Tokina 11-16mm F2.8

[Mike Wrankmore]

Okay so i am in a bit of a dilemma at the moment.I have a 5D and have recently become dissatisfied with the old technology and am considering selling it while there is still some sort of value to it(providing someone buys it).This then leaves me with a problem at the wide end as i plan on just using the one body(7D).....and the 17-40mm just isn't wide enough.
I have read the forums and the reviews on most of the wide options.......and the one that sticks out for me is the Tokina 11-16mm F2.8....mainly as it's the only F2.8 that is affordable at the moment.
I want the f2.8 for stars,and night sky.....would love the 16-35mm f2.8....but can't justify spending R13 500 right now on a wide angle just for 2.8 and until i go FF again....it's not wide enough.

So people's thoughts.....and anyone owning the Tokina.....would love some feedback.

[Morkel Erasmus]

I've read good things about it but cannot comment from an 'owner' perspective.
I was pretty happy with the Canon 10-22mm USM which gives you f3.5 @ 10mm (16mm FOV on 7D)...but having since gone to f2.8 for stars that extra bit just helps in "sucking so much more light from the sky" so to speak.

[Mike Wrankmore]

Thanks Morkel,that's what i realized after my first attempt.It's not that i will be shooting night shots a lot....but you only realise how much you miss it when you don't have it.
Looking at Fred Miranda's web page and the user reviews there.....it seems like there are some bad copies out there.....and there might be a problem with the focus clutch in certain situations.Not many people stock it in S.A.....Prices vary from Just over R8 000 at a legit shop......to about R6 600 for a possible grey product via S.A internet order.I might have to suck it up and pay the higher price so i can test it in the shop and look for a good copy!
My first choice would be 10-22mm if i wasn't concerned about the F2.8......as it's no problem for landscape...but that F2.8 would be so nice to have for the night sky!

[swainsons]

Okay so i am in a bit of a dilemma at the moment.I have a 5D and have recently become dissatisfied with the old technology and am considering selling it while there is still some sort of value to it(providing someone buys it).This then leaves me with a problem at the wide end as i plan on just using the one body(7D).....and the 17-40mm just isn't wide enough.
I have read the forums and the reviews on most of the wide options.......and the one that sticks out for me is the Tokina 11-16mm F2.8....mainly as it's the only F2.8 that is affordable at the moment.
I want the f2.8 for stars,and night sky.....would love the 16-35mm f2.8....but can't justify spending R13 500 right now on a wide angle just for 2.8 and until i go FF again....it's not wide enough.

So people's thoughts.....and anyone owning the Tokina.....would love some feedback.

If shooting stars is your main aim, I would much rather get a 35 or 50mm f1.4, now THAT gathers light like nothing else.

Good luck

[Mike Wrankmore]

Thanks Swainsons....but stars is not the main aim......it's an all purpose wide angle landscape lens with the capability of freezing star movement when wanted.I have the 24-70mm f2.8.....and might as well then just keep the 5D and use this combination.The aim is to get a wide angle lens for a cropped sensor 7D with f2.8 capability.If F2.8 isn't the issue then it's simple for me....10-22mm.

[Gavin van Dam]

I currently use the SIGMA 10-20mm f4.0-5.6, but I will be splashing out on a CANON 8-15mm very soon

[Dirkv]

Hi Mike

I've got one and I am happy with it! Sharpness is good and the f2.8 is a nice feature!

The only downside is that the lens is susceptable to quite bad flare if you're angle in relation to the sun is not spot on.

You can have a look at my gallery as most of the photos were taken with the Tokina.

[Mike Wrankmore]

Thanks Dirk.....that's the kind of info I'm looking for....do you think the flare is any worse than any other wide angle lens.....haven't heard anyone mention flare before on Fred Miranda's forum....except when shooting more directly into the sun.Am a bit worried now as i have noticed myself getting flare when using the 17-40mm and filters but just put that down to one of the drawbacks of filters and the wrong angle.
Will go and have a look at you gallery.....thanks for that!

[Grant Atkinson]

Hi Mike
I guess you are in a hurry, but I just today spoke with the importer, and am going to be getting one of the Tokina 11-16f2.8 lenses for a full-length field review in the not too distant future, the Canon mount and I will be making sure to shoot it on an APS-C sensor. From what I have learned so far build quality, and optical performance is pretty good, specially when one takes price into consideration.
cheers
Grant

[Mike Wrankmore]

Thanks Grant.....i've also seen that they are bringing out a MkII in July for the Canon......and one for Nikon now.It might be worth waiting for.I'm not in a huge rush.....but want to offload the 5D sooner than later.I'll need to think a bit....!

[Grant Atkinson]

Mike, I am hoping to have a 11-16 to test within the next three weeks, and will shoot it on a variety of Canon bodies. I also have the 16-35f2.8II, and the EFS10-22 and will use them for comparison.
cheers
Grant

[Mike Wrankmore]

Cool,thanks Grant....i think i will wait then and see what you think!

[Grant Atkinson]

Mike
I am picking up three different Tokina lenses today, and will keep you informed. Have pm'd you some details.
cheers
Grant

[Mike Wrankmore]

Thanks Grant....i am sure many people are watching this thread with interest!

[Forgiss - Sean Nel]

Thanks Grant....i am sure many people are watching this thread with interest!

Yes we are!

[Grant Atkinson]

Okay, so I have the following three Tokina lenses: Fisheye 10-17mm F3.5-4.5 DX AT-X, SD12-24mm F4(IF) DX II AT-X Pro and the SD 11-16mm F2.8 (IF) DX AT-X Pro. They are all in Canon mount, and all three are optimized for APS-C sensors. I am going to be using them quite extensively, and will be looking to write some full-length field reviews. Will take me a little while though, as I want to actually really give them a good workout in real conditions before completing the reviews.
I will also be adding more Tokinas to the list, including the 100mm f2.8 macro, and some of their short to mid fast zooms ( I think it is a 28-80 f2.8), for full-frame bodies over the next few months.
I can already say that the three lenses I have are superbly built and feel very good in the hand.
Cheers
Grant

[Henk Coetzee]

Okay, so I have the following three Tokina lenses: Fisheye 10-17mm F3.5-4.5 DX AT-X

I'd be interested in what you make of this one. I had a look at the Pentax incarnation (Tokina used some Pentax designs (or was it the other way around?)) of this lens a while back and found it interesting, but not really my cup of tea. What is interesting is that the fish eye distortion decreases as you zoom in, which is quite an interesting effect. I'm still not sure whether I'd ever use a fish eye if I had one.

[Forgiss - Sean Nel]

Righto Ladies and Gents... We have received our first biggish order of Tokina lenses. Feel free to come to the shop and play!

[Mike Wrankmore]

Hi Sean

Don't see them listed on the internet yet? when will they be put up?Just interested to see what you have and prices.

[Forgiss - Sean Nel]

Hi Sean

Don't see them listed on the internet yet? when will they be put up?Just interested to see what you have and prices.

They came in yesterday just before we started packing up the shop... most probably will be loaded to the internet within the next day or so...