Affiliate Recommendation
Lens Sim
Realistic camera lens simulation for Blender.
Based on real optical data.
What Is Lens Sim?
Lens Sim extends Blender's camera with real-world lens characteristics. Instead of the perfect, sterile look of a default Blender camera, you get the organic imperfections that make real photography feel alive—chromatic aberration, natural bokeh shapes, vignetting, barrel distortion, and lens softness.
Key Features
Chromatic Aberration
Color fringing at high-contrast edges, just like real lenses. Customizable ramp for precise control.
Natural Bokeh
Physically accurate out-of-focus rendering with realistic aperture shapes and bokeh swirliness.
Vignetting
Natural light falloff toward edges, matching real lens behavior.
Lens Distortion
Barrel and pincushion distortion based on actual lens profiles.
Tilt-Shift
Simulate tilt-shift lenses for architectural photography or miniature effects.
Anamorphic
Cinematic anamorphic lens simulation for that wide-screen film look.
Lens Softness
Subtle edge softness that mimics real optics—not everything is razor sharp.
Focus Breathing
Field of view changes as you rack focus, just like real lenses.
Why I Recommend It
Light Wrangler handles light placement. Lens Sim handles how the camera sees that light. Together, they bridge the gap between 3D rendering and real photography. If you're going for photorealism, your lighting is only half the equation—the lens matters just as much.
Works With Light Wrangler
Set up your studio lighting with Light Wrangler, then add Lens Sim to your camera for that final touch of realism. The combination gives you full control over both light and optics—exactly how professional photographers work.
Compatibility
Blender: 4.5+ (OSL camera shaders)
Render Engine: Cycles
GPU: NVIDIA (OptiX) for GPU rendering, or CPU on any system
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
Created by Havard Dalen