Canon EF-S 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6 IS review - Vignetting

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Canon EF-S 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

24 March 2010

Arkadiusz Olech

8. Vignetting

The predecessor of the stabilized „kit” lens fared sensibly well in this category, having the highest level of vignetting, amounting to 25%, at the shortest focal length. The Nikkor and the Pentax weren’t so lucky though, because in their case the vignetting values amounted to as much as 39-40% ; however, it should be remembered that they work on a bit bigger sensors.

Canon EF-S 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6 IS - Vignetting

Unfortunately with the virtually unchanged lens diameter, the addition of stabilization resulted in vignetting increase. At the widest angle and by f/3.5 the light fall-off in the frame corners amounts to 35% (-1.43 EV). By f/4.0 it decreases to the level of 32%, by f/5.6 it reaches 23%, by f/8.0 it already is 17% but only by f/11 it decreases to an almost imperceptible level of 12%.

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A significantly better situation can be observed in the middle of the focal lengths’ range. Here, at the maximum aperture, the vignetting amounts to 24% (-0.81 EV). By f/5.6 it decreases to 11% and it stops being visible as well.

The best situation we see at 55 mm where, at the maximum relative aperture, the light fall-off in the frame corners reaches 20% (-0.64 EV). By f/8.0 the problem becomes completely of marginal significance (6%).