Lude Generation

A few years ago, I bought a Sony DSC-WX5 compact digital camera. One feature I don't like is that it seem to distort the image when at a certain distance to the object. Here's two examples I took in September 2012:




I think it's something to do with switching between wide angle and narrow angle? Maybe, sort of like a fisheye effect? I might be using the wrong jargon here!

Anyway, I don't like it. What sort of setting should I be playing with to sort this out?

No, you are right. It's because you're shooting close up with a wide angle lens. You want to move further away and use the zoom, but maybe not tooo much, as that tends to flatten the perspective a bit too much so it loses all sense of depth

Car looks good BTW

You can usually find a filter for photoshop or whatever you use to correct that sort of thing.

Yeah, it's not the camera, it's the 'limits' of photography.
You can try being a little further away, you can also ensure that you verticals are always square on to minimizer the effect and as indigolemon says, in Photoshop I think you want filters/lens correction/distortion, or something like that.
Believe it or not I used to be a high-end-property photographer, so had to shoot almost entirely through a wide angle!

Try and get the lens setting to as near as 50mm if this is an option. It will give a more natural effect. Then frame the picture by moving your feet.

Yes sorry, I was assuming it was a compact type camera being clever when you get closer in, if you have full control, as shiny says don't go too wide