Tokina 16-55mm - Any Opinions/Reccomendations

[chilli_vision]

Hiya,

After selling my D3000 with Kit Lens (18-55mm f3.5) I am in the market for a new replacement lens to cover the same focal lengths for my D90. I have tried out a number of lenses in the same focal lengths, including the Sigma and Tamron. Unfortunately I've not been able to get my hand on a Tokina AT-X 165 PRO DX (16-50mm f2.8). Does anyone have this lens and can comment, recommend, critique it?

I would like to try/gain understanding of this lens as I have used a mates Tokina 11-66mm and think it's great, and fantastic value for money, and their 100mm macro has been rated very highly too. So I don't want to dismiss it without trying it first.

For information my options are/were:
Tokina 15-50mm f2.8 AT-X 156 Pro DX (£390 ish)
Nikon 17-55mm f2.8 G DX AF-S IF-ED (second hand only if I could find one)
Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 XR Di II VC (£400 ish)
Sigma 17-50mm f2.8 EX DC OS HSM (£550ish)

 

[Boldonian]

I have the Tokina 16-50 f2.8 and it is an excellent lens. Build quality is what you would expect from Tokina, second only to the Nikon 17-55 . IQ is also excellent. I've had the Tamron 17-50 previously but I'd take the Tokina anytime if I had a choice. I will be selling mine very soon for a very reasonable price as I've gone full frame so keep an eye on the classifieds if you fancy one.