Linsvignettering

Linsvignettering refers to the darkening of an image toward its edges and corners, a common optical aberration in photography. This phenomenon is caused by the way light rays pass through a lens, particularly at wider apertures and focal lengths. The primary reasons for linsvignettering are the physical obstruction of light by the lens barrel and the angle at which light rays strike the edges of the lens elements. Rays hitting the periphery of the lens are more likely to be vignetted than those passing through the center.

There are several types of linsvignettering. Mechanical vignetting occurs when the physical components of the lens, such as the lens hood or filter, block light from reaching the sensor. Optical vignetting, on the other hand, is an inherent characteristic of the lens design itself. It can be more pronounced at wider apertures because the angle of incoming light is steeper, leading to greater obstruction.

While often considered an undesirable artifact, linsvignettering can sometimes be used creatively to draw the viewer's attention to the center of the frame. However, in most cases, photographers aim to minimize or correct it. Modern lenses are designed to reduce vignetting, and post-processing software offers tools to correct it by selectively brightening the darker areas of an image. Understanding linsvignettering helps photographers choose appropriate lenses and settings, or to effectively correct the issue in editing.