Mapping of architectural and archaeological objects often encounters limitations in imaging distances (interiors, narrow streets, excavations), usually tackled via large numbers of images or special camera platforms This, however, seriously contradicts the benefits of simple, low-cost photogrammetric procedures. In these cases, furthermore, the use of digital cameras with the currently limited area of sensitive sensors may also be impracticable. In this context, the employment of super-wide-angle lenses (e. g. of 14, 17 or 18 mm focal lengths for 35 mm cameras) appears as a possible remedy; these, however, suffer from heavy distortions. This paper presents a first study of two different 17 mm lenses commonly available in the market (RMC Tokina and SP Tamron on Nikon cameras). In order to assess their photogrammetric po-tential, the efficiency of the conventional model for radial symmetric lens distortion has been tested. Partial calibration was performed using photography of straight lines easily found in urban environments. Overall precisions of line fitting, initially 4.2 and 6.3 pixels, rose after correcting distortion to 1.3 and 1.5 pixels, respectively; thus, the main cause of de-viations seems to have been removed. Repeatability of calibration, on the other hand, is also regarded as satisfactory (presence of decentering distortion was difficult to establish). Digital image transformation, also performed here, results in resampled imagery essentially freed from lens distortion and suitable for common digital photogrammetric software.