameras" "1946, Serenar 50mm f/3.5! Canon first began working on lenses not long after the end of WWII. Developed and produced completely in-house, the first lens to see the light of day was the Serenar 50mm f/3.5. Serenar means “clear,” symbolising the clarity that the development team was aiming for." Wait a minute, so who was making Canon's lenses prior to 1946!?! I just pulled the above quotes from above document, where they are talking about the History of Canon Lenses, and nowhere do they mention who it was making their lenses before they started to make their own. As it happens I know who exactly who it was, and any guesses who? Yes it was NIKON as they were making professional grade lenses for the military, universities and consumers alike since the turn of the century. I found that morsel of info documented in the history of photography and as the 'history' is interesting in itself I will post when I find it again. So yes again the document was created by Canon so there is a certain amount of 'Corporate BS' that needs to weeded through to get at the information ... ... see FUD, Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt by Ken Rockwell, also Weasel Words The information provided is true for all LENS manufactures so as I see it the challenges of LENS construction set forth by Canon are no different than those of other manufactures. Given the information is relevant to all manufactures I had no issues posting what could be construed as nothing more than Canons own marketing hype. FYI: Putting the 'Photography' back into AP, hehe Also posted on my site, HERE and thanks for the support [acronym=EYE See! "w00d's Photo Musings" LINK to my BLOG][shadow=grey,left][size=1em]w[/size][size=1.25em]00[/size][size=1em]d[/size][/shadow][/acronym] ____________________
