Lens review

Tokina AF 193 19-35 mm f/3.5-4.5

6. Distortion

In this category the Tokina has nothing to boast of, even though its focal lengths range is narrower than that of its competitors. At 19 mm it shows a significant barrel distortion of –3.7%. Let’s remind that the Tamron 17-35 mm at 17 mm had the distortion reaching –3.1%, the Canon 17-40 mm –2.7% and the Sigma 17-35 mm – only -1.7%. The Tokina fares the worst of this bunch.

Also in the middle of the range the Tokina compares unfavorably with its competitors, although its distortion is just –1.77% there so significantly lower. At 35 mm the distortion remains visible, with its value measured by us as –1.07%; in the case of other lenses of this class, though, the distortion was reaching zero level there.

It would be difficult to praise the Tokina in this category but I must admit it still fares better than some kit lenses designed to work on a small sensor by definition.