![\"jupiter-3](\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/jupiter-3_sony_a7s_bokeh_close_1.5.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
In many of our lens reviews we talk about certain kinds of aberrations, so this article shall give you an overview of typical lens aberrations, tell you in what lenses to encounter them and how to cope with them. <\/p>\n\n <\/p>\n Description:<\/strong> Straight lines in the picture are not straight but curved or bent.<\/p>\n Common problem in:<\/strong> zoom lenses and wide angle primes <\/span><\/p>\n Solution:<\/strong> “uniform” barrel or pincushion distortion can be easily corrected. For complex\/wavy distortion though, lens correction profiles are mandatory, but not every correction profile works perfectly at every focusing distance. Trivia:<\/strong> for today’s digital photography many lens manufacturers decided to correct this in post processing<\/p>\n Description:<\/strong> When you shoot a flat scene there is a dip in resolution\/contrast in a part of the frame, e.g. the midframe area or the corners. In the example above you can see a lens that has higher corner resolution than midframe resolution.<\/p>\n Common problem in:<\/strong> wide angle lenses, some fast lenses <\/span><\/p>\n Solution:<\/strong> stopping down will usually reduce the field curvature. With some lenses focusing on the midframe instead of the center can also improve results.<\/span><\/p>\n Trivia:<\/strong> when taking a picture of a uniform yet structured surface you can use the “find edges” filter in Photoshop to make the shape of the field curvature visible.<\/p>\n Description:<\/strong> Lower exposure in the corners compared to the center of the frame.<\/p>\n Common problem in:<\/strong> wide angle lenses, fast lenses <\/span><\/p>\n Solution:<\/strong> with most lenses stopping down will reduce the light falloff (with very small lenses there are sometimes only minor improvements) Trivia:<\/strong> on digital sensors some lenses (especially those with a small rear element close to the sensor) show increased light fall off due to “pixel vignetting” caused by the light rays hitting the sensor at an acute angle.<\/p>\n Description:<\/strong> the shape of out of focus light circles deteoriates towards the corners of the frame, so instead of circles you see shapes that resemble cat’s eyes.<\/p>\n Common problem in:<\/strong> (small) fast lenses <\/span><\/p>\n Solution:<\/strong> none (except for maybe buying a lens where this is less pronounced) Trivia:<\/strong> also often referred to as “mechanical vignetting”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Description:<\/strong> The corners of the frame take on a different color than the rest of the frame.<\/p>\n Common problem in:<\/strong> small wide angle lenses, especially mirrorless\/rangefinder designs <\/span><\/p>\n Solution:<\/strong> correct it with the third party software “corner fix” or use flat field correction\/gradients in Lightroom, for more details have a look at this article<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Trivia:<\/strong> this is not exactly a lens aberration but rather the inability of digital sensors to capture light that hits them at a very acute angle.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Description:<\/strong> Common problem in:<\/strong> fast lenses (especially old ones) at maximum aperture Solution:<\/strong> stopping the lens down by 1 stop usually makes a big difference<\/p>\n Trivia:<\/strong> for portraits a bit of undercorrected spherical aberration can be beneficial to give a smoother more flattering look<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Description:<\/strong> the different color channels show different distortion patterns. Usually this leads to outlining on edges of high contrast that gets stronger the farther you move away from the center. <\/span><\/p>\n Common problem in:<\/strong> wide angle lenses, older tele lenses without ED elements, most zoom lenses. <\/span><\/p>\n Solution:<\/strong> in most cases this can be losslessly corrected in post. Stopping down does not make a difference to this aberration. <\/span><\/p>\n Trivia:<\/strong> Some lenses with a symmetrical optical design show zero lateral CA.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Description:<\/strong> Longitudinal chromatic aberrations come in different forms where the most common are purple fringing (it shows up close to the plane in focus) and the “bokeh-CA” or “bokeh fringing” which you will see in the out of focus areas. Common problem in:<\/strong> fast lenses Solution:<\/strong> stopping the lens down will reduce this. You can also try to correct it in post, but this will not always work well enough.<\/span><\/p>\n Trivia:<\/strong> Some lenses that carry an “APO”-tag are perfectly corrected for this aberration and won’t show any colorful outlining at all. Description:<\/strong> small point light sources in the corners of the frame are not rendered as points but take on weird shapes instead. Common problem in:<\/strong> fast wide angle lenses Solution:<\/strong> stopping the lens down will reduce this<\/span><\/p>\n Trivia:<\/strong> if you are into astrophotography<\/a> you should care about good coma correction.<\/p>\n Description:<\/strong> away from the center structures show double edges which are either radially or tangentially oriented.<\/p>\n Common problem in:<\/strong> fast lenses, wide angle lenses <\/span><\/p>\n Solution:<\/strong> usually improves on stopping down.<\/span><\/p>\n Trivia:<\/strong> it can be difficult to distinguish between astigmatism and coma.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Description:<\/strong> When you stop a lens down the plane of optimal focus shifts to the front or the back.<\/p>\n Common problem in:<\/strong> fast lenses <\/span><\/p>\n Solution:<\/strong> first stop the lens down and then focus. Often it also helps to just use f\/8.0 to f\/11 for this not to be a problem anymore.<\/span><\/p>\n Trivia:<\/strong> classic Sonnar lenses are known to show a notorious amount of focus shift.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Description:<\/strong> out of focus light circles show onion-ring-like patterns.<\/p>\n Common problem in:<\/strong> some fast lenses with aspherical elements Solution:<\/strong> none except for buying a lens without these issues.<\/span><\/p>\n Description:<\/strong> colorful artifacts (circles, crescents) in the frame<\/p>\n Common problem in:<\/strong> wide angle lenses, zoom lenses, lenses with high element count and big front elements Solution:<\/strong> stopping down may change the shape and size of the artefacts. Slight reframing can sometimes help as well.<\/span><\/p>\n Description:<\/strong> ring-like aberration (see picture)<\/p>\n Common problem in:<\/strong> a few very fast wide to normal lenses Solution:<\/strong> stopping down can sometimes help here Description:<\/strong> almost the whole frame is covered by a veil of light that takes away most of the contrast<\/p>\n Common problem in:<\/strong> most severe in tele lenses Solution:<\/strong> sometimes using the hood can help a bit
\nLast Update:<\/strong> January 2023<\/em><\/p>\nDistortion<\/h1>\n
![\"sigma](\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Sigma_35mm_1.2_art_distortion_uncorrected.jpg\")
<\/li>![](\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Sony_FE_70200mmf4_G-65.jpg\")
<\/li>![\"samyang](\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/samyang_14mm_2.8_distorion_uncorrected.jpg\")
<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n
\nYou can also have a look at this article<\/a> to find out how to create your own correction profiles for Lightroom\/Photoshop.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nField curvature<\/h1>\n
![\"ttartisan](\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Sharpness_TTArtisan_21mm_1.5-e1580933337283.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/7artisans_50mm_1.05_field_curvature_4m-e1646067670575.jpg\")
\nVignetting<\/h1>\n
Light Falloff<\/h2>\n
![\"nikon](\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/vignetting_Nikon_58mm_1.4-e1580739989706.png\")
<\/em><\/p>\n
\nCorner exposure can be lifted in post processing e.g. in Lightroom. For common lenses there are profiles available. C<\/span>orrecting this in post can lead to increased noise in the corners!<\/p>\n
\nOptical Vignetting<\/h2>\n
![\"Sony](\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/bokeh_loxia_85_2.4_2.4.jpg\")
\nStopping down you will eventually get a perfect circle at some point, but then you are shooting at e.g. f\/2.8 instead of f\/1.4.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n
\nColor Cast<\/h2>\n
![\"rangefinder](\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/ultron_28mm_2.0_colorcast_uncorrected.jpg\")
<\/li>![\"rangefinder](\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/ultron_28mm_2.0_colorcast_corrected.jpg\")
<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n
\nSpherical Aberration<\/h1>\n
![\"voigtlander](\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/voigtlander_35_1.4_nokton_e_sample_6.jpg\")
<\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/DSC02271.jpg\")
<\/li>![\"ttartisan](\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/TTArisan_21mm_1.5_sunstars_1.5.jpg\")
<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n
\nundercorrection: loss of contrast and resolution (“glow”) across the whole frame
\novercorrection: harsh bokeh with severe outlining<\/p>\n
\n<\/span><\/p>\n
\nChromatic Aberrations<\/h1>\n
Lateral CA <\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"42mp](\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/canon_ts_e_45mm_2.8_lateral_ca_uncorrected.jpg\")
<\/li>![\"42mp](\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/canon_ts_e_45mm_2.8_lateral_ca_corrected.jpg\")
<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>
\nCrop from corner region of the frame<\/span><\/p>\n
\nLongitudinal CA<\/h2>\n
![\"sigma](\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/loCA_35mm_1.4_art_overview.jpg\")
<\/li>![\"sigma](\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/loCA_35mm_1.4_art_crop_1.jpg\")
<\/li>![\"sigma](\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/loCA_35mm_1.4_art_crop_2.jpg\")
<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n
\n<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/span><\/p>\n
\nComa<\/h1>\n
![\"ttartisan](\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/TTArisan_21mm_1.5_Coma_1.5.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/span><\/p>\n
\nAstigmatism<\/h1>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/L1000271.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\nFocus Shift<\/h1>\n
![\"voigtlander](\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/voigtlander_vm_nokton_50_1.2E_focus_shift_1.2.jpg\")
<\/li>![\"voigtlander](\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/voigtlander_vm_nokton_50_1.2E_focus_shift_2.0.jpg\")
<\/li>![\"voigtlander](\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/voigtlander_vm_nokton_50_1.2E_focus_shift_2.8.jpg\")
<\/li>![\"voigtlander](\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/voigtlander_vm_nokton_50_1.2E_focus_shift_2.8_refocused.jpg\")
<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n
\nOnion ring bokeh<\/h1>\n
![\"review](\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/sony_fe_35mm_1.4_za_sample_16.jpg\")
<\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/sony_fe_35mm_1.4_za_sample_onion_ring_crop.jpg\")
<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n
\n<\/span><\/p>\n
\nFlare resistance<\/h1>\n
Ghosting<\/h2>\n
![\"voigtlander](\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/voigtlander_35_1.4_nokton_e_flare_1.7.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Sony_FE_50mmf1.8-7\"](\"http:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Sony_FE_50mmf1.8-7.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n<\/span><\/p>\n
\nInternal reflections<\/h2>\n
![\"tokina](\"http:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/tokina_35mm_2.8_mushroom.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/span><\/p>\n
\nVeiling flare<\/h2>\n
![\"ttartisan](\"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/TTArtisan_35mm_1.4_flare_8.0.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/span><\/p>\nFurther Reading<\/h1>\n