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bobcita68
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Registered: Nov 4, 2009
Location: Italy
Posts: 0
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Review Date: Nov 4, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Excellent build quality, very good image quality, price
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Cons:
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12mm not as large as 10mm, but one can live with it
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I bought this lens in Nikon mount, used in perfectly new conditions, while I was looking for a UWA lens that goes down to 10mm. Since I didn't want to pay the cost of the new Nikkor 10-24, I was considering the Sigma 10-20 f/4-5.6 and Tamron 10-24, but eventually went for the better image quality and remarkable build quality of the Tokina.
I use this lens mostly to "play" with the perspective, and for this purpose the longer minimum focal length is not really that big of a limitation (you just try to get closer to your subject).
Build quality is top-notch, on-par with professional Nikkors. In fact, this is the heaviest UWA for DX, and it feels. Barrel is made mostly of metal and both zoom and focus rings are smooth and nice to use.
Image quality is very good already wide open. I read it suffers of CA, but in my experience it is not so bad to make you turn away from it at all.
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 Nov 4, 2009
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baraynavab
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Registered: Mar 21, 2007
Location: United States
Posts: 5
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Nov 1, 2009
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erick_C
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Registered: Sep 10, 2009
Location: Korea, South
Posts: 4
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Review Date: Oct 14, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $350.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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sharp, (almost) bomb-proof construction, controlled barrel distortion (at the widest angle), intuitive MF/AF switch
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Cons:
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hood
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I owned this lens very briefly, I ended up selling it to help fund another lens purchase and I MISS IT. It was one of the best UWA lenses I've used having never used the Nikon variant and will definitely buy it again.
The lens is sharp. At 12mm, you will see some very visible barrel distortion but it's so predictable that it can easily be fixed through software. At first, I was skeptical of the MF/AF clutch but after using it, it's a smart and intuitive implementation.
The construction, as many others have pointed out, is phenomenal. In my opinion, it's built to last you a very very long time. Kudos to Tokina.
As for my one caveat, the hood leaves much to be desired. When reveresed, it tends to pop off once in a while. Not too often, but once in a while that it becomes annoying.
Also, on a side note: IMHO, Tokina has one of the best designed rear caps. Better than the Nikon one. Positive engagement, good coverate (to help protect more of your lens' mount), and, unlike the other third party brands, you don't have to line it up with a dot.
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Oct 14, 2009
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JRomie
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Registered: Apr 12, 2006
Location: United States
Posts: 23
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Review Date: Jul 31, 2009
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Recommend? no |
Price paid: $469.00
| Rating: 6
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Pros:
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Beautifully built, constant wide open aperture, sharp when focused manually.
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Cons:
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Autofocus WAY soft on my copy
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My overall 6 rating is acknowledgement that my lens probably was not a representative copy; however, with this thought aside, I'd probably give it a four or 5, as it really didn't meet my expectations.
With all I've heard about this lens, I believe I got a bad copy and my mistake was not fully testing it before the 15-day return period (lesson learned!). I could take very sharp photos with it, but the AF was way soft -- out of focus alltogether. I sent it in for recalibration under the warranty period and was told it met factory specifications. I can't agree. See my post in the Canon forum on 3/19/09 (http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/752268/0?keyword=Tokina#6856670). I was very unimpressed with my copy, and with Tokina's service as well.
I've owned Tokina before and I think they're good lenses, but this one was not for me. I recently picked up a Canon EF-S 10-22 and am VERY pleased with it in every respect (though you can't beat Tokina's build). Very happy with the Canon.
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Jul 31, 2009
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maddog76
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Registered: Oct 11, 2008
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 0
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Review Date: Jul 23, 2009
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Recommend? |
Price paid: Not Indicated
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Pros:
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Built like a tank. Excellent all round performance. IQ. Price
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Cons:
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None
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Have been using this lens, for almost a year now, and it still never fails to impress me.
The build qualitity is great, good robust feel, well finished, silent and smooth operation. Better build IMHO than any other wide angle lens out there.
I have used this lens in all weather and light conditions, no problem with hunting or CA. The IQ has been consistantly good.
If you are thinking of getting a wide angle, please do not dismiss this lens. Yes some have a wider field of view, but generally the 2mm is not missed. I have not had any situation where it has not been wide enough for my uses.
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Jul 23, 2009
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dhphoto
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Registered: Feb 15, 2003
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 6516
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Review Date: May 12, 2009
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Recommend? no |
Price paid: $500.00
| Rating: 5
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Pros:
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Build quality, clutch for manual focusing, price
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Cons:
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Average image quality, hideous chromatic abberations at 12mm (even at f8-f9), innacurate focusing
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Not nearly as good as I was expecting. Indeed I even sent it back for calibration and testing as I didn't think it could be supposed to be this average. The lab said it was 'within tolerances'. Not impressed.
Nicely built and relatively cheap and the push-pull manual focusing works well, but not properly sharp at any focal length and with simply awful chromatic abberations at 12mm, even at the best apertures.
A big disappointment.
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May 12, 2009
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rtse
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Registered: May 3, 2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 0
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Review Date: May 3, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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Price, build quality, handling
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Cons:
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Corner softness at 12mm
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Bought this lens this week and used it on 2 outings. Lens sharpness in the centre is great but does get soft towards the corners especially wide open.
Great perspective at 12mm and is solidly built. On my second trip, I was drenched by a wave and the lens was soaked but survived without a problem.
See examples.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rtse/3493605570/">Example 1</a>
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May 3, 2009
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rndman
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Registered: Apr 10, 2009
Location: N/A
Posts: 2
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Review Date: Apr 14, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $339.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Sharpness, Range, Build Quality, Price, Warranty coverage
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Cons:
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CA
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Looking at the experience of the people I was worried about getting a bad copy. But to my luck, I received a good copy.
It feels real solid, well built. It is sharp wide open and that's the beauty. @24mm though the sharpness reduces a bit, but that is fine as mostly this will be used towards wide end.
CA is visible, but not an issue as it can be cleaned out during post processing.
I was looking for a UWA and along with Sigma 10-20, Tokina 11-16 I was considering this. I was leaning towards 11-16 and then I saw it was available for the best price.
My "wide" end is now covered. I might miss that 1mm and f2.8 sometimes, but that is ok, I guess.
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Apr 14, 2009
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Richard GT
Online
Buy and Sell: On
Registered: Feb 18, 2009
Location: United States
Posts: 58
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Review Date: Apr 8, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $450.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Sharp wide open, great color rendition, quality build, well priced.
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Cons:
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Other than sample variation, nothing negative to say.
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This is an excellent lens. I use it for all my needs at the wide end. The first copy I received was badly decentered. It was returned. It's replacement is sensational. Everything I could hope for and them some.
I thought about getting a Sigma 10-20mm but I need the 24mm of the Tokina more than the 10mm of the Sigma. Not at all sorry I made the choice I did.
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Apr 8, 2009
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chylld
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Registered: Dec 8, 2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 0
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Review Date: Mar 25, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $500.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Fantastic lens to use, zoom and focus are entirely internal, feels solid, IQ is great, almost everything?
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Cons:
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Grainy pictures? (maybe more a body fault) and doesn't go as wide as I'd like
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Grabbed this lens second-hand and very happy with it. I would have liked a 10mm wide end, but that would have meant going with either a Tamron or a Sigma, which haven't reviewed as well as the Tokina optically.
Had a lot of fun with the lens already, but a closer examination of the pictures shows a high amount of grain and noise; weird since I'm shooting around ISO 200-600 on my D90. That said, once the images are cleaned up and resized, they look great!
Highly recommended.
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Mar 25, 2009
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piginmuck
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Registered: Jan 13, 2009
Location: N/A
Posts: 1
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Review Date: Mar 24, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Built like a tank, sharp as a tack, great colours
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Cons:
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None yet
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I use this underwater and it is AMAZING. I used it to replace the fisheye 10-17 which I thought was pretty good until I tried using this.
It is sharp, with superb colours, and is one hell of a lens. Makes my previous 10-17 shots look flat and lifeless. No kidding. Cannot honestly say if the Nikon version is any better, but I do not see how it could be.
Built to last, with a clutch system that doesnt seem too problematic if you have two hands and a modicum of comon sense, this lens is everything you need for those wide shots, without the fishyness of the 10-17.
Buy it.
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Mar 24, 2009
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UltraVal
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Registered: Nov 8, 2006
Location: United States
Posts: 6
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Review Date: Feb 17, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $435.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Best dSLR lens I've ever used. Great colors and sharp at most F stops.
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Cons:
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None really
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This is a great lens. I sold mine because I can't really justify owning a lens worth this much. Instead I went for a bargain Tokina lens - the 19-35 "Plastic Fantastic".
I loved the color and image quality the 12-24 made on Canon bodies. Good glass really makes a big difference. I may possibly get another one of these some day and keep it. I don't think many people would be sorry for buying one of these.
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Feb 17, 2009
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