Barrel vs Pincushion Distortion: Why Lines Bend
DefinitionWhen straight lines appear curved.
1The Simple Explanation
Wide angle lenses bulge out (Barrel), making things look fat. Telephoto lenses pinch in (Pincushion). A 'Fisheye' lens is just extreme Barrel distortion.
2Technical Deep Dive
Correctable with Lens Profiles in software. Architecture photographers use 'Tilt-Shift' lenses to optically correct perspective distortion.
Common Misconceptions
Myth: Selfies make your nose look big. Fact: True! That is 'perspective distortion' from being too close with a wide lens.