Vignetting - Nikon 18-70

[james_tigerwoods]

I aquired the Nikon 18-70 from a PHer early this year and it's a nice lens (I'm still hankering after a 1.8 mind) - however, at 18mm, I notice there's some vignetting.

Having done some research - There's a few suggestions of ways to "fix" this, which include:

• Use the lens hood (really?)
• Stop down (what does that mean?)
• Use photo editing software (how do I do that?)

Am I doint something wrong or are the above the only fixes?

Cheers

JTW

[itsnotarace]

Zoom in

[RobDickinson]

james_tigerwoods said:

• Use the lens hood (really?)

Really? I doubt it. Lens hoods can cause vignetting if not properly on, and reduce flare, add contrast etc. Reduce vignetting? nope.

james_tigerwoods said:

• Stop down (what does that mean?)

Stopping down means not shooting at its maximum aperture. Which is likely f3.5 or f4 or something. reducing the aperture size (to f5.6 or f8 or osmething) usualy reduces vignetting.

james_tigerwoods said:

• Use photo editing software (how do I do that?)

A lot of modern picture procesing software can (and often automaticaly) correct certain lens defects. removing vignetting is basicaly doing a lighten around the edge of the image, this though can induce noise the same way pushing a photo (making it brighter) can.

[james_tigerwoods]

RobDickinson said:

Stuff

Thanks - I wasn't convinced about the Lens hood anyway...

[Toyless]

This is my main lens and I have to say I've never had any issues at all with it.

Not much help I know,burt I've not heard this said about this lens before.

[K12beano]

Er ... Which one is that? 18-70mm AF-S DX f/3.5-4.5???

If so, what are you using it on? A DX or FX sensor size??

[K12beano]

Hmm?!

Thomas Hogan notes its vignettimg...


http://www.bythom.com/1870lens.htm

[RobDickinson]

I dont think theres many lenses that dont have some vignetting.

[LongQ]

Alternatively think of it as a feature that saves you having to add vignettes in post processing - many applications seem to offer such a feature these days so I assume people like vignettes!

[james_tigerwoods]

K12beano said:

Er ... Which one is that? 18-70mm AF-S DX f/3.5-4.5???

If so, what are you using it on? A DX or FX sensor size??

Um - yes, that lens - and, er, I don't know...

[K12beano]

Ah, sorry if I wasn't very clear - which camera body(ies) are you using?

[james_tigerwoods]

K12beano said:

Ah, sorry if I wasn't very clear - which camera body(ies) are you using?

Ahh - That I can answer - A Nikon D40

[Beardy10]

james_tigerwoods said:

Um - yes, that lens - and, er, I don't know...

I'd say it's very unlikely you are using an FX sensor Nikon as they are Pro "full frame" cameras.....either a D700 or a D3 in it's various guises.

[Simpo Two]

It would explain the vignetting though

I think (hope) than anyone with a FX Nikon would know what 'stopping down' meant.

[Beardy10]

Simpo Two said:

It would explain the vignetting though

[/small]

Not sure it would?

If you use a DX lens on an FX body the camera automatically goes into DX mode so it only uses the central part of the sensor replicating the size of a DX sensor (on a D700 the resolution goes from something like 12MP to 5MP).....maybe I am missing something but I don't see why that would mean you would get more vignetting. Conversely if you use an FX lens on a DX body it can eradicate some vignetting issues with certain lenses....I know on the 70-200 F2.8 VRI (which is an FX lens) you experience some vignetting on an FX body but not on a DX.

[Simpo Two]

Beardy10 said:

Not sure it would?

In this case, the autocrop function, if enabled in the menu, will crop as you say. But in general terms, electronc trickery excepted, a DX throws a smaller circle of light than a 'normal' lens hence vignetting.

When using a D700 I preferred to disable this feature and crop (if required) manually, because it can waste perfectly good bits of the image.