viewfinder curve

Hey guys. I just switched over from a Canon T2i to a D7000 that I bought last week. I finally got a chance to shoot with it today. I'm noticing when I'm shooting with it that it almost seems like there's a slight curve...or almost a bow...When I view objects that are close, that normally don't have a curve in them. For example, I noticed it and decided to take a test shot of my blinds hanging from my window. The edges of the blinds are even with the bottom of the viewfinder where the middle curves upward. I tested the same shot with my t2i, and found that the blinds sit perfectly level with the bottom of the viewfinder. Is this normal or could it be a defect with the camera? It almost seems to resemble a slight fish eye effect. This is the first Nikon I've owned so I'm still learning about it. I'm using the 18 - 140mm lens it came with. Just curious if I've got a misconstrued unit or not. Any info is helpful. Thanks again!
 
It very well could be I suppose. I do notice that the lens is actually pulls in a wider angle than the Canon does when zoomed all the way out. I've just been invested in the Canon ecosystem for years, maybe I'm just becoming nit-picky. I just don't want anything to be wrong with my new baby haha. Thank you for the response.
 

RON_RIP

Senior Member
I have used a number of lenses with my D7000, although not that one. Have never encountered that problem. Try a different lens.
 

aced19

Senior Member
Check and see what firmware you have. It may need to be updated. I think they had an update for distortion.[h=1][/h]
 

BackdoorArts

Senior Member
There are firmware updates for lens distortion (which is what you're seeing), but any correction won't be viewable through the viewfinder, only on the final image.
 

Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
Super Mod
In camera settings to correct lens distortion can either be turned on or off. Check your user's manual to find out where exactly in the menu is that option. The lens you are using is probably wider than your Canon lens and it could distort more. Most post processing software will allow you to correct for this and get rid of it.

Enjoy your Nikon.
 

aroy

Senior Member
At 18mm there will be quite some distortion, which will be visible in the view finder and also in the image. If you are shooting RAW then you can apply lense distortion correction in post. Otherwise apply it in camera.
 
Thank you for your replies, guys. I'll take a look in the menu for any distortion options. It was raining today so I didn't get a chance to mess with it any more, but I did get to an electronics store to pick up a copy of Lightroom 5, which from everything I've read is a must for shooting raw. Never shot in raw with my Canon, but with the dual card slots of the Nikon, I'll be able to shoot one card in raw and the other in jpeg, which is super neat.
 
The few shots I've taken look okay so far. I haven't snapped anything super close up that I've drug over to the pc yet. Just the couple I reviewed from the lcd on the camera. I'll snap a few more tomorrow and link them if you guys would like to have a look.
 
I have a D7000 and have never had a problem with it. I don't use the 18-140 on that camera but do use it on my D7100 and it is the lens that I use the most. It is a workhorse.
 
Alright, these are my example images. (please excuse the mess). Both shots are taken at 18mm. The desk seems to have a downward curve, and the blinds are the example I was speaking of before. When I took the shot, The viewfinder was even with the bottom, but they seem to have an outward curve. I'm sure this can be fixed in post processing, but I just didn't have to do it with the Canon. Maybe I'm just not used to that much lens distortion...

DSC_0240 (2).jpgDSC_0229 (2).jpg
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
Alright, these are my example images. (please excuse the mess). Both shots are taken at 18mm. The desk seems to have a downward curve, and the blinds are the example I was speaking of before. When I took the shot, The viewfinder was even with the bottom, but they seem to have an outward curve. I'm sure this can be fixed in post processing, but I just didn't have to do it with the Canon. Maybe I'm just not used to that much lens distortion...
Yep, that's plain vanilla lens distortion. The Nikon 18-5mm is a good lens, not a great lens, as I often say; and this is partially why. The distortion is easily corrected for but it's the lens creating the distortion in the first place.
....
 

480sparky

Senior Member
Alright, these are my example images. (please excuse the mess). Both shots are taken at 18mm. The desk seems to have a downward curve, and the blinds are the example I was speaking of before. When I took the shot, The viewfinder was even with the bottom, but they seem to have an outward curve. I'm sure this can be fixed in post processing, but I just didn't have to do it with the Canon. Maybe I'm just not used to that much lens distortion...


You can have the camera correct the distortion for you. Perhaps the reason you "don't have to" with the Canon is it's set up that way already.
 
I gotcha. Please excuse me if what I'm saying comes off as arrogant. Not my intention. I just want to make sure it's nothing I'm personally doing wrong I'm sorry if it seemed that way.
 

480sparky

Senior Member
I didn't pick any arrogance up at all, so it's a moot point now.

FWIW, all lenses have some distortion. Some have pincushion, some have barreling, some have both, some have compound (mustache) distortion. It may well be the Canon lens you have just has less of it than the Nikon lens and because of that you've noticed it.

As for in-camera correction, I have no clue how Canon ships out their cameras in terms of the default setting. I think Nikon has it turned on, but honestly I don't remember. All I know is I go in and turn all that off when I buy a new camera so I don't have to worry about the camera taking the time required to apply those settings to the data. Doing so slows the camera down, which in turn fills the buffer faster, which in turn lowers the burst rate, which in turn can cause me to miss a shot when I'm shooting fast and furiously.
 
Thanks for all the help over the past couple days, guys. I had a little time today so I went back to Bestbuy to take a look at the D7000 they had on display to see what their lens was like. It wasn't as bad as mine was. I talked to their camera guy and asked if there was anything I could do while I was in the return policy. He basically gave me the run around and told me I'd have to exchange the lens AND the body. I decided to just give it a shot and grab another one (couldn't hurt, right?). Anyways....I just got this one set up and ran a few shots through it. Lens distortion is a little better.....bearable, at least. I will say that for some odd reason, this new D7000 body has a clanky mirror compared to the first one. A weird metal sound, but hey; it is what it is. Thanks again, guys
 

fotojack

Senior Member
Clanky mirror? Uh yeah...I'd bring back that camera in a heartbeat! Talk to a manager if the sales person you dealt with doesn't give you any satisfaction. That's inexcusable customer service.
 
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