Tokina 11-16 f/2.8

Mr_T

Mr_T

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Hi Everyone,

I was wondering if anyone on here has had personal experience with this lens. I am looking to at some point in the (hopefully near) future to get a wideangle lens and thought this looked pretty good. A lot of people seem to go for the Sigma 10-20 but the reviews and experiences seem to vary quite a bit. I don't think I could really stump up to a Nikkor 12-24 although I did see one for sale at a good price here. The f/2.8 fixed aperture is a great feature and I have seen some really nice example of what has come out of this but for some reason I'm still unsure. It may be interesting to point out that the user on this forum selling their Nikkor 12-24 is doing so because they have this particular Tokina Lens. I know 11-16 isn't really much of a zoom at all however I don't really see much point in having a lot of range overlapping. Perhaps I am barking up completely the wrong tree here but I thought that for £339.00 Inc VAT it seems like a pretty good bargain.

I have found an interesting review here: http://www.kenrockwell.com/tokina/11-16mm.htm and in this particular review the Tokina outperforms the Nikkor 12-24 in some aspects which is pretty interesting. Anyway I am waffling quite a bit now but would really appreciate opinions on anything anyone has heard about this lens and even more interesting in what people that have used the lens have to say.

Thanks!
 
I shall be getting this at the end of the month when I have some money in. My friend has agreed to fund half of it. It has had fantastic reviews. I was going to go for the 12-24 until I saw this.
 
Mr_T said:
Hi Everyone,
It may be interesting to point out that the user on this forum selling their Nikkor 12-24 is doing so because they have this particular Tokina Lens.
Click to expand...

That'll be me then:)

This is what happens when you have a bit of time on your hands and Ebay:nono:

I bought the Tokina because I missed the extra width that my previous Sigma 10-20 gave me. I was going to buy another Sigma but I didn't want the problems with the dodgy QC on this lens.

Compared to the Nikon, the Tokina is probably just as well made. The image quality looks similar on my limited tests.

CA and barrel distortion is there on both lenses in some amounts, but it depends on the shot whether it's noticeable. Plus it's correctable in CS3 if it bothers.

The only place that the Tokina falls down is flare. As Ken Rockwell reported it does give a big green flare when you have the sun in the frame. OH and the rear lens cap is crap. I bought a Nikon one to replace the Tokina one.

Also the Tokina does have a problem with the Lee Filter ring. If you have a UV filter on the lens for protection (A Hoya Pro1 digital, so it's a slimline one) If you put on a Lee Adaptor ring, even the wideangle one, you will get vignetting at 11mm.

This problem doesn't occur with either the Nikon 12-24 or Sigma 10-20.

It does have a couple of plus points though, it's wider (slightly) and faster (slightly). That's why I'll end up keeping it.

If I had the chance to go back would I have bought it over the Nikon? I'm not too sure now, impulse buys are terrible things and I don't think it gives a whole lot more than the Nikon gave me.

Anyways, the Nikon is still for sale;)
 
It's a bit of a shame about the flare really but the rest seems pretty top notch. I think the biggest selling point is the larger aperture though, oh and the price. The 12-24 you are selling is a steal really and I would love to have it but don't have the funds in place just yet. I also like the way that the specific range the 11-16 offers is just a bit wider than most kit lenses which means no overlap. Maybe it's just me but I don't really like have multiple lenses capable of the same thing (it sort of defeats the object). Of course it's going to happen with some, maybe I'm just odd.
 
I have one, I like it but I find for anything other than landscapes its too wide, super sharp though even at iso800:thumbs:
 
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