Bad Vignetting with Sigma 12-24 on a 5DmkII

ajdesq

ajdesq

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Hi everyone,

After a year of deliberating I finally bought my 5DmkII today! :clap:

Sadly, I think I've made the duffest lens choice ever.

I read everything on here about the Sigma 12-24 vs the Canon 17-40 and was blown away by the wide angle on the Sigma. My main work is compact interiors and landscapes.

In the shop, I tried both and instantly fell in love with the Sigma. Only trouble was, the camera in the shop had no memory card so I had exactly 2 seconds to review the snaps before they disappeared forever.

Now I'm home I've fired off a few test shots with the Sigma and am bitterly disappointed. The vignetting at 12mm is appalling, and it only clears at... yup... 17mm.

I'll ring the shop tomorrow (two flippin hours away) and see if they will exchange for the Canon....

....or am I doing something completely wrong? Right now it feels like I've just spent £3.5k for not a huge improvement over my old D80... :(

Cheers.
 
Thmaga said:
Im assuming there's no filter fitted?
Click to expand...

No, the thing is too dang big for a filter. I did work out that the lens cap comes in 2 bits though (before which was a wonderful pinhole effect!) :bonk:
 
I find that 17mm on Full Frame is wide enough... I am not surprised the 12mm is vignetting.

I am sure they will exchange the lens for you. Surprised you went for the 5D since you started with a Nikon, did you not like the looks of the D700.

Regards

Nigel
 
How bad is it ? picture example , stopping down helps usually as you probably know.
 
Seems strange to be honest, how bad is the vignetting? I took lots of pictures with my 12-24 and most were at 12mm on both the 5D and 5DMk2. Very little if any cropping on any of the shots.

I sold mine (big mistake) to RogWarham and he uses it on a 5DMk2, he has never said that he has had any problems with vignetting.

See here

and here
 
Hmm... haven't even loaded the software yet! May see if I can drag and drop a pic to show...

And yes it was a real shame to switch brands. I loved my Nikon. But of course my exisiting glass wouldn't do a D700 justice and I need the higher res for better repro in magazine spreads printed at 300dpi. I'm also voting with my £ in as much as Nikon seem to be taking the *%£&^ price-wise with their FF cameras as opposed to Canon and Sony.
 
Here's a quick test snap I did at high-ish ISO hand-held. Maybe it won't be so bad with better lighting and a lower ISO? :thinking:

vignetting.jpg
 
The problem with a good full frame camera is that you will probably need good glasses too.

Also give your camera time, it takes time to get used to it. I had the same disappointment feeling too when I upgraded from an entry level to a 5D classic but after a few months, I havent looked back.
 
I totally agree with you. I got the Sigma 12-24mm a week ago for my 5D and am bitterly disappointed with it. The vignetting is, as you say, appalling at 12mm and still pretty bad through half the focal range. On my lens it isn't even symmetrical, it's mostly down the left hand side. Also the lens is very soft throughout, nowhere near the quality of my Canon lenses. Sigma really should get a kick up the arse for letting rubbish like this through.
 
At the risk of getting flamed by a certain Siggy 12-24mm owner :razz: ;) I chickened out from getting one at the last minute (after I'd placed the order!) and got the Canon 17-40mm L instead.

Yes, the difference between 12mm and 17mm on full-frame is quite big, but 17mm is still pretty damm wide and gives you plenty of scope for creative effects. On the plus side, you're getting a lens that accepts normal filters, is L quality and that you won't have to send back for being soft etc.

A.
 
The Siggy 15-30mm is probably a better bet in FF - mind you, that vignette is nothing Lightroom couldn't sort out :)
 
Anorakus said:
At the risk of getting flamed by a certain Siggy 12-24mm owner :razz: ;) I chickened out from getting one at the last minute (after I'd placed the order!) and got the Canon 17-40mm L instead.

Yes, the difference between 12mm and 17mm on full-frame is quite big, but 17mm is still pretty damm wide and gives you plenty of scope for creative effects. On the plus side, you're getting a lens that accepts normal filters, is L quality and that you won't have to send back for being soft etc.

A.
Click to expand...

Don't be a wuss, name, names :lol:
 
If you have Lightroom you could always use the Lens Correction facility to adjust the vignette so it is not as dark.

 
Thanks for all the help and advice folks. :thumbs:

I'll give the shop a tinkle tomorrow and see if they will exchange for the Canon 17-40. With further thought, the Canon would be better for when I need to include people in the shot.

It will be a shame to loose that 5mm, but if the pix are duff and/or need manipulating as a result, then it's all a bit pointless, innit? And because the interiors are for magazines, I have to submit about 25 images for every one that is used, so they need to be 'right' straight out of the camera as it's the art editor who does the manipulating.

What a pain... another 4 hour round trip tomorrow (or 6hrs by train). :annoyed:

Still, it will be worth the journey if the dealership lives up to its good reputation. Right now I need to sleep on it and will keep yous updated.

Thanks again.
 
I'm kinda not surprised. 12mm is unbelievably wide wide on full frame. Maybe Sigma just pushed things too far.

What's it like stopped down to f/8? Should be much better. You will probably need to use it around there to get it sharp(ish!) at the edges anyway. And obviously better at longer focal lengths too.

If post processing is difficult for you, what can the 5DII's peripheral illumination facility do? Doesn't it work with non-Canon lenses?

Try it at 14mm f/8 with the PI on before you bin it ;) Still mega wide!
 
I use a Sigma 12-24 a fair bit on FF and in the past on 35mm and not had a problem with vignetting, even at the shortest end (on a Nikon D700). TBH, that bedroom shot looks as though it could be light fall-off rather than vignetting.
 
Well all I can say is THANKS SO MUCH for all the really helpful replies. :thumbs:

I didn't think to stop it down etc, and yes of course the light was terrible.

After a good night's sleep I tried a snap by daylight at 12mm at f/11:


vignette2.jpg



Still some vignetting but not quite as bad. A definite improvement.


Then I moved the camera and tried another at 12mm f/8:


vignette3.jpg




I was still peeved about the vignetting at this point but figured that maybe, just maybe, I could live with it. It is definitely vastly improved at 14mm (not shown).

But out of interest from the same (2nd) position I changed to 17mm at f/8, to see what I would get with the Canon:

vignette4.jpg



And that made my mind up. I will be keeping the Siggy despite its warts. That extra 5mm will come in handy, and/or even the the extra 3mm to 14mm.

Bearing in mind too that I have not used a flash, either. That's the next instruction manual to read... :geek:

Thanks again everyone for the advice and input. :thumbs:
 
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