pincushionvääristymiin

Pincushion distortion, known in Finnish as "pincushionvääristymiin," is a type of optical distortion that occurs in lenses. It causes straight lines at the edges of an image to bend inward towards the center, resembling the shape of a pincushion. This effect is the opposite of barrel distortion, where straight lines bow outward.

Pincushion distortion is more commonly observed in telephoto lenses and is a characteristic of certain optical designs. It can also be influenced by the aperture setting of the lens, although this effect is usually less pronounced than with barrel distortion. In digital photography, pincushion distortion can often be corrected through in-camera processing or post-processing software. Many cameras automatically apply corrections for known lens distortions based on EXIF data.

The degree of pincushion distortion varies depending on the specific lens design and focal length. Wide-angle lenses are generally more prone to barrel distortion, while longer focal length lenses are more susceptible to pincushion distortion. Understanding this phenomenon is important for photographers and videographers aiming to achieve geometrically accurate images. While it can be an unwanted artifact, in some artistic contexts, it might be intentionally introduced or embraced.