jancohen
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 p.1 #12 · Tokina 11-16 - Is there something wrong here? | |
I'll be sending the lens back to Tokina when it gets back to me (yup, I'm the guy who sold it to Ryan). A little background: I bought this lens last year but never really used it and when I started using it maybe two months back or so, I noticed it was causing a problem with the f-stop readouts in what was then my D300, which has since been replaced by a D700. Anyway, I called THK repairs (they perform the warranty repairs for US Tokina lenses) and talked to Glenn, who apparently manages that dept. He discussed the problem with a tech, then told me to send it in for warranty repair because it needed a new circuit card. Anyway, it took them more than a month to turn it around and Glenn told me they indeed had to change the circuit card and that the repair took so long because they had to order parts from Japan. And when the lens got back to me, you can imagine my surprise when I read a description of the repair that said "adjusted circuit board" (sic.).
In the meantime, while the repair was being performed by THK, Ryan (the OP here) posted a want ad for an 11-16. I responded that I had one available but that it was in warranty repair, and he asked me to keep him in the loop when it returned. I did so, and per his request, took a number of shots at f2.8 and f11, at 11 & 16mm, on my D700, all of which seemed fine to me at the time, and I assume the OP as well, since he told me he wanted it and paid for it.
Anyway, as you can see above, Ryan performed some additional testing and discovered what really does look like a focusing flaw in the lens. I offered to send him a refund (upon return of the lens in the condition I sent it to him in) or play middleman and send it back to Tokina again. He opted for the refund and when the lens returns, I'll send him one. I've got no problem with that.
Now for my Tokina rant: I've since done a good deal of research on the 'net regarding this lens and have learned, just as many of you have, that Tokina apparently did have production issues with some of the earlier datecodes (though Tokina has not officially fessed up to that). Given the time frame when I originally bought this lens, the lens could very well be one of those that is "missing spacers" and/or has misaligned elements. While the lens was at THK being repaired I specifically asked Glenn there if he's familiar with these issues being discussed by others in various forums and he not only told me no, but that he's not seen any of the warranty returns with such problems.
In any event, I will be giving Glenn a call when the lens returns from Ryan. I'll explain the problem and expect a resolution. I'll withhold any further comments until after that call. I do expect that he tell me to send the lens back to them again, and that if they have to, send the lens to the factory for proper alignment. In the meantime, you can imagine what I'm thinking about Tokina given my experience with their repair dept.
...I have since bought a set of Zeiss ZF lenses for my D700 (and am happier than a pig in, well, you know).
</ end rant>
Jan C.
Edited on Oct 07, 2009 at 07:01 PM · View previous versions
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). Let me know by looking at the examples if I am crazy or not. All shots were taken on a steady tripod. I even seemed to have trouble with sharpness in the center of the 11-16, but pay special attention to the bottom corners.