A method for correcting an image divides an output image into a grid with vertical sections of width smaller than the image width but wide enough to allow efficient bursts when writing distortion corrected line sections into memory. A distortion correction engine includes a relatively small amount of memory for an input image buffer but without requiring unduly complex control. The input image buffer accommodates enough lines of an input image to cover the distortion of a single most vertically distorted line section of the input image. The memory required for the input image buffer can be significantly less than would be required to store all the lines of a distorted input image spanning a maximal distortion of a complete line within the input image.