24-105L Curved horizon.

[Loswr]

Perhaps if I ran Windows, I'd use LR exclusively. But I'm not a fan of Adobe's UI on the Mac. I tolerate it for CS6 because there's no other option. I prefer the native UI of Aperture.

Since this thread is about distortion, I'll point out one more DxO advantage - volume anamorphosis correction. Both barrel distortion and the normal corrections for it alter the shape of common objects at the edges of the frame. It's often very noticeable with people - very few subjects appreciate the 'weight gain' from barrel distortion correction at the edges. You can dial down the distortion correction to restore their proportions, but then you're back with curved lines. That's where DxO's volume anamorphosis corrections come in. The presets are very good, and as presets, just one click to use.

Worth noting that while LR can't perform that sort of correction, DxO offers a subset of geometric corrections, including volume anamorphosis, as DxO ViewPoint - and it's available as a plugin for LR.

 

[Rocguy]

Perhaps if I ran Windows, I'd use LR exclusively. But I'm not a fan of Adobe's UI on the Mac. I tolerate it for CS6 because there's no other option. I prefer the native UI of Aperture.

Since this thread is about distortion, I'll point out one more DxO advantage - volume anamorphosis correction. Both barrel distortion and the normal corrections for it alter the shape of common objects at the edges of the frame. It's often very noticeable with people - very few subjects appreciate the 'weight gain' from barrel distortion correction at the edges. You can dial down the distortion correction to restore their proportions, but then you're back with curved lines. That's where DxO's volume anamorphosis corrections come in. The presets are very good, and as presets, just one click to use.

Worth noting that while LR can't perform that sort of correction, DxO offers a subset of geometric corrections, including volume anamorphosis, as DxO ViewPoint - and it's available as a plugin for LR.

I appreciate this input. I have to say as a Mac user I really would like to stick with Aperture as it is native to my OS. I'm sure you know. It really is why I chose it over LR. I am having moments of regret since there are a few things that LR can do that I cannot in Aperture. Plus LR seems to be so pervasive there is much more help and info available on it which is appealing. But your input makes me think again. Lol I like the idea of an all in one program but I might go with a DxO + Aperture route after all.

 

[privatebydesign]

I started off with Aperture, and still have it, but migrated to Lightroom at version 2. The one feature I really like in Aperture that Lightroom still doesn't have is the AF point display, trouble is it is not intelligent and doesn't move with the crop.

My main reason for moving was speed, Lightrrom worked much faster than Aperture on the same computer with the same image file library, also the Aperture catalog was huge compared to the same Lightrrom catalog.

 

[anthony11]

My point here is that every lens has its tradeoffs. Some trade performance for cost. Others trade utility for ultimate image quality. What lens is right for YOU is what you need to work out.

And of course the 24-105 is much superior to the 24-70 from 70-105mm I rarely shoot from 24-35, so the extra reach is valuable to me. ymmv.

If you're going to be taking casual travel photos that occasionally show distortion effects (like your shot here) it's probably better to err on the side of utility (like you've done with the 24-105). What good are perfectly straight lines if your dog runs off while you're trying to change lenses??

This factor is oft-undervalued. My son is always in motion and rarely looks directly at me, so I personally need responsive AF and short shutter-lag, neither of which I get on my 5D2 :-/

Don't try to force a tool to do a job it wasn't made for....

That sounds like a country song ^_^

 

[privatebydesign]

As an aside, like most things, you can dig deep and actually do volume anamorphosis adjustments in Photoshop, but it takes a bit of trial and error and a little more time than the DxO one button solution.

The basis of the adjustment is in the Filter drop down menu go Distort-Spherize in that menu under Mode choose Horizontal Only (or Vertical Only) then move the slider, when you have done that select all and go free transform and change the width percent to around 90%, click the arrow and you are done. Now most times it helps if you increase the canvas width first as this moves where the spherize bands adjust within the frame, like I said a bit of trial and error but good results and cheaper than the plugin if you have PS.

Spherical anamorphosis adjustments are easily done in the lens correction panel with the distortion slider.