Lens distortion (curving)

I have noticed that when I attempt to straighten photos (especially of buildings), they never seem to line up properly due to curving on the sides. I realize that this is probably the curve of the lens, but I am wondering if there is a setting or workaround to get a perfectly straight picture. Either that or a different lens to use.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T5
Lens: EF-S 18-55mm IS II

Thanks!

As far as I know, the only cure for this is to shoot level. The problem is caused by shooting up at your subject. An equal and opposite problem is caused by shooting down at the subject. A longer lens from further away will lessen the effect. There is no way to eliminate it.

What software are you using?

I can usually fix it easily in Photoshop using Camaera Raw or the lens corrections filter. Usually I use Camera Raw (manual adjustments). I can fix the curving on the sides. I can usually get everything perfectly square and straight.

Sometimes it takes some fiddling, but I can only think of one image that I was not able to fix (I think the building was actually crooked).

I am an anal-retentive freak when it comes to lens and perspective corrections.

The 18-55mm STM has 3.2% barrel distortion at 18mm. LR has some lens profiles that permit it to correct some lens distortions.

OP's problem looks more like perspective distortion.

Bassat wrote in post #17923807
OP's problem looks more like perspective distortion.

It is mostly perspective distortion with a dash of lens distortion. I just played with it for a couple of minutes.

I fixed the lens distortion in Photoshops' "Lens Correction" filter, and the perspective distortion in Camera Raw (manual lens corrections).

I didn't get all of the beams along the front of the house perfect, though. I could only quickly get three of the four. If I played with it for longer I could probably get it.

You could also invest in a tilt-shift lens to get rid of perspective distortion on the spot.