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Lens review

Tokina AT-X PRO FX SD 16-28 mm f/2.8 (IF)

10 May 2016
Arkadiusz Olech

8. Vignetting

First let’s check the vignetting performance on the small APS-C sensor of the Canon EOS 50D. Appropriate thumbnails can be found below.

Canon 50D, 16 mm, f/2.8 Canon 50D, 16 mm, f/4.0
Tokina AT-X PRO FX SD 16-28 mm f/2.8 (IF) - Vignetting Tokina AT-X PRO FX SD 16-28 mm f/2.8 (IF) - Vignetting
Canon 50D, 22 mm, f/2.8 Canon 50D, 22 mm, f/4.0
Tokina AT-X PRO FX SD 16-28 mm f/2.8 (IF) - Vignetting Tokina AT-X PRO FX SD 16-28 mm f/2.8 (IF) - Vignetting
Canon 50D, 28 mm, f/2.8 Canon 50D, 28 mm, f/4.0
Tokina AT-X PRO FX SD 16-28 mm f/2.8 (IF) - Vignetting Tokina AT-X PRO FX SD 16-28 mm f/2.8 (IF) - Vignetting


The thumbnails prove clearly that in this case there is no vignetting at all, no matter what focal length you employ. Our measurements of course reflect that too. At 16 mm already at the maximum relative aperture the vignetting is practically imperceptible, reaching just 8% (−0.24 EV). Similar performance can be observed at 22 mm where, by f/2.8 it amounts to 10% (−0.30 EV). Another slight increase you see at 28 mm where, at the maximum relative aperture, that aberration gets to 12% (−0.36 EV) and then it decreases to 7% (−0.22 EV) by f/4.0.


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Now let’s see how the situation changes when you attach the tested Tokina to the full frame EOS 5D Mark III.

Canon 5D MkIII, 16 mm, f/2.8 Canon 5D MkIII, 16 mm, f/4.0
Tokina AT-X PRO FX SD 16-28 mm f/2.8 (IF) - Vignetting Tokina AT-X PRO FX SD 16-28 mm f/2.8 (IF) - Vignetting
Canon 5D MkIII, 22 mm, f/2.8 Canon 5D MkIII, 22 mm, f/4.0
Tokina AT-X PRO FX SD 16-28 mm f/2.8 (IF) - Vignetting Tokina AT-X PRO FX SD 16-28 mm f/2.8 (IF) - Vignetting
Canon 5D MkIII, 28 mm, f/2.8 Canon 5D MkIII, 28 mm, f/4.0
Tokina AT-X PRO FX SD 16-28 mm f/2.8 (IF) - Vignetting Tokina AT-X PRO FX SD 16-28 mm f/2.8 (IF) - Vignetting


At a difficult combination of the 16 mm focal length and f/2.3 aperture the vignetting amounts to 44% (−1.68 EV). It is a lot but let’s remind here the result of the Canon EF 16–35 mm f/4L IS USM which at 16 mm and by f/4.0 lost 53% of light. When you close the Tokina down to f/4.0 the vignetting is reduced to 31% (−1.06 EV). By the f/5.6 aperture and higher that aberration keeps a steady level hovering near 22% (−0.71 EV).

In the middle of the focal range the situation improves significantly. When you apply the maximum relative aperture you lose 30% (−1.04 EV) of light in the frame corners. That value decreases to 21% (−0.70 EV) when you stop down the aperture to f/4.0. By f/5.6 and higher apertures the vignetting amounts to about 18% (−0.57 EV).

Further vignetting decrease can be observed when you pass to the maximum focal length. In its case, by f/2.8, that aberration amounts to 28% (−0.97 EV), and by f/4.0 it reaches 19% (−0.61 EV). From f/5.6 upwards the vignetting keeps near 15% (−0.49 EV).

Tokina AT-X PRO FX SD 16-28 mm f/2.8 (IF) - Vignetting

Tokina AT-X PRO FX SD 16-28 mm f/2.8 (IF) - Vignetting

Tokina AT-X PRO FX SD 16-28 mm f/2.8 (IF) - Vignetting