Fischaugenverzerrung

Fischaugenverzerrung, also known as fisheye distortion, is a type of optical distortion that occurs when a wide-angle lens captures an image. This distortion causes straight lines to appear curved, particularly near the edges of the frame. Objects in the center of the image are less affected, while those further away from the center are significantly warped. The effect is most pronounced with extremely wide-angle lenses, often referred to as fisheye lenses, which can capture a field of view of 180 degrees or more.

The characteristic barrel shape of this distortion makes straight lines bow outwards. This is the opposite of pincushion distortion, where straight lines bow inwards. Fisheye lenses are intentionally designed to create this extreme distortion, offering a unique perspective and a very wide field of view. This effect is often used in photography and videography for artistic purposes, to emphasize a sense of space, or to capture a comprehensive scene. For example, it can be used in architectural photography to fit a large building into a single frame or in action sports to convey the speed and movement of the subject.

While often seen as an undesirable artifact in traditional photography, fisheye distortion is intentionally embraced in many applications. In scientific contexts, it can be used to map wide areas, such as in sky photography to capture constellations or in surveying. Software can also be used to correct or even intentionally introduce fisheye distortion, allowing for post-production manipulation of images.