Can anyone with the Tokina 12-24mm comment on the focusing speed? I have tried non-Canon lenses and often (not all the time but regularly), they focus much more slowly than the Canon (ring) USM lenses.
It appears that the Tokina does not have a USM-style (HSM, etc) focusing motor. All else seems good (image quality, f4, price) compared to the Sigma 12-24 or Canon 10-22, but I have this one concern.
I just received mine from Canoga Camera yesterday, but after checking right now shows it is out of stock again. I'm glad I jumped when I did. I've only taken a couple of shots with it, and the preliminary results are good. I got a couple of err 99 msgs (not sure what caused it ), but that seemed to clear up just turning off and restarting the camera. I took a couple of shots on the way to work this morning and plan to hopefully get a couple more in on my way home this evening. I will post a couple of the results here once I get them processed.
Good luck to all waiting to get a copy. My first impressions are good.
After getting the good word on focus speed, I was at Silvio's camera in Torrance on other business. As I was about to pay for a new case, I ask the guy "Do you have the Tokina 12-24mm? in a Canon mount?". At first he says no, then he pauses and goes in back just to be sure.
Long story short, 10 minutes and a short test later, I'm walking out with the Tokina. I agree with the assessment on focus speed. Not as fast (or quiet) as either of my USM lenses, but fast enough. And any focus noise is well covered by the LOUD shutter on the 20D.
I'm not trying to be difficult or contrary, and I have perfect vision (so no I don't need to put my glasses on ;-) but....
The sharpest, most colorful pics in this thread were Kawter's shots with the Canon 10-22 EF-S. To my eye all of the shots with the Tokina 12-24 look somewhat soft and oddly distorted. I realize that wide angle lenses will distort but somehow the Tokina distortion is unsettling to my eye.
Not trolling for a flame here, just my honest opinion. Anyone else seeing the same?
smpetty wrote:
The sharpest, most colorful pics in this thread were Kawter's shots with the Canon 10-22 EF-S.
I agree.
I realize that wide angle lenses will distort but somehow the Tokina distortion is unsettling to my eye.
That I don't agree with... all superwides "distort" (not really, but I know what you're talking about) at the edges of the frame, and don't look any different. I suspect the reason you feel that way is because of a difference in composition on the part of the photographers. Kawter didn't put anything of interest out at the edges of the frame, while others did (and even did 100% corner crops).
In any case, the sample photos I have seen from the Tokina on this thread do not appeal like the samples I have seen from the Canon 10-22, or my own 10-22 photos. You can see a wide variety of Canon 10-22 shots (both mine and others) on this thread:
I agree with you SMPetty. Both lenses look pretty good but the images from the 10-22 were more impressive IMO.
The key factor is however is the fact that these lenses aren't priced the same. The Canon is around $400 US more than the Tokina. Is it worth it? For me I think it is. But for others, perhaps not.
That I don't agree with... all superwides "distort" (not really, but I know what you're talking about) at the edges of the frame, and don't look any different. I suspect the reason you feel that way is because of a difference in composition on the part of the photographers. Kawter didn't put anything of interest out at the edges of the frame, while others did (and even did 100% corner crops).
In any case, the sample photos I have seen from the Tokina on this thread do not appeal like the samples I have seen from the Canon 10-22, or my own 10-22 photos. You can see a wide variety of Canon 10-22 shots (both mine and others) on this thread:
Check all three pages... there are images on all of them....Show more →
Very good point about the 'distortion'.
I must tell you that seeing your slot canyon pictures (I think it was another thread having to do with ND filters) made my decision to get the Canon 10-22 - they're some of the best slot canyon captures I've ever seen. Kudos!!!
Perhaps it is. But most of the Tokina images posted here are relatively low contrast, paler colors, and softer than the Canon 10-22 images posted on this thread and others here.
I've taken pictures with both the canon and the tokina side by side at the same scene and same settings and the color and contrast looked identical. The canon was of course wider but the tokina seemed slightly sharper under high magnification.Both are great lenses in my opinion.
), but that seemed to clear up just turning off and restarting the camera. I took a couple of shots on the way to work this morning and plan to hopefully get a couple more in on my way home this evening. I will post a couple of the results here once I get them processed.