Tokina AT-X Pro lenses ?

[Mike.P]

Am currently building up a lens collection for my purchase of a 7D, I presently use Pentax but am aiming towards a dual system (if I can afford to keep both). The Tokina 12-24mm f4, 16-50mm f2.8, 50-135mm f2.8 and a few more were designed and built in co-operation by Pentax and Tokina and I have these 3 lenses in Pentax mount and find them excellent.

My question is: what are they like in Canon/Nikon mount, are they fast focusing, reasonably silent, IQ?

Thanks.

 

[puddleduck]

The Tokina 12-24 is excellent.

The 16-50 f/2.8 I don't rate at all - easily outperformed by the Tamron 17-50.

Can't comment on the 50-135 f/2.8 - never seen one!

On Nikon, the lenses are body driven, but very very fast to focus but not silent.

 

[JDholic]

I can't comment on the above lens, but I do have the 100mm Macro AT-X PRO D. (long name!)

It's probably the sharpest lens I own, it's slow to focus with AF, but being a macro that not really a concern.

 

[Mike.P]

The Tokina 12-24 is excellent.

The 16-50 f/2.8 I don't rate at all - easily outperformed by the Tamron 17-50.

Can't comment on the 50-135 f/2.8 - never seen one!

On Nikon, the lenses are body driven, but very very fast to focus but not silent.

Thanks, have got the 12-24mm for Canon, was looking mainly at the 16-50mm and 50-135mm. Pentax added full weather sealing, SDM (HSM) and their own coating which makes them so good for the brand but your comment on the 16-50mm has confirmed that I am better getting the Tamron.

I can't comment on the above lens, but I do have the 100mm Macro AT-X PRO D. (long name!)

It's probably the sharpest lens I own, it's slow to focus with AF, but being a macro that not really a concern.

Yup, have that lens in Pentax mount as well .. superb lens

 

[ah5168]

I have the 12-24 on Nikon and the focusing speed is excellent, I have never really noticed the focusing noise so it can’t be any worse than my Nikon lenses. The only thing wrong with it is the CA which is bad if you shoot RAW, but it’s easily correctable. The Pentax versions of these lenses are all around double the cost of the Tokina versions. I havent yet worked out whether this is due to the inclusion of more low dispersion glass and better CA in the Pentax versions or just the cost of having a brand name.

Most of the Architectural set on my flickr were taken with the Tokina 12-24

 

[Mike.P]

The Pentax versions of these lenses are all around double the cost of the Tokina versions. I havent yet worked out whether this is due to the inclusion of more low dispersion glass and better CA in the Pentax versions or just the cost of having a brand name.

To some extent I can understand the 16-50mm and 50-135mm because of the inclusion of the sonic motor, weather seals and Pentax coating (plus the brand name). The 12-24mm price difference is just plain daylight robbery imo. Glad I got all mine before the price rises.