That tamron will probably be a bit better when it comes to CA. Not sure about distortion though..

Why not download a demo version of photoshop elements? See if that can correct it, or is that too cheap for you?Don't wait for the Nikon D-whatever, have fun now!http://www.flickr.com/photos/j_wijnands/..

I cannot see how it is better to correct errors in Photoshop than to try to avoid them by using a better lens. Maybe if it was just the occasional shot, but not on a regular basis.Here is a good site for lens comparisoms: http://www.photodo.com/.

John.Please visit me at:http://www.pbase.com/johnfr/backtothebridgehttp://www.pbase.com/johnfr..

I cannot see how it is better to correct errors in Photoshop thanto try to avoid them by using a better lens. Maybe if it was justthe occasional shot, but not on a regular basis.Here is a good site for lens comparisoms: http://www.photodo.com/.

Many thanks - a useful site..

I've had a look at the site and checked some reviews. It seems that even much more exalted lenses than my kit lens are prone to severe distortion at wide angles - the tamron 17-50 is just as bad for example (although CA is better, as the previous poster said). Since I am only concerned about distortion (for the moment) on a few shots of buildings I'll get PS elements for now..

Mike..

Just remember that while it's true that PS can correct many things like barrel distortion and CA, you can only improve the original image by using better lens. The lens is like your recording master - it will give you the RAW file which is your raw material to work with. Photoshoping and finetuning can always be done at a later date, but you can never reverse the RAW. Sadly I am not familiar with the Pentax lens. I can say that I have had very few problems with m 12-24mm Tokina except for minor vigenetting at the corners.http://www.flickr.com/photos/freezingrain/..

What you need is a PC lens (Perspective Control lens). This will let you get in close as a wide angle and help to take the distortion out of the image. But, they ain't cheap. Especially a good one..

Scott W. McClure.

Http://www.couriernews.comhttp://www.got-photos.com.

'You only get one sunrise and one sunset a day and you only get so many days on the planet. A good photographer does the math and doesn't waste either.'... The Late Galen Rowell..

John farrar wrote:.

I cannot see how it is better to correct errors in Photoshop thanto try to avoid them by using a better lens. Maybe if it was justthe occasional shot, but not on a regular basis.Here is a good site for lens comparisoms: http://www.photodo.com/.

Every wide-angle zoom that I know of has barrel distortion (as well as most wide-angle primes). Really expensive ones keep it low but don't eliminate it. It's surprising how bad 1% barrel looks on straight walls. Some straightening in Photoshop is no big deal along with all the other munging we do.Leonard Migliore..

Perhaps a prime lens might be better ( for CA ). Distortion is quite hard to avoid particularly wide, as is CA..

I believe the Pentax 18-55 has barrel at wide and pincushion at the long end. That suggests somewhere in the middle there's a range with the lowest distortion..

StephenG.

Fuji S9600Fuji S5200Fuji F30Fuji E900Canon A710ISPCLinuxOS..

You should post an example of the distortion problem you see. There are two different types: perspective and geometric. We can't tell which you are seeing..

ALL lenses have perspective distortion. It is not a failure of the lens, but rather a "failure" of the photographer. A PC lens will let you compensate for the relationship of the camera and subject. You can also correct this in software..

Geometric distortion (barrel and pincushion) ARE lens issues. Excellent lenses control this well. It also can be corrected in software. Some cameras (fixed lens) correct for GD in the camera..

I suggest you get PSE 5 and PTLens. They work together and will make you happy..

Charlie DavisNikon 5700 & Sony R1CATS #25PAS Scribe @ http://www.here-ugo.com/PAS_List.htmHomePage: http://www.1derful.info'I brake for pixels...'..

You should post an example of the distortion problem you see. Thereare two different types: perspective and geometric. We can't tellwhich you are seeing..

Here is a good (if you can call it that) example. It looks to me like standard barrel distortion, not the kind you get from looking upwards at a tall building..

Image control:Zoom outZoom 100%Zoom inExpand AllOpen in new window.

I suggest you get PSE 5 and PTLens. They work together and will makeyou happy..

I've dowloaded the trial version of elements 5 and it's very impressive. I hadn't come across PTLens but will look for that..

Many thanks for your help.Mike..