Nikon Nikkor AF-S DX 18-135 mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF
8. Vignetting
Unfortunately, we were very disappointed. At 18 mm focal length and a wide open aperture the light fall off reached as much as 40% (-1.48 diaphragm value). Stopping down the lens to f/4.0 decreases the value to 33%. For f/5.6 we still have a high value of 21%. Only when using the f/8 diaphragm does the level drop to 14%, which is still higher than the required 10%.
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Fortunately, the situation improves at the 35-50 mm focal length. At 35 mm and f/4.2 the light fall off reaches a value of 26% (-0.87 diaphragm value). Stopping down the lens to f/5.6 decreases the vignetting to 13% and at f/8 it drops to an invisible level of 10%.
At the 50 mm focal length the situation is even better. With a wide open aperture the vignetting reaches a value of 23% (-0.75 diaphragm value). At f/5.6 it is 13% and at f/8 only 8%.
The trouble starts at 85 mm. At f/5.6 the light fall off in the corners of the frame reaches as much as 33% (-1.17 diaphragm value). Fortunately, after stopping down the lens, the vignetting drops to 12% and then it almost completely disappears.
A major problem emerges at the maximum focal length. At f/5.6 the light fall off in the corners of the frame reaches 50%, which is twice the diaphragm value. After stopping down the lens, the situation improves, but the vignetting is still present and reaches a value of 25%. Only after using the diaphragm at f/11 does the vignetting drop to 9%.
It is such a shame...the pictures speak for themselves.
