Pincushion distortion is a type of lens aberration in which the edges of an image appear to bow inward toward the centre, creating a shape resembling a pincushion. This effect is most noticeable in wide-angle or telephoto lenses and can affect architectural, landscape, and technical photography where straight lines are important.
While modern lenses and digital correction software can minimise pincushion distortion, understanding this optical phenomenon helps photographers select appropriate lenses and make adjustments during shooting or post-processing to maintain accurate image geometry.