 |
Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X 116 PRO DX SD
|
|
Review Date: Dec 19, 2012
|
Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $650.00
| Rating: 10
|
|
Pros:
|
Image quality is generally excellent. Great build quality. 77mm filters are common.
|
|
Cons:
|
A little soft at f/2.8. Has some CA and flare.
|
|
|
This was my primary ultra wide angle lens for almost 4 years. I did not use it extremely frequently because of its limited zoom range, and having the 15-85mm for about half of the 4 years. It was more of a specialty lens for me. But when I needed it, I was very pleased with the results. Image quality was very good, although pixel peeping showed some softness when wide open. At normal viewing sizes, it was good and certainly very usable.
Every review on this lens mentions some chromatic abberation and flare, and this is true. I didn't mind too much since I could fix the CA in post-processing and I didn't shoot into the sun very often.
|
|
|
|
|
Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
|
|
Review Date: Dec 19, 2012
|
Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $700.00
| Rating: 10
|
|
Pros:
|
Image quality, excellent IS, zoom range, consistent AF, build quality is pretty good,
|
|
Cons:
|
Tends to pull minor dust inside (very small amount). Price is a little bit high. Some distortion and vignetting on the wide end, easy to fix in PP.
|
|
|
I have been more than happy with the image quality of my EF-S 15-85mm, which was clearly better than the 24-105L I sold to get it. I find the focal range ideal for a walk-around, understanding that it has variable maximum aperture as the compromise to its range. It is worth it to me, especially because I pair this lens with a fast prime to cover darker situations or shallow depth of field shots.
This isn't a very cheap lens, and I pondered the comparable, less expensive Sigma (17-70mm). I ended up going with the Canon to get the wider end's 2mm and I did not regret it. I used my ultra wide angle lens rarely after acquiring the 15-85.
The image stabilization and autofocus were both excellent for me.
My only negatives, as noted, were some distortion and vignetting on the wide end. I don't consider these very serious because they easy to fix in post processing.
I didn't realize this for almost 2 years, but the lens did gain some very small and few dust particles inside. I only realized when shining a flashlight and taking a close inspection. I didn't really care because I did not see any effect on the image quality.
|
|
|
|
|
Sigma 24mm f1.8 EX DG Aspherical Macro
|
|
Review Date: May 28, 2010
|
Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $450.00
| Rating: 8
|
|
Pros:
|
Extremely close focusing. Center sharpness is good, especially past f/2.0. Focus is accurate on mine.
|
|
Cons:
|
Focus is a little slow and noisy. Edges are soft wide open but improve past f/2.0. Vignette can be noticeable when wide open.
|
|
|
Very unusual combination of wide angle, extremely close focusing, and wide aperture - I don't know of any other lens like it (except for its partner at 28mm). The 20mm version doesn't focus as closely.
Center sharpness is good, especially past f/2.0. It's a little soft at f/1.8 on mine, with the edges definitely soft until you get past 2.0.
Will focus with subject nearly touching the lens good, which makes for some creative opportunities.
Focus is accurate on mine although slow enough that I don't intend to use it for fast-moving subjects.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
