27.8.2015

This version is the updated II type which is optically the same as the I model a newer micro motor is present (it's a little faster) and I don't find it very noise though it isn't silent either. This gives an equivalent full frame. field of view of 18-26mm on a 1.6x crop body (ie Canon)Build is something Tokina have a good reputation for at that's mirrored here metal casing with chunky rubber grips on the zoom and focus ring, metal mount as expected and a smooth zoom/focus action. This lens uses a "one touch" focus pull the ring back for manual focus or push it forward for normal AF; I find it works quite well though it might take some getting used to.The main appeal of this lens is two fold firstly it's unusual to have an F2.8 lens for such a wider angle,this would be quite useless though if the lens were optically poor at such an aperture. Good news is that even at F2.8 from 11-16mm the images are very usable with excellent sharpness in "most" of the image area, there is some drop off of sharpness in the extreme corners and edges but not horribly so (not mushed out just softer) stopping down to around F4 improves things with F5.6 really stepping it up. In short for "printable" results (even at fairly large sizes) F2.8 is usable and you shouldn't hesitate to do so in dimmer conditions. For normal daylight stop down as usual though there is little to gain going below F8Supplied petal hood fits on securely and is well made it can be reversed though this will block much of the focus ring area. This is a lens which does benefit from using it as there are a couple of weaker areas with the lens. Distortion is well controlled a simple mild curve which is easy to correct.There are a few drawbacks firstly flare can be visible with the sun or bright light sources (lens produces decent sun starts at smaller apertures) other than using the hood or a hand to block stray light there isn't a lot you can do about it. I don't find it a big issue for most shooting conditions it has improved a bit since the Mk I version (new coatings) Second weakness is CA this can be visible at all apertures though more so at the faster ones it doesn't entirely clear up stopping down, this has a distinct "purple" line which tends to show up around higher contrast edges (not always but it's there in with strong highlights) This is relatively easy to remove in post processing even using the auto correction in PS/LR. Min focus isn't anything to rave about (1:11.6) less of an issue as it's for a crop body you can get to about a foot from a subject in the real world still close enough to provide some wild dramatic shots.A few uses for this lens bar obvious landscape work (it's quite a hard lens to use for this type of shot as foreground is very important) Interior shots are ideal for this lens the faster aperture means you can if required use the lens hand held (tripod is better but you can work it at F2.8) you can get a lot of room into photos with the lens. Wedding another possibility with the faster lens speed available light shooting is realistic. An UWA lens is something of a specialty but also can be quite rewarding it can give a dramatic view that normal lenses can't and it's certainly one that deserves a place in the bag here you get lens speed and sharpness trading a shorter zoom range (it's only 5mm but it's a big difference between the two but at 16mm you are still wide). For owners of the Mk I version there isn't any obvious reason to upgrade to the II model they have the same optical formula just the motor is improved a little and the coatings.For me the stronger points outweigh the weaker ones it's a must have lens for any crop body shooter

5.7.2014

These are very much my first impressions as I have only just got this lens and have used it for only two days now.As this is my first wide angle lens I have nothing to compare it with but so you can judge what I am comparing it to, here is a list of my current lenses. Nikon 18-105 VR, Nikon 40mm micro, Nikon 50mm f/1.8G, Tamron 70-300 Di macro (A17 I believe) and Nikon AF-S 80-200 as well as a few old Tamron adaptalls. As you can see, I have some very highly rated lenses and I can say that the Tokina can live with any of them for image quality. The one area of it's performance that often gets down rated in reviews is it's control over colour fringing at the extreme corners when high contrast edges are seen (such as trees against a bright sky).These reviews often include figures of the Tokina and the lenses it is being compared with and yet the other lenses are similar and don't get criticised so I have always felt for the Tokina as I think it has got a reputation from it's older kin. I have not seen anything worse than on other lenses that I own either in J-PEGS (which are automatically adjusted in my camera) or in RAW files, which is to say that when present you have to hunt them out. As these aberrations are fixable in software, even if I become anally fussy over them, they are a none issue.The other thing I have seen criticised is the method of switching to manual focus. To do this you pull the focus ring back and some reviewers have said this is awkward and that it can change the focus when you do it (presumably because you turn the ring when you pull). I can't speak for all on the awkwardness of it but I don't find it at all awkward. I also manage to do it without turning the ring. That sounds like I really have to try not to turn it but it is not difficult. The ring, like the rest of the lens (see later) is very well built and nicely weighted and precise in its operation, likewise, the switch to manual is also precise and not heavy, feeling like you are pulling a switch over a lightly sprung roller. The upshot is that one operation does not affect the other, both feel 'right' in their weight and both are satisfying to use.Upon first handling the lens it was apparent that it extremely well built. It puts me in mind of those old adaptalls that I own for it's feeling of precision and solidity, but without excessive weight. It is a lens that is a pleasure to use for all the reasons you put a lens on a camera. I feel that I am sounding like an advert for this lens but I can assure you that I don't work for Tokina in any way. This is my first lens from the brand, but I don't think it will be my last.On the subject of the type of lens it is (another reviewer stated that it might not be for all), I would say you really need a wide angle lens before any other. I cannot believe I left it so long before buying one. You do need to learn a few simple guidelines (there is plenty of advice on the web) or your photos might start to look a bit boring. The times you will use it just to get as much in the frame as possible should be rare. You will find that there are a couple of scenarios that crop up often. One will be the huge vista with some foreground interest and you can get them both sharply focussed with the depth of field you can get with this (and any other short focal length) lens. The other is where the subject is fairly large in the frame but then you can fit in an awful lot of 'context' background. I am sure that I will learn more ways to use this lens as I go on, too.

16.7.2016

Great lens - very happy.Bought this in advance of a trip to Scotland and I knew I needed to make the most of the trip - and by that, I had to come back with good photos or risk regretting not buying a better lens.I use a Canon 60D cropped censor camera, and I didn't want to invest too heavily or break the bank so I did as much research as I could before buying. The result and conclusion was to invest in the Tokina AT-X 11-16mm.The first thing that will strike you is the weight of the lens. This is by no means a bad thing, at least for myself, as I didn't struggle at any point with regards to how heavy the unit is. The front glass is very wide (77mm), and very striking to look at.

14.7.2016

The Tokina 11-16mm has been a nice addition to my collection as a photographer and as a filmmaker.It produces a nice, sharp image every time I take a video or picture (albeit with a bit more chromatic aberration compared to my Sigma 18-35 & 70-200, but that is very easily fixed so I don't consider it a big problem).I use a stabiliser on my camera and this lens is essential for me and makes for a very good combo. Setting the focus ring to infinity on this lens allows for a massive amount of an image to stay in focus when compared to my Sigma 18-35 at the same settings, which is ideal for the run and gun filmmaker without a focus puller handy.The build quality is where this lens drops a star,

8.3.2013

Having now 'played' this lens for several weeks and some 3000 - mainly architectural - photos it is truly amazing.However it is a very different kind of photography:As always it is best to get as close as possible to the object(s), and with this one even closer. Unfortunately minimum distance for focussing is 30cm, whilst one would want to go closer.Always watch the edges, as an all in shot can be quite boring. Composition is much more demaning.Held horizontal there is almost no distortion of straight lines; held at an angle perspective distortion becomes extreme; faces closer to the edges become 'bloated'. One would wish that the aspect ratio of the resulting photos were 16:1 or 22:1 (cinematographic),

1.1.2015

I'd been considering buying a wideangle lens for a while now, and finally bit the bullet. I have to say, I absolutely love this lens, I am astounded with what you can fit in the image with it. I thought I wouldn't use it too much, but to be honest, it's my most used lens, followed closely by my sigma 17-50mm lens.The thing I don't like about the lens is the focus ring, the lens is very well built, but the focus ring does sometimes feel a little flimsy, thankfully I'm not heavy handed so should be ok. Another thing is that I do think the images are a little soft, but a bit of post processing can be done in lightroom or photoshop.After some experimentation,

8.8.2017

Optically it's superb stopped down, but could be better wide open. It has low distortion and low vignetting. As far as build quality goes, it feels tough and seems it would be up to withstand a lot, but the one problem I have is the pull-push to change from Auto-focus to manual focus. It's wobbly and needs two opposing fingers to move. The autofocus is reasonably quick, but it is quite loud. My sample needed a -12 fine tune.Overall something that the extra £100 over a Sigma 10-20 clearly shows. The fact it has perfect edge to edge sharpness stopped down is a massive achievement design wise, and really makes wide scenes detailed very well.*UPDATE* After some real life shooting,

22.2.2017

Lens delivered on time & well packaged. I had the previous version which only focused manually on my Nikon D5200. This version auto-focuses perfectly on Nikon. It is a heavy lens but I like the sturdy feel of it & actually find the manual/auto focus ring less fiddly than the switch on my Nikon lenses. It did get caught/locked on switching from auto to manual one time but switching the camera off & not forcing it, released it easily. This version has a nice large white dot to line up when fitting the lens (previous one didn't) and it locks on firmly. The lens hood screws off easily and clicks firmly back on. Only niggle is lens cap which took a few attempts to get back on.

20.10.2019

I've been using this lens for a few years now, but really happy with the results it gives. It's my main go to lens, I generally shoot landscapes, but it;s a great lens for architecture too. Steps down to F/2.8, but becomes a bit sharper in the edges around F/8 (ish). Used then lens with a Canon EOS 60D as well as a Canon EOS M3.I have since upgraded cameras and now own a Sony A7iii, this lens does fit on the new camera with the Sigma MC-11 adaptor. Although this is designed for crop sensors only, you can get around that by shooting at 16mm on a full frame (or put into 35mm mode on a Sony).Overall, a great lens, which brings a whole new perspective to shots. Be aware of chromatic abberations that Tokina are known for,

10.1.2015

Suites my need a great lens for the price.My top tip is before you purchase any lens copy and pastethe model make and number in to YouTube search and look to ensure that the review matches the item you are looking to purchase.There are lots of reviews but for a first time buyer the reviewmay well inform you of of such details such as if the lens isthe latest model.Letters and numbers matter on an item, I have been able to avoid some serious mistakes by using this tip.The product reviews even the worse tend to show the item. The Tokina DX ll lens as an older version so be-careful many cameras and lenses do. videos will help you but for me personally I use the lens a lot...street photos buildings (inside and out)

12.3.2017

It is noted for its good processability. I bought it to take pictures from landscapes and northern lights and i don't regret it. The Lens works fine, and has a fabulous focal length. The autofocus is not as fast as other lenses like the SONY SAL1650 2.8 SSM but in most cases it doesn't matter. Especially in cases were you can use the manually focus like northern lights. The reason why i can't give 5 stars is, that the lens produces (ghost) flares when there are bright lights in front of you. Maybe that will be with all lenses with similar focal lengths ...i don't know.I can recommend this lens to take pictures of landscapes, buildings and starry sky. To make portraits or take pictures of animals or something like that,

22.4.2015

Stunning lens that not only gives you distortion free super wide angle stills/footage but also F2.8 at either end of it's very short zoom scale. I treat this lens as a fixed length lens and it eats the canon 10-18mm for breakfast simply based on the aperture advantage. Great for stills but even better for interviews where you can get great non curvature footage but super wide images and having the low light add on. I have carried out interviews with this lens in very low light with just a fraction of additional front lighting and it is amazing. Gets a big five stars from me. I have been a cameraman on conventional video cameras professionally for 25 years, so I kid you not.

22.4.2020

This lens has a fast F2.8 aperture which gathers a lot of light so it's well suited for astro-photography of constellations and meteor showers. The 11 - 16 mm zoom gives a great, wide coverage. Gives really sharp results.I had a Tokina 19 - 35 mm lens years ago for my Minolta 35 mm camera and it was my favourite. Tokina lenses are robustly built and the 11 - 16 mm is no exception. The downside of this is the weight: it is heavy, no getting away from it.I use it on a tripod quite a lot, so the weight doesn't bother me too much, but if someone has hand or wrist issues it might be a problem.Overall, I think it's a brilliant, good value lens, and I'd recommend it.

7.1.2016

It took 2 years for me to make up my mind to get it but I am delighted with this lens. It captures every detail and measures up to all the positive reviews I have read. It is very well built and quite heavy; no doubt due to the amount of glass in it.I shoot with my Nikon D5300 on Aperture Priority and have found it necessary to adjust exposure compensation down by 2/3 of a stop in camera. I have used it for shooting Architectural details, mainly inside. There is a learning curve for getting the best results for landscapes; however, once mastered, the results are stunning. A great addition to my lens bag.

12.2.2018

This is a wonderfull lens. Works on crop sensor and full frame when set at 16mm. Takes filters and is very sharp (i dont mind stopping down to f22) Built like a tank. My go to lens for landscape shots. Only downside is it is prone to flare when shooting into the sun but this is not a problem if you are aware and know how to prevent it. Such a great design. I also own the tokina 100mm macro another dream lens. This lens is the best kept secret in landscape photography.....or it was. The starbursts it produces stopped down are also one of its trademarks. Not tried it for astro yet so I cant comment.

Tokina AF 11-16mm f/2.8 Pro DX II - Reviews

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