Nikon Nikkor Z 26 mm f/2.8
6. Distortion and field of view
Distortion
After attaching the tested lens to a camera, an option that switches off distortion correction is deactivated, remaining automatically active in the camera menu. When we noticed that, we didn't expect any good results in this category any longer.On the other hand giving up on distortion correction in a pancake lens is more than understandable. It is a construction that simply has to include some compromises and the one involving distortion, as long as it is kept within some reasonable limits, might be a good idea, definitely doing more good than harm.
Corrected JPEG files don't provide any reasons to worry, and it is completely understandable. In case of the smaller APS-C/DX sensor deformations reached a negligent level of -0.11% and they increased just slightly, to -0.29%, after passing to full frame.
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| Nikon Z7, 26 mm, JPEG, APS-C/DX, | |||
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| Nikon Z7, 26 mm, JPEG, FF | |||
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It all gets worse on RAW files. While you deal with -2.62% barrel distortion on the smaller detector, it increases to a quite significant level of -5.15% after passing to full frame. The fact that the producers didn't introduce almost any amount of moustache distortion in order to get a better result is a certain consolation here.
| Nikon Z7, 26 mm, RAW, APS-C/DX, | |||
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| Nikon Z7, 26 mm, RAW, FF | |||
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Field of view
In case of a pancake we can forgive giving up distortion correction and leaving it to software but only as long as we are not cheated when it comes to the field of view. The producer declares 79 degrees; if it indeed is true on almost completely distortion-corrected JPEG files, everything will be fine.We are very pleased to announce that our measurements taken on JPEGs showed that you deal with a field of view amounting to 78.94 degrees (with a measuring error on a level of 0.05 deg) and it is in almost perfect accordance with official specifications. A round of applause.
If you use RAW files (and can condone distortion of -5%) you can increase the field to exactly 83 degrees.
