Correcting Lens Distortion

This example demonstrates how to use UndistortedCamera to correct for the barrel or pincushion distortion often present in wide-angle camera lenses.

import datetime
from arguslib.camera.camera import Camera
from arguslib.camera.undistorted_camera import UndistortedCamera

dt = datetime.datetime(2025, 3, 25, 9, 0, 0)

Standard Camera with Lens Distortion

When we plot an image from a standard Camera object, especially one with a wide-angle lens, we can often see the effects of lens distortion. Notice how straight lines appear to curve near the edges of the image.

cam = Camera.from_config("COBALT", "3-7")
ax = cam.show(dt)

Correcting Distortion with UndistortedCamera

The UndistortedCamera class applies a correction based on the camera’s calibration parameters, effectively “unwarping” the image. The resulting plot shows a much more natural, rectilinear view, as if seen through a distortion-free lens.

undistorted_cam = UndistortedCamera.from_config("COBALT", "3-7")
ax = undistorted_cam.show(dt)