Sony FE 50-150 mm f/2 GM
8. Vignetting
| A7R IIIa, APS-C, JPEG, 50 mm, f/2.0 | A7R IIIa, APS-C, JPEG, 50 mm, f/2.8 |
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| A7R IIIa, APS-C, JPEG, 100 mm, f/2.0 | A7R IIIa, APS-C, JPEG, 100 mm, f/2.8 |
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| A7R IIIa, APS-C, JPEG, 150 mm, f/2.0 | A7R IIIa, APS-C, JPEG, 150 mm, f/2.8 |
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At the 50 mm focal length the problem practically doesn't exist. By f/2.0 vignetting is 13% (-0.40 EV) and it decreases to a completely imperceptible level of 2% (-0.07 EV), when you stop the aperture down to f/2.8.
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After increasing the focal length to 100 mm the values are just a tad higher and amount to 16% (-0.52 EV) and 3% (-0.09 EV), by f/2.0 and f/2.8 respectively.
The highest chances to notice vignetting you get at 150 mm where, at the maximum relative aperture, it reaches 27% (-0.90 EV) and by f/2.8 it decreases to an imperceptible value of 8% (-0.25 EV).
As you see on the APS-C sensor the tested Sony model doesn't have practically any problems with vignetting. Now it's time to check the full frame.
| A7R IIIa, FF, JPEG, 50 mm, f/2.0 | A7R IIIa, FF, JPEG, 50 mm, f/2.8 |
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| A7R IIIa, FF, JPEG, 100 mm, f/2.0 | A7R IIIa, FF, JPEG, 100 mm, f/2.8 |
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| A7R IIIa, FF, JPEG, 150 mm, f/2.0 | A7R IIIa, FF, JPEG, 150 mm, f/2.8 |
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Here the issue is much larger but big physical dimensions of the lens, especially its width, allowed to limit vignetting reducing it to values lower than 3 EV across the whole focal range.
At the 50 mm focal length and the maximum relative aperture we got a result of 52% (-2.11 EV), that decreases to 30% (-1.02 EV) when you stop the lens down by 1 EV. By f/4.0 vignetting becomes slight, decreasing to 19% (-0.61 EV), and by f/5.6 it is reduced to a practically imperceptible level of 9% (-0.27 EV).
Slightly higher results are visible at 100 mm. At the maximum relative aperture vignetting amouts to 53% (-2.21 EV) and it decreases to 31% (-1.08 EV) when you employ f/2.8. By f/4.0, f/5.6, and f/8.0 apertures we got, respectively: 20% (−0.63 EV), 13% (−0.42 EV), and 7% (−0.21 EV).
Very similar performance can be observed at the 150 mm focal length. By f/2.0 brightness loss in frame corners reaches 52% (-2.14 EV), by f/2.8 it decreases to 30% (-1.05 EV), and by f/4.0 it drops to 18% (-0.59 EV). All problems end practically completely by f/5.6 and f/8.0 apertures with the following results: 11% (-0.35 EV) and 5% (-0.15 EV).
It is clear that the maximum level of vignetting is more or less constant and, no matter what focal length you employ, it keeps a value slightly exceeding 50%. It's worth adding that with the increase of focal length the profile of this aberration changes. Isophotes, presented in the photos shown below, show very clearly that with the increase of the focal length the vignetting appears closer to the frame centre.
| Sony A7R IIIa, 50 mm, JPEG, f/2.0 |
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| Sony A7R IIIa, 100 mm, JPEG, f/2.0 |
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| Sony A7R IIIa, 150 mm, JPEG, f/2.0 |
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