Perspective distortion illusion?

[zuiko]

Hi all,

While viewing through some 10x42 binoculars today (Leica Ultravid) - I was looking from an angle of roughly 45 degrees to one side of a plasma tv and noticed that the vertical edge further away was longer than the side closer to me resulting in a curious reversal of the perspective one expects ie. nearer side is longer.

I don't know if this is due to pincushion distortion but I've checked other objects like picture frames small and large and they display the same effect - the near side is shorter and far edge is longer!

What's the explanation for this odd reversal of perspective?

Is it limited to the Leica or due to design of the binos?

Regards.

[Leif]

Hi all,

While viewing through some 10x42 binoculars today (Leica Ultravid) - I was looking from an angle of roughly 45 degrees to one side of a plasma tv and noticed that the vertical edge further away was longer than the side closer to me resulting in a curious reversal of the perspective one expects ie. nearer side is longer.

I don't know if this is due to pincushion distortion but I've checked other objects like picture frames small and large and they display the same effect - the near side is shorter and far edge is longer!

What's the explanation for this odd reversal of perspective?

Is it limited to the Leica or due to design of the binos?

Regards.


Wouldn't it be easier to move your chair closer to the TV?

No idea about your question though.

Leif

[tom24]

I'm not technically proficient on these things, but is this the same thing like the optical illusion when using a scope where the bird behind one of same size looks larger?

[iporali]

Is it limited to the Leica or due to design of the binos?
Zuiko,

If the impression is similar regardless of the placement of those near/far edges I don't think it is pincushion. It could be, if the front edge is in the middle and the far edge in the "stretched" peripherial field-of-view. But could it just be an optical illusion when the eye expects to see some perspective but due to long distance it does not? I can experience this illusion by looking some photographs taken with very long tele lenses - and I may have to use a ruler to believe that the farther similar object is actually not any larger.

Ilkka


EDIT: OK, Tom - you beat me to it... ;)

[Grousemore]

Wouldn't it be easier to move your chair closer to the TV?



Leif

Classic :t:

[hinnark]

Hi all,

While viewing through some 10x42 binoculars today (Leica Ultravid) - I was looking from an angle of roughly 45 degrees to one side of a plasma tv and noticed that the vertical edge further away was longer than the side closer to me resulting in a curious reversal of the perspective one expects ie. nearer side is longer.

I don't know if this is due to pincushion distortion but I've checked other objects like picture frames small and large and they display the same effect - the near side is shorter and far edge is longer!

What's the explanation for this odd reversal of perspective?

Is it limited to the Leica or due to design of the binos?

Regards.


Zuiko,

this kind of illusion which is visible not only when watching at tv screens but also when watching along sidewalks, blocks of houses and so on, comes with every binocular of pincushion distorsion. That means it comes more or less with every binocular on the market nowadays.

Leif,

>>Wouldn't it be easier to move your chair closer to the TV?<<

Our binoculars are expensive enough. So it could be useful to save some money with their help. A small tv-screen is getting a big one this way. I save on a wall clock by frequently watching with a binocular at the church clock which is 1 km away outside.
Are there any other ideas for useful binocular investment reflux?

Steve

[Leif]

>>Wouldn't it be easier to move your chair closer to the TV?<<

Our binoculars are expensive enough. So it could be useful to save some money with their help. A small tv-screen is getting a big one this way. I save on a wall clock by frequently watching with a binocular at the church clock which is 1 km away outside.
Are there any other ideas for useful binocular investment reflux?

Steve

LOL. And of course you could always watch your neighbours TV ...

Leif

[Chris C]

Hi all,

What's the explanation for this odd reversal of perspective?

Is it limited to the Leica or due to design of the binos?

Regards.

I think what you may be observing is 'parallax' and you should see the same efffect if using a paper tube. The far object appears "larger" because you are actually veiwing a longer proportion of it. Does this jibe with your observations?

Cheers,
C

[hinnark]

LOL. And of course you could always watch your neighbours TV ...

Leif

That´s even better! A weatherproof television rocking chair in the garden but...
something is missing. We have image stabilisation and digicams coming with the binocular. What about binoculars with built in remote controll units?

Steve