ZD 14-45mm vignetting problem
- Thread starter OlyFlyer
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This morning (it is 10:14 am here) I visited Oly and got a new 14-45mm. Well, I must say I can't believe my hands. The quality feels the same as the 40-150, front part is no longer loose with a 1-2 mm sideways movement and a click when it is touched, AF feels as it works faster and more secure (hits the first time, no haunting), zoom and focus rings are more sturdy like the 40-150mm and in MF it feels as the motor is moving faster. I tested for a few minutes, the wignetting must be tested at home where I have my computer also, but even if that may not get better the change was needed. The guy stamped the new warranty card with todays date, so now I even have extended warranty as I see it.
I also got a chance to test the 50mm. Well, what should I say? After those minutes, I just want that lens and will order it within one hour from now.
I call that good service. Thank you, Stefan at Olympus Sweden (Malmoe). Unfortunately, Stefan and the others are out of job within a few weeks since Oly Malmoe will close at the end of December and move the service to other part of Europe. I am sad for that and wish them good luck. Unfortunately that will effect my future service chances also, no more dropping in and doing a quick change.
I also got a chance to test the 50mm. Well, what should I say? After those minutes, I just want that lens and will order it within one hour from now.
I call that good service. Thank you, Stefan at Olympus Sweden (Malmoe). Unfortunately, Stefan and the others are out of job within a few weeks since Oly Malmoe will close at the end of December and move the service to other part of Europe. I am sad for that and wish them good luck. Unfortunately that will effect my future service chances also, no more dropping in and doing a quick change.
I'm a newbie here, i just got my E-500. After looking at this vignetting problem. I found that it's the camera firmware problem. Mine was 1.0, I had the vignetting also. After upgrading to 1.2, I could hardly see the vignetting. But I notice the Auto WB not constant as 1.0.
These are the improvements in 1.2 :
Firmware Update for OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
[ E-500 ]
-
Added menu selection to exchange functions of AEL/AFL button and button.
- E-500 exposure precision improved when using built-in flash with certain lenses*.
* Sigma's Four Thirds system lenses (18-50mm F3.5-5.6 DC, 18-125mm F3.5-5.6 DC, 55-200mm F4-5.6 DC) max. aperture.
These are the improvements in 1.2 :
Firmware Update for OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
[ E-500 ]
-
Added menu selection to exchange functions of AEL/AFL button and button.
- E-500 exposure precision improved when using built-in flash with certain lenses*.
* Sigma's Four Thirds system lenses (18-50mm F3.5-5.6 DC, 18-125mm F3.5-5.6 DC, 55-200mm F4-5.6 DC) max. aperture.
:nono: Vignetting is caused by lens, filter or lens hood. Firmware can never fix that. If the hood is not used, the filter is removed than only the lens is there. It is a known fact that lens tubes can cause vignetting especially at large apertures. Some lenses has more vignetting, some less and some none.
Maybe you don't see it because you use Auto and almost never take the same kind of images I do. I almost always use M and set aperture and shutter speed manually (especially with flash), use many times white or light background. As I understand, it is also up to indiviual lenses. The one I received after the change has much less vignetting, it is still there but at an acceptable level. The one I turned in was bad. The Oly rep did bot even want to test it, he believed it.
microcosm
Senior Member
Actually, there is a process within camera that can help reduce the effects of the vignetting. I cannot remember the term they use. It is a setting.... "shading something"...
Yes, it is called Shading compensation (ON/OFF) described on page 94 in Advanced manual and that is trying to correct the shading caused by vignetting. But that is not a 100% fix. It says "mainly when wide angle lens is used". The 14-45 is not wide at 45mm where I have the vignetting and the Oly rep did not see any way out but to change the lens, and that seems to have helped.
I think actually that it should be an even bigger problem with other cameras, unless C & N and others has very very large lens diameters.
Blu-By-U
Senior Member
Just out of curiosity..Why change the lens? Wouldn't all similar lens from the same maker be the same? What would have caused the 14-45 to have this problem?? On the theory point of view, any of the elements in the lens being out of alignment would cause to lens to be out of focus but vignetting??
I saw this vignetting in my 11-22 but that's because I had 2 filters stacked together. I removed the UV and only use the ND, that vignetting disappears.
Just curious on this.
I saw this vignetting in my 11-22 but that's because I had 2 filters stacked together. I removed the UV and only use the ND, that vignetting disappears.
Just curious on this.
I think this has nothing to do with the CCD and the shading of photosites. It is actually the lens tube and the mechanical construction of the lens. Very small deviations in the quality of work makes a difference. My new 14-45mm seems to be much better than the old one. If the lens would have larger diameter it would be solved all together. I don't mean the filter diameter but all the glasses. I also think this is mostly a zoom problem. Anyway, I can not see vignetting when my 50mm is used, but then again that single one focal length lens costs more than my two kit zooms together.
Edit: BTW, I have seen the vignetting problem on several images taken with different Nikon cameras/lenses also, so it is definitely not an Oly isssue. I think it is more of a zoom problem actually.
I hade several other issues also, like the loose front tube. The slightest touch with my fingers on the side would bring everything out of focus because the whole front part could be moved by alout 1mm in any direction (not in/out but paralell with the CCD). The new one is more firm and feels more quality built.
I agree, individual lens elements should bring everything out of focus, but maybe one error can be corrected by another resulting at the end in differences in vignetting. I have no idea, :dunno: I am not an expert on lens contruction but I see the differences.
Yes, stacking of filters has always been a problem, even with film cameras. When I saw the vignetting the first step I took was the removal of hood and filter. Results were the same, so the cause is definitely the lens itself.
What do you mean "moves"? Do you use remote or anti shake (mirror lock) or timer? I find it difficult to use tripod without at least one of those. In difficult cases I use all three features.
Blu-By-U
Senior Member
Here is what happened. I had the cam on a tripod and was doing a panorama of the sunset. Had the AEL on and a timer for the shutter release. Since I was using the Mode A for viewing, I did not shutter lock. Set the zoom to around 35-40mm, focus and shutter release. The cam did an auto focus and the zoom ring moved!!! I did not notice that!!!!. then turn the cam slightly and again I press the shutter. Again it moved!!! Aaaagghhh!!!!!!:angry: I had to HOLD stupid zoom ring!!! Don't have such a problem with the 11~22 but this stupid 14-45 really beep (censored)!!!
It's the quality of the parts that make up a 14-45. Some bearing or restraint inside the zoom mechanism is probably undersized. Any good lens should be able to hold its focus and offer some good feel of resistance to anything trying to turn it. From Blu's description, it seems like his is even loose enough to get thrown off-focus by its own momentum when its internal zoom motor moves it!
As for my comment on the shading of photosites supposedly done away by '4/3-rds mount design', I was trying to say that in the end, it is still the simple mechanical/optical issues that will result in vignetting and not so much trying to focus the light more perpendicularly or whatever onto the CCD to avoid photosite shading.
As for my comment on the shading of photosites supposedly done away by '4/3-rds mount design', I was trying to say that in the end, it is still the simple mechanical/optical issues that will result in vignetting and not so much trying to focus the light more perpendicularly or whatever onto the CCD to avoid photosite shading.
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