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  Test # 385 
 
Lens Distortion Test

Samsung 18-55 Distortion Test

Distortion at 18mm.
 
Test by Sinan Ozturk   
PhotoAgainst Photo Editor's Comment: Barrel Distortion is optical flaw of a lens which causes straight lines in the photo look slightly curved outwards. Its much more apparent in wider focal lengths and zoom lenses and gets worse in the bottom or top of the photo, rather than center. It becomes apparent when skyline is photographed so we do barrel distortion tests with a clear skyline shot.

In the first comparison, skyline in the very bottom of the photo because this is where barrel distortion is worse for any lens.

In the second shot skyline is in the very center of the image where barrel distortion's effect is the least apparent.

In the third shot, skyline is in the 1/3 or 2/3 of the photo (golden rule) where distortion is same for both.

Red line in the photos are added in post production to show where skyline would suppose to be if lens were flawless with no distortion. The closer the real skyline to the red line, the better the lens and more apart the skyline from the red line, worse distortion the lens has.

For more information about this distortion tests, please read our distortion test guidelines.

After reviewing the test, scroll to the bottom of the page to compare Samsung 18-55's Barrel Distortion with other lenses.
  
  
  Test Photo # 1  
Photo_651Samsung 18-55mm OIS F/3.5-5.6  
F:11.0, S:1/1000, ISO:200    
Photo by Sinan Ozturk 
    EXIF    
Samsung NX300     Camera    
Samsung 18-55mm OIS F/3.5-5.6     Lens    
11.0     Aperture    
1/1000     Shutter    
200     ISO    
140     Brightness    
18 mm.     Focal Length    
27 mm.     Foc.Len.FF eq    
18 mm.     Foc.Len.APS-C    
0.65 Mb.   Filesize    
1623 x 1080 [1 MP.]   Dimensions    
 
  Test Photo # 2  
Photo_652Samsung 18-55mm OIS F/3.5-5.6  
F:11.0, S:1/800, ISO:200    
Photo by Sinan Ozturk 
    EXIF    
Samsung NX300     Camera    
Samsung 18-55mm OIS F/3.5-5.6     Lens    
11.0     Aperture    
1/800     Shutter    
200     ISO    
132     Brightness    
18 mm.     Focal Length    
27 mm.     Foc.Len.FF eq    
18 mm.     Foc.Len.APS-C    
0.78 Mb.   Filesize    
1629 x 1080 [1 MP.]   Dimensions    
 
  Test Photo # 3  
Photo_653Samsung 18-55mm OIS F/3.5-5.6  
F:11.0, S:1/500, ISO:200    
Photo by Sinan Ozturk 
    EXIF    
Samsung NX300     Camera    
Samsung 18-55mm OIS F/3.5-5.6     Lens    
11.0     Aperture    
1/500     Shutter    
200     ISO    
130     Brightness    
18 mm.     Focal Length    
27 mm.     Foc.Len.FF eq    
18 mm.     Foc.Len.APS-C    
0.88 Mb.   Filesize    
1623 x 1080 [1 MP.]   Dimensions    
 
Barrel Distortion Comparison
You can select 2 lens to compare their barrel distortions side by side:
against

 

 

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  Other Samsung 18-55mm OIS F/3.5-5.6 vs. Comparisons  
Samsung 18-55mm OIS F/3.5-5.6 Video Auto Focus Performance
at 18-55mm.
Auto Focus Noise (Sound), AF Speed and Focus Hunting Test (in Silent Enviroment)
Samsung 18-55 Distortion Test
Distortion at 50mm.
  Other Comparisons of Samsung 18-55mm OIS F/3.5-5.6  
Samsung 18-55 vs. Sony E.16-50
Sharpness at 50mm.
Tested Apertures F5.6, F6.3, F8, F10
Tamron 18-200 vs. Samsung 18-55
Sharpness at 50mm.
Tested Apertures F5/F5.6, F5.6, F6.3, F8, F10
Sigma 50mm 2.8 vs. Samsung 18-55
Sharpness at 50mm.
Tested Apertures F2.8/F5.6, F4/F5.6, F5/F5.6, F5.6, F6.3, F8, F10
Sigma 17-70 vs. Samsung 18-55
Sharpness at 50mm.
Tested Apertures F4/F5.6, F5/F5.6, F5.6, F6.3, F8, F10
Tokina 28-70 2.8 vs. Samsung 18-55
Sharpness at 50mm.
Tested Apertures F2.8/F5.6, F4/F5.6, F5/F5.6, F5.6, F6.3, F8, F10
Sony 16-105 vs. Samsung 18-55
Sharpness at 50mm.
Tested Apertures F5/F5.6, F5.6, F6.3, F8, F10
Sony 18-55 vs. Samsung 18-55
Sharpness at 50mm.
Tested Apertures F5.6, F6.3, F8, F10
Sony 18-200 vs. Samsung 18-55
Sharpness at 50mm.
Tested Apertures F5/F5.6, F5.6, F6.3, F8, F10
Minolta 50mm 1.4 vs. Samsung 18-55
Sharpness at 50mm.
Tested Apertures F1.4/F5.6, F2.8/F5.6, F4/F5.6, F5/F5.6, F5.6, F6.3, F8, F10
Tamron 17-50 vs. Samsung 18-55
Sharpness at 50mm.
Tested Apertures F2.8/F5.6, F4/F5.6, F5/F5.6, F5.6, F6.3, F8, F10
Sony 16-50 vs. Samsung 18-55
Sharpness at 50mm.
Tested Apertures F2.8/F5.6, F4/F5.6, F5/F5.6, F5.6, F6.3, F8, F10
Samsung 18-55 vs. Tamron 18-200
Sharpness at 18mm.
Tested Apertures F3.5, F6.3, F8, F16
Samsung 18-55 vs. Sony 18-55
Sharpness at 18mm.
Tested Apertures F3.5, F6.3, F8, F16
Samsung 18-55 vs. Sony 16-105
Sharpness at 18mm.
Tested Apertures F3.5, F6.3, F8, F16
Samsung 18-55 vs. Sigma 17-70
Sharpness at 18mm.
Tested Apertures F2.8/F3.5, F6.3, F8, F16
Samsung 18-55 vs. Sony 16-50
Sharpness at 18mm.
Tested Apertures F2.8/F3.5, F6.3, F8, F16
Samsung 18-55 vs. Sony 18-200
Sharpness at 18mm.
Tested Apertures F3.5, F6.3, F8, F16
Samsung 18-55 vs. Tamron 17-50
Sharpness at 18mm.
Tested Apertures F2.8/F3.5, F6.3, F8, F16
Samsung 18-55 vs. Sony E.16-50
Sharpness at 18mm.
Tested Apertures F3.5/F4, F6.3, F8, F16