An algorithm is provided for reducing distortion in an image captured by a camera or other imaging system having more than one optical viewpoint. The algorithm can use a captured image, statistical information regarding the depths of scene objects, and information regarding the geometrical characteristics of the imaging system to generate an approximation of a perspective projection representing the scene. The virtual viewpoint of the approximate perspective projection is selected so as to reduce distortion. The resulting image has less distortion than that of an image generated under an assumption that scene objects are infinitely distant. In addition, the parameters of any distortion reducing function can be optimized by minimizing an objective function representing the amount of image distortion.