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Lens review

Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 VC USD G2

18 December 2018
Arkadiusz Olech

8. Vignetting

First let’s check how the Tamron 24–70 mm f/2.8 G2 performs on the smaller APS-C sensor of the Canon 50D – appropriate thumbnails are shown below.

Canon 50D, 24 mm, f/2.8 Canon 50D, 24 mm, f/4.0
Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 VC USD G2 - Vignetting Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 VC USD G2 - Vignetting
Canon 50D, 45 mm, f/2.8 Canon 50D, 45 mm, f/4.0
Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 VC USD G2 - Vignetting Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 VC USD G2 - Vignetting
Canon 50D, 70 mm, f/2.8 Canon 50D, 70 mm, f/4.0
Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 VC USD G2 - Vignetting Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 VC USD G2 - Vignetting


At the shortest focal length and with the lens wide open the brightness loss in the frame corners amounts to just 13% (−0.40 EV) and it becomes imperceptible after stopping down the aperture by 1 EV. In the middle of the focal range the situation is even better because it is hard to notice any vignetting at the maximum relative aperture – it is just 10% (−0.32 EV). On stopping down the lens to f/4.0 the light fall off decreases to 8% (−0.25 EV). A similar effect can be observed at 70 mm – results we got by f/2.8 and f/4.0 are, respectively, 12% (−0.37 EV), and 7% (−0.21 EV).


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Let’s progress to vignetting on full frame – below you can find images taken with the Canon 5D Mark III.

Canon 5D III, 24 mm, f/2.8 Canon 5D III, 24 mm, f/4.0
Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 VC USD G2 - Vignetting Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 VC USD G2 - Vignetting
Canon 5D III, 45 mm, f/2.8 Canon 5D III, 45 mm, f/4.0
Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 VC USD G2 - Vignetting Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 VC USD G2 - Vignetting
Canon 5D III, 70 mm, f/2.8 Canon 5D III, 70 mm, f/4.0
Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 VC USD G2 - Vignetting Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 VC USD G2 - Vignetting


A difficult combination of the 24 mm focal length and f/2.8 aperture makes itself felt – you have to take into account light fall off amounting to 57% (−2.46 EV) in frame corners. Exactly the same result had the Sigma; it is, at the same time, a value higher than that of the stabilized Nikkor, slightly worse than that of the Tokina but better than the result of the Canon.

The vignetting of the Tamron decreases quite slowly on stopping down. Results we got by f/4.0, f/5.6, f/8.0 and f/11.0 apertures are, respectively: 41% (−1.49 EV), 31% (−1.07 EV), 29% (−0.99 EV) and again 29% (−0.99 EV). In the middle of the focal range the vignetting level is lower, amounting at the maximum relative aperture to 42% (−1.57 EV). On stopping down to f/4.0 it decreases to 24% (−0.78 EV), and after further stopping down to f/5.6 and f/8.0 it drops to 18% (−0.57 EV) and 17% (−0.54 EV) respectively.

At the maximum focal length serious vignetting problems return – by f/2.8 the light fall off reaches 51% (−2.08 EV) and it is, next to that of the Sigma, the worst result of all group. By f/4.0 the aberration decreases to 31% (−1.05 EV), and by f/5.6 it is 23% (−0.76 EV). By f/8.0 and f/11.0 apertures the brightness loss amounts to just 17% (−0.53 EV) and 14% (−0.42 EV).

Canon 5D Mk III, 24 mm, f/2.8
Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 VC USD G2 - Vignetting
Canon 5D Mk III, 45 mm, f/2.8
Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 VC USD G2 - Vignetting
Canon 5D Mk III, 70 mm, f/2.8
Tamron SP 24-70 mm f/2.8 VC USD G2 - Vignetting