Since I’ve started flying my remote control DJI Phantom quadcopter with the GoPro camera mounted on it, I’ve become very unhappy with the quality of the GoPro video and photos. The lens is way too wide, creating an obnoxious fisheye effect. Aerial photos or video can look pretty bad with this effect, as the horizon can look completely rounded.
Yesterday I shot some stills high above the neighborhood with the Phantom/GoPro setup. I spent about 10 minutes mucking around in Photoshop with the liquify filter. From the photo above you can see the difference. On the right is obviously the original photo. On the left is the version I mucked with.
Once I have the process down I’ll post the steps. I may be able to create a photoshop action to automate this process. Stay tuned.
Not sure what version of photoshop you are using, but go to filter, lens correction, and then manual and there is a little slider that can get rid of the fisheye effect
Thanks for the comment Chris. I’m using Photoshop CC, bugs and all. I’ve already tried the filter route. Not happy with the results. The quality of the photo is quite compromised around the edges. I’ve found doing this correction with liquify compromises the quality far less.
One way to avoid the distortion (other than not using a GoPro) is to make sure the primary subject is in the center of the frame. The closer to the edges the more distortion. Hard to do when flying an RC quad though!