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I want to know if there are any good lens correction software (i.e. plugin) for Aperture 3? I am primarily looking for general purpose lens correction software.

I have looked at the plugin page for Aperture 3, but this does not give a clue which is the best. I have also searched the Internet, but there are not many reviews when it comes to this kind of software.

However what is best might be subjective, but I hope that you could give me the pros and cons of the one that you suggest. I am also interested in your experience with the software.

Some interesting things to know (handy but not necessary):

  • Why is it so good?
  • Is it easy to use?
  • Is it well integrated with Aperture 3?
  • How is the customer support?
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  • \$\begingroup\$ I know that there is a similar question, but that is not specific to Aperture 3 and is not targeting Mac OS X. link \$\endgroup\$
    – Johan Karlsson
    Jan 18, 2012 at 20:36
  • \$\begingroup\$ I am a fan of PTLens. \$\endgroup\$
    – dpollitt
    Jan 18, 2012 at 20:40
  • \$\begingroup\$ Could please elaborate on this? What makes PTLens so good? Is it easy to use? Is it well integrated with Aperture 3? How is the end result? \$\endgroup\$
    – Johan Karlsson
    Jan 19, 2012 at 6:22
  • \$\begingroup\$ I don't have or use Aperture 3. I just use PTLens standalone, and have read that it is an available plugin for Aperture. That is why I didn't write a full answer, because you would have to look into it yourself. \$\endgroup\$
    – dpollitt
    Jan 19, 2012 at 13:18

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The answer partly depends on what you are trying to correct; for correcting fisheye-style wide angle lens distortion I really like a program called Fisheye-Hemi:

http://www.imagetrendsinc.com/products/prodpage_hemi.asp

That has just a few settings, but does a nice job making fisheye images look more natural.

Between the three general-purpose lens correction plugins listed (FixLens, LensFix, and PTLens) I'm not sure which is best - PTLens is more classic but traditionally had a rather complex interface, FixLens and LensFix may be simpler to use.

Edit:

Looking at the release dates, FixLens from Human Software was last updated in 2010 - the other two, in 2008! Also the screenshots make FixLens look more advanced... I would go for FixLens for a general purpose tool.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ I was looking for a general purpose lens correction. \$\endgroup\$
    – Johan Karlsson
    Jan 19, 2012 at 19:10
  • \$\begingroup\$ The LensFix application currently has no support (as of 1 January 2012). According to the homepage the support will be back in July 2012. So it seems that this is a bit insecure and is out of the picture right now. \$\endgroup\$
    – Johan Karlsson
    Jan 19, 2012 at 19:15
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Whilst this is not really answering the exact question because it is not a plugin for Aperture (and perhaps I will get some downgrades?) I could highly recommend DxO Optics for your needs.

This is a leader in lens correction and workflow software. It has a huge range of Camera/Lens combinations that it is able to correct for optical distortion, vignetting, exposure, noise, and more.

They also do a Film Pack which can be purchased as a plugin for Aperture (and others) which allows you to apply film effects to digital photos.

I can't really comment on customer support as I've never needed to use them. But regarding the crux of your question - lens correction software - this really can't be beaten.

There's a review of DxO here and here. You can download a trial version here.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ I am really looking for something that integrates well with Aperture 3, although DxO optics seems to be a good choice for lens correction software. However I cannot see how I could integrate this into my workflow when using Aperture 3. But if there is a good way to integrate it with my workflow, please let me know. Maybe I am missing something here. \$\endgroup\$
    – Johan Karlsson
    Jan 19, 2012 at 14:24
  • \$\begingroup\$ As I said before - I knew when I posted it, it wasn't exactly what you were looking for as it wasn't a plugin, but at least it gives you options :) \$\endgroup\$
    – Mike
    Jan 19, 2012 at 16:53
  • \$\begingroup\$ Thanks for giving me the option! It was not my intention to ungrateful. \$\endgroup\$
    – Johan Karlsson
    Jan 19, 2012 at 17:08
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My favorite is Lensfix, definitely better. It corrects RAW, the other don´t. But currently it is temporarily out of production

Important News: As of 1 January 2012 Kekus will no longer sell Calico or LensFix in order to care for a family member. I hope to return to active development in July. In the mean time, I will provide limited support and keep the download live for existing customers

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