Vignetting caused by filter?

[Aviller]

I use an FZ10 and I usually have a lens hood and a UV filter on the camera, to protect the lens. In some shots there's no vignetting whatsoever, in others it's quite apparent. Here are 3 pics I recently shot in Berlin, where the vignetting appears to be the strongest.

http://premium.uploadit.org/Aviller71/dcberlin1a.jpg

http://premium.uploadit.org/Aviller71/dcberlin2a.jpg

http://premium.uploadit.org/Aviller71/dcberlin3a.jpg

So, should I just remove the lens hood? Could the camera be damaged? I don't think it is since many shots with little to no vignetting.

Thanks for your help.

[genece]

Since there is no exif info in the pictures ,it is difficult to tell what has happened. But that appears to be a lack of light in the corners rather than Vignetting. If those pictures were taken at a high zoom that is what it is and it would not matter if the hood was on or not.
The darkening was discussed a lot when the FZ10 came out but not much on the FZ20.
If it was vignetting it would be there at Wide Angle and not at the tele end.

[Aviller]

Do you know where I can get the EXIF info for those pics?

[genece]

The exif is in the photo, your web host or your photo editor removed it.
If you use XP select the photo on your computer, Right click it and choose properties > summary > advanced and there it is.
If you do not use XP then your photo editor should be able to show it.
Maybe under File > file info
If not you can get a exif reader or Irfanview (a free photo editor) that will.
Irfanview (http://www.irfanview.com/main_download_engl.htm)

Google (http://www.google.com/search?num=30&hl=en&lr=&newwindow=1&q=Exif+readers&btnG=Search)

[Aviller]

1st pic:

Shutter Speed: 1/100sec
Aperture: 3.2
Focal Length: 21mm
Lightsource: Daylight


2nd pic:

SS: 1/50sec
F-#: 2.8
Focal Length: 12mm
Lightsource: Unknown


3rd pic:

SS: 1/50
F-#: 2.8
Focal length: 15mm
Light source: Unknown

[genece]

Ok .. 6mm is no zoom so 12mm is 2X zoom and 21 mm is almost 4 X zoom, I would think that since the darkening is close to the same in all three photos it is not vignetting. But with my limited knowledge I am not any help. Maybe try it without the adapter but its my guess that the lighting when those photos were taken was not very bright and that shows up first in the corners.

[Jim Last]

Could it not be slightly to do with the length of the Panasonic adaptor, and the empty space between the lens and the filter?

Also what type of filter is it? what is the mount thickness?

[Aviller]

It's a UV filter. Mount thickness??? 72mm? :confused: It's attached to the lens hood that's part of the original FZ10 package.

[Jim Last]

E.g. if it is a Hoya standard UV mount depth is 5mm, 3mm on the Pro-1 Super HMC.

I think :confused: that the depth of the filter mount coupled with the length of the Panasonic adaptor could lead to slight vignetting.

Hopefully we will find someone to shed light on this.

[Aviller]

Yeah, it's a Hoya UV filter.

[genece]

This would not be the first time I was ever wrong, but..

I just can't help but feel if you just see a bit of it at no zoom it should be gone at 4 X zoom. Only way to tell, is to take photos with and without the adapter or filter.

Also take some in better light and then in lesser light.

[Jim Last]

Gene, you may well be right :)

I was just wondering if the adaptor/filter are contributing to the issue.

Your suggested tests should definately shed some light on the issue.

[Aviller]

Alright, here's a picture taken w/o the filter in decent light

http://premium.uploadit.org/Aviller71/zuriedit1.jpg

IMO, there's some darkness in the corners...in the upper corners only apparently.

Focal length: 14mm
Aperture: f/4
Shutter speed: 1/400sec

There are plenty of other pictures w/o any problems whatsoever though. In decent light this problem seems to pop up every once in a while although I didn't seem to have this problem 6 months ago. Maybe I'm just imagining things though. :rolleyes:

[Jim Last]

This is without the filter. But is it without the adaptor and hood?

You might want to try these shots:

(1) with nothing attached to the camera
(2) with just the adaptor
(3) with the adaptor and hood
(4) with the adaptor and filter
(5) with the adaptor, filter and hood

If you can mount the camera on a tripod then we should get very similar test images.

[Aviller]

I forgot to add that it's w/o the filter and the lens hood. It's the camera in it's "purest form" I guess.

[Jim Last]

Looking at the picture there is darkening at the top left and top right. There dosn't seem to be any darkening in the bottom corners.

To start with I wasn't sure if the darkening in the top corners wasn't clound and sky colour variations. But they do seem to darken to the same degree on both.

Was this at full zoom?

Could you try shooting a piece of white paper? this would definately show up any abnormalities.

[Aviller]

One additional question. The vignetting problem seems to be more serious when I take "vertical" pictures (is that the correct term?...ie, if I rotate the camera by 90°). Could this be an indication for a particular problem?

[Aviller]

Anybody...? :)

[judge9847]

One additional question. The vignetting problem seems to be more serious when I take "vertical" pictures (is that the correct term?...ie, if I rotate the camera by 90°). Could this be an indication for a particular problem?
A guess: having looked at both pictures and from what you say, I'm going to hazard a guess that the lens isn't "seating" properly. By which I mean there is some "play" or movement in it which shouldn't be there and is perhaps more pronounced or the result of it more visible when you hold the camera in that particular way.

All I can suggest is that instead or rotating it 90° one way, you try and do it 90° the other way ... if you see what I mean!! Then see if there is the same sort of "darkening" in the same place, i.e. at the top of the photo or see if it has indeed "followed" the change in the camera's direction and appeared at the bottom.

I hope you can see what I mean.

As a guess though, and if it's consistent no matter what you do, I don't think it's to do with your filter and that quite possibly you have a fault with the camera somewhere.

[Aviller]

Thanks. I'll try that. I just looked at some older pics I took with this camera and I see no darkening whatsoever. I guess something's happened to the camera although I never dropped it or anything like that.