Lens review

Tokina AT-X 116 PRO DX AF 11-16 mm f/2.8

11. Summary

Pros:

• very solid barrel,
• reasonable dimensions for the optical parameters offered,
• excellent center-of-the-frame quality,
• good image quality in the corners,
• quite well-controlled astigmatism,
• sufficiently low vignetting for this grade of equipment,
• good price/quality ratio,

• high levels of chromatic aberration throughout the range,
• too high coma,
• uneven performance against the light,
• mediocre AF performance.

Tokina’s engineers set themselves a truly difficult task. They wanted to make a lens with good optics providing the user with ultra-wide angles and a good, constant aperture of F/2.8. Had it been easy, every manufacturer would offer us a lens alike. So far, Tokina is the only one to have it. How can we rate the outcome of their efforts? Without a hint of doubt, positively. The lens is not bare of drawbacks. Its CA could be lower, it could do better against harsh light and have a better autofocus. On the other hand, Tokina produces really sharp images throughout the whole frame and focal range. What is important, all these are managed while keeping reasonable dimensions and a price acceptable for an amateur. I have no doubt the lens will find many a happy owner on the Polish market.

Sample shots:

Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 11 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/2000 sek., ISO 200 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 2.5 MB	Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 11 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/3200 sek., ISO 100 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 2.6 MB	Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 11 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/8000 sek., ISO 200 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 4.5 MB
Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 11 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/2000 sek., ISO 200 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 3.0 MB	Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 11 mm, f/3.5, exp. 1/3200 sek., ISO 200 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 3.5 MB	Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 11 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/2500 sek., ISO 200 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 3.2 MB
Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 11 mm, f/8.0, exp. 1/640 sek., ISO 400 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 2.8 MB	Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 11 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/1000 sek., ISO 100 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 3.1 MB	Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 11 mm, f/6.3, exp. 1/1000 sek., ISO 200 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 3.3 MB
Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 14 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/6400 sek., ISO 400 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 2.5 MB	Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 14 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/3200 sek., ISO 400 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 2.7 MB	Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 14 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/1600 sek., ISO 200 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 3.3 MB
Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 13 mm, f/4.0, exp. 1/125 sek., ISO 100 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 3.6 MB	Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 13 mm, f/4.5, exp. 1/125 sek., ISO 400 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 3.2 MB	Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 16 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/800 sek., ISO 200 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 2.8 MB
Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 16 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/8000 sek., ISO 200 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 2.6 MB	Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 16 mm, f/8.0, exp. 1/1000 sek., ISO 200 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 2.8 MB	Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 16 mm, f/6.3, exp. 1/1000 sek., ISO 200 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 3.8 MB
Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 16 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/5000 sek., ISO 200 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 3.5 MB	Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 16 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/500 sek., ISO 200 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 3.2 MB	Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 16 mm, f/4.0, exp. 1/640 sek., ISO 200 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 2.8 MB