Panasonic Lumix S 18 mm f/1.8 review

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Panasonic Lumix S 18 mm f/1.8

2 January 2026

Maciej Latałło

8. Vignetting

In case of full frame systems we have shown vignetting results both for the smaller APS-C sensor and full frame. Why? The systems of Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Sony, or Sigma have one mount that allows to attach full frame lenses both to full frame cameras and to cameras that are equipped with the APS-C/DX sensor. That's why information about vignetting or distortion on the second, smaller detector, is very important for some users. Panasonic also have been developping two systems, the L-mount and the Micro 4/3, but they are not compatible with each other – the Micro 4/3 lenses cannot be attached directly to Lumix S system cameras. In such a situation we have to base our vignetting (but also distortion) test only on a full frame detector.

As you could notice in the previous chapters the data for the edge of the APS-C/DX sensor were left for measurements of resolution and chromatic aberration. In these cases it was important because it provided additional information about the resolution and chromatic aberration spread across the frame.

First let's deal with vignetting observed on uncorrected JPEG files – let's remind here that in this case you deal with an image distortion-free and its field of view amounts to almost exactly 100 deg.

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S1R II, FF, JPEG, f/1.8	S1R II, FF, JPEG, f/2.0

S1R II, FF, JPEG, f/2.8	S1R II, FF, JPEG, f/4.0

At the maximum relative aperture light fall-off in the very corner amounted to 47% (-1.86 EV). It's not low but it should be clearly noticed that other ultra wide angle rivals as fast as f/1.8 dealt with the problem noticeably worse.

By f/2.0 you deal with a value of 43% (-1.65 EV), by f/2.8 and f/4.0 apertures vignetting decreases to, respectively, 25% (-0.84 EV) and 19% (-0.61 EV). Further stopping down the aperture doesn't provide any measureable effects.

As a bonus addition to this chapter we decided also to check the vignetting on distortion uncorrected RAW files. Let's remind here that in this case you deal with a noticeably wider field of view, amounting to over 106 deg, so such as could be offered by a 16 mm rectilinear lens.

S1R II, FF, RAW, f/1.8	S1R II, FF, RAW, f/2.0

S1R II, FF, RAW, f/2.8	S1R II, FF, RAW, f/4.0

In this case at the maximum relative aperture brightness loss in frame corners reaches 62% (-2.78 EV) and it decreases to 59% (-2.58 EV) on stopping down the aperture to f/2.0. These aren't very bad results, because many fast models can show here results higher than 3 EV. Meanwhile in this configuration you work in such a range of angles of view that optics constructors didn't plan to show.

You can mention here a weak performance of the bigger and faster Sigma A 20 mm f/1.4 DG DN. By f/1.4 this lens lost as much as 74% of light in the corners and by f/2.0 it got a result of 56% so, within the margin of measurement error, very similar to the one you see in case of the slower Panasonic. Mind you the tested Panasonic provides a much wider field of view.

Employing the f/2.8 aperture you see this aberration decreasing to 45% (-1.73 EV), and by f/4.0 you see a result of 34% (-1.22 EV). Additional small decrease can be noticed by f/5.6 with a result of 32% (-1.11 EV). Further stopping down of the aperture doesn't provide any distinct effects. .

Panasonic S1R II, JPEG, 18 mm, f/1.8