Tokina AT-X 124 PRO DX II AF 12-24 mm f/4 review - Distortion

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Tokina AT-X 124 PRO DX II AF 12-24 mm f/4

28 June 2010

Arkadiusz Olech

6. Distortion

When it comes to the distortion, our results show some improvement, compared to this lens’s predecessor. Let’s remind here that the previous version of the Tokina 12-24 mm at 12, 18, and 24 mm focal length had barrel distortion of : −2.80%, −0.75% and −0.24% respectively. In the case of the new version of this model we got: : −2.32%, −0.44% and −0.03%, so lower at practically every focal length. However, we must honestly mention the fact that one part of this decrease might be caused by the sensor, or rather its dimension. The current test was performed on a sensor with 1.6x multiplier and the previous one – on a bit bigger sensor of a Nikon D200.

Describing geometric deformations you should remember about mapping used in wide angle lenses, which keeps straight lines but allows huge image deformation in the frame corners. Distortion measurements will tell us just how the lens fares with the straight lines but you won’t get an overall picture of deformations, characteristic for such a wide angle instrument. It’s enough to take a portrait picture of your spouse or your girl/boyfriend using 12 mm focal length and put that person in the frame corner. Showing your photo to your model we can be practically sure that a relatively low barrel distortion level of the Tokina will be not a good defence argument.

Canon 50D, 12 mm

Canon 50D, 18 mm

Canon 50D, 24 mm

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