Sony FE 28-70 mm f/2 GM
8. Vignetting
| A7R IIIa, APS-C, JPEG, 28 mm, f/2.0 | A7R IIIa, APS-C, JPEG, 28 mm, f/2.8 |
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| 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, 70 mm, f/2.0 | A7R IIIa, APS-C, JPEG, 70 mm, f/2.8 |
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In case of this size of detector there are no vignetting problems whatsoever. At a difficult combination of wide angle and f/2.0 aperture the brightness loss in frame corners amounts to just 11% (-0.35 EV) and it decreases to 5% (-0.16 EV) on stopping down the aperture to f/2.8.
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In the middle of the focal range the situation is equally good. By f/2.0 vignetting amounts to just 12% (-0.37 EV) and it decreases to 5% (-0.16 EV) by f/2.8.
A slight increase can be noticed at 70 mm, but even there this aberration is not a big problem because at the maximum relative aperture it keeps a very low level of 16% (-0.49 EV) and it decreases to an imperceptible value of 5% (-0.14 EV) after applying the f/2.8 aperture.
Now let's check whether these good results deteriorate a lot when you pass to full frame. Below you can find thumbnails we got at particular focal lenght applying f/2.0 and f/2.8 apertures.
| A7R IIIa, FF, JPEG, 28 mm, f/2.0 | A7R IIIa, FF, JPEG, 28 mm, f/2.8 |
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| 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, 70 mm, f/2.0 | A7R IIIa, FF, JPEG, 70 mm, f/2.8 |
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To be honest, knowing the parameters of the tested lens and the fact that the constructors tried their best to decrease its weight and dimensions in order to produce something smaller and lighter than the rival Canon model, I expected that vignetting at the maximum relative aperture would reach without any problems 3 EV or even higher.
It was a nice surprise to some extend that at the combination of 28 mm focal length and f/2.0 aperture this aberration amounted to 52% (-2.11 EV). Don't get me wrong – it's still a lot, but, taking into account the scale of the problem the optics constructors dealt with in this case, it is a completely acceptable result. Especially that vignetting is very susceptible to stopping down the aperture. By f/2.8 it is 31% (-1.08 EV), by f/4.0 it decreases to 19% (-0.60 EV), by f/5.6 and f/8.0 apertures it becomes imperceptible, with the following results: 11% (-0.34 EV) and 10% (-0.30 EV) respectively.
In the middle of the focal length the situation is a tad better. At the maximum relative aperture the aberration, described here, reaches 47% (-1.85 EV), and by f/2.8 it decreases to 26% (-0.86 EV). Vignetting becomes practically imperceptible already by f/4.0 and f/5.6 where it reaches, respectively: 12% (-0.38 EV) and 7% (-0.20 EV).
Officially the highest values we got at the maximum focal lenth where, by f/2.0, the brightness loss in frame corners amounted to 56% (-2.40 EV). By f/2.8 it decreased to 35% (-1.26 EV), and by f/4.0 to 18% (-0.57 EV). The problem became completely marginal by f/5.6 where it reached just 7% (-0.21 EV).
Once again I would like to emphasize the fact that I am very nicely surprised by the performance in this category. In fact, vignetting makes itself felt only at the maximum relative aperture and its value still remains lower than we expected. By f/2.8 the problem decreases to a medium level and from f/4.0 it stops to bother us almost completely, no matter what focal length you apply.
| Sony A7R IIIa, 28 mm, JPEG, f/2.0 |
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| Sony A7R IIIa, 50 mm, JPEG, f/2.0 |
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| Sony A7R IIIa, 70 mm, JPEG, f/2.0 |
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