I just got a tokina 12-24 F/4 in the mail today, and boy oh boy is it nice. I took it out with my friends for some coffee and acoustic music. Shot a bit in my room. LOVE IT! You can really get some cool shots if you are willing to get right in the scene. I was rocking my old Achiever TZ250 flash (25+ years old) with a receipt (yes receipt) rubberbanded over it as a diffuser. Here are a couple shots for you. Nothing spectacular. Just some lens love.
My friend chilling on my computer.
Another friend. I was definitely in his face. No flash. Straight from RAW, no pp. ISO 1600
Its a great lens! I have to have mine repaired.... something happened to the zoom, and its stuck at 12mm... oh what a shame! But seriously.. I am going to have it fixed.
congrats with the new toy. I used the Tokina a lot and it is still one of my favorites on DX, the price/quality ratio is really excellent... and BTW I like the cat picture a lot...
Just said this on another post, it is surprising that you can find uses for f2.8 with a wide angle. Bringing the lens inside for one, f2.8 would have brightened up the cat pic. I have used the lens at meetings without a flash. Outside I use it at f5.6-f11, but it can be an inside lens.
I have the 12-24 and find it ok ... but if I do agree that 2.8 can open up a whole new range of handheld possibilities. The only thing I find limiting about my 12-24 is close focus distance (a biggie with me) and medium type geometric distortions. It's a good lens, don't get me wrong ... and fun too ... but f 2.8 calls out sometimes ... and now there are somewhat better, just a bit better though, lenses out there - and NAS is a disease that knows no permanent cure!
. Enjoy the lens