Canon EF 70-200 mm f/4L IS II USM
8. Vignetting
| Canon 50D, 70 mm, f4.0 | Canon 50D, 70 mm, f/5.6 |
|
|
| Canon 50D, 135 mm, f/4.0 | Canon 50D, 135 mm, f/5.6 |
|
|
| Canon 50D, 200 mm, f/4.0 | Canon 50D, 200 mm, f/5.6 |
|
|
| Canon 50D, 280 mm, (TC), f/5.6 | Canon 50D, 280 mm (TC), f/8.0 |
|
|
At the 70 mm focal length it would be difficult to notice any vignetting even at the maximum relative aperture as it amounts to 11% (−0.35 EV) and, additionally, it drops to 5% (−0.14 EV) on stopping down the aperture to f/5.6.
Please Support UsIf you enjoy our reviews and articles, and you want us to continue our work please, support our website by donating through PayPal. The funds are going to be used for paying our editorial team, renting servers, and equipping our testing studio; only that way we will be able to continue providing you interesting content for free. |
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
In the middle of the focal range the situation is just a tad worse: by f/4.0 vignetting amounts to 14% (−0.42 EV), and by f/5.6 it returns again to 5% (−0.15 EV).
There are some chances to notice vignetting at 200 mm where it reaches 22% (−0.70 EV), but it drops to 9% (−0.29 EV) on stopping down the aperture to f/5.6.
The situation improves after attaching the teleconverter – by f/5.6 vignetting is just 15% (-0.49 EV) and by f/8.0 it becomes imperceptible, reaching just 4% (−0.12 EV).
Now let's check how the situation changes after passing to full frame – appropriate thumbnails you can find below.
| Canon 5D III, 70 mm, f/4.0 | Canon 5D III, 70 mm, f/5.6 |
|
|
| Canon 5D III, 135 mm, f/4.0 | Canon 5D III, 135 mm, f/5.6 |
|
|
| Canon 5D III, 200 mm, f/4.0 | Canon 5D III, 200 mm, f/5.6 |
|
|
| Canon 5D III, 280 mm, (TC), f/5.6 | Canon 5D III, 280 mm (TC), f/8.0 |
|
|
The 70 mm focal length still doesn't provide any reasons to complain because by f/4.0 brightness loss in frame corners is 27% (−0.90 EV) and it decreases to 13% (−0.42 EV) on stopping down to f/5.6. Vignetting disappears practically completely by f/8.0 where we got a result of just 7% (−0.21 EV).
In the middle of the focal range you can encounter more problems because at the maximum relative aperture vignetting amounts to 39% (−1.41 EV); on stopping down to f/5.6 and f/8.0 apertures it decreases to, respectively, 25% (−0.83 EV) and19% (−0.62 EV). After employing f/11 vignetting reaches 13% (−0.42 EV).
Very similar results you can observe at 200 mm. By f/4.0 aperture the aberration, described here, reached 38% (−1.36 EV), and by f/5.6 it decreased to 23% (−0.76EV). The f/8.0 relative aperture can reduce vignetting to 16% (−0.52 EV) and only by f/11 it becomes imperceptible, amounting to just 9% (−0.28 EV).
The situation improves significantly after attaching the teleconverter because by f/5.6 you have to take into account a loss of 23% (−0.75 EV) of light in frame corners. That value drops to just 9% (−0.27 EV) on stopping down the aperture to f/8.0.
Results, described above, are hardly bad but it should be noticed that all rivals of the Canon, mentioned in our test, namely the Nikkor AF-S 70–200 mm f/4.0G ED VR, the Tamron 70–210 mm f/4 Di VC USD and the Tokina AT-X PRO FX SD 70–200 f/4 VCM-S, performed in this category a bit better.
| Canon 5D Mk III, 70 mm, f/4.0 |
 |
| Canon 5D Mk III, 135 mm, f/4.0 |
 |
| Canon 5D Mk III, 200 mm, f/4.0 |
 |
| Canon 5D Mk III, 280 mm (TC), f/5.6 |
 |
