Vignetting- is this normal?

Blue · Vignetting- is this normal?

Since this is my first DSLR, I have no idea how much edge vignetting is considered "normal" or "acceptable." All I know is that when I took my first shots I was surprised and dismayed by how much there was. I know this is usually caused by the lens (or, I think so?)... I have a Nikkor AF-5 DX VR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED (and I only know what half of that means, but that's what it says on the box!). This shot was taken at 1/60, f/5.6, iso 100, 75 mm, with a studio strobe. Does it look like excessive light fall-off in the corners? (It does to me) The strobe was set maybe 5 feet from the subject, 7 from the wall, so it's not a question of insufficient lighting- the whole wall should be white. I am concerned that I may need to return this lens, especially since it wasn't zoomed even close to the extremes. Or am I just overly used to my point-and-shoot, which doesn't have this problem? I really don't want to deal with returning this, so I'm actually hoping someone will tell me this is normal, LOL. (I'm lazy)

jonH

does look a little excessive to me.. something to try - focus on the subject's face, just to see if it makes any difference

hil26

I have sometimes noticed this with some of my images, and have associated with the lens hood not being in place properly, sometimes I just did not turn it sufficiently to lock into place - the other time it was really noticeable was when I built up the number of filters on the front - when I didn't know what I was doing - going back to the early D70 days.

Could it be shadow from the strobe light, hitting lens hood (assuming its fitted)?

creators

A couple of things, try taking a shot with the same 75mm aperture in daylight to see if you are getting the same degree of vignetting. There is a fall off of light using a studio flash on the subject, to get the background to white out you would need a dedicated light on the background. You want the subject at least six feet (ideally twelve feet) from the background and set the subject light so that the background is two stops over exposed. Do you have a hot-shoe and lead for your speedlight? If so you could use that for the background, which would fire the studio light.

hil26

Blue

have a look on the Nikonians

Blue

Thanks for all the input...

jonH- I do have a couple of shots with his face as the focus, and you are right- there is slightly less vignetting, although it is definitely still there. I chose the worst example to post, so you could really see the effect.

hil- I actually wasn't using a lens hood or any filters. Smile

Maybe I should have been? I'll check out that site, though, thanks- that might be a good resource fot me to bookmark.

keith- I'm going to try those things. I don't have a hot-shoe and lead, but that's something I need to get soon anyway. I'll try it in daylight. I just thought that, even though the background does need to be seperately lit to be truly white, the light fall-off seemed really abrupt to me- it looks to my eyes like it's the lens because it is so curved and happens only in the corners... although simply lighting the background as you suggested may solve that for those type of shoots... but there will be times when I am on location and can't do that. Oh, how I wish I had a studio big enough to place him 12 feet from the wall, lol- or even 6! I work in a small spare bedroom right now, and honestly, it just isn't big enough... but my garage is too cold and dirty. Someday I'll have my own loft... (if wishes were dollars I'd be rich). Rolling Eyes