Tokina AT-X PRO DX 11-20 mm f/2.8 review - Image resolution

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Tokina AT-X PRO DX 11-20 mm f/2.8

8 September 2015

Arkadiusz Olech

4. Image resolution

The resolution test of the Tokina AT-X PRO DX 11–20 mm f/2.8 was based on RAW files from the Canon EOS 50D body. The highest MTFs reached by the best lenses, tested on that camera amount to 52-55 lpmm and the decency level we situate near 34-35 lpmm.

Let’s check how the tested lens compares here – its result in the frame centre is presented below.

Tokina AT-X PRO DX 11-20 mm f/2.8 - Image resolution

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Seeing such values you want to clap and cheer. Already at the maximum relative aperture the Tokina doesn’t have any problems with exceeding a very high level of 45 lpmm and on stopping down it can go as high as almost 54 lpmm being as efficient as very good ‘primes’. What’s more those results seem to be a bit better than the results of the 11-16 mm f/2.8II model which we assessed very positively anyway, despite its narrower focal range. Only one word comes to mind: revelation!

Now let’s see whether the performance on the edge of the frame won’t spoil our good mood.

You can complain a bit seeing the values reached by the lens by f/2.8 as it didn’t exceed the decency level at any focal length. Fortunately on stopping down the aperture by about 1 EV the problem disappears. You should also remind yourself that the predecessor of the tested lens at the maximum relative aperture didn’t exceed 30 lpmm at any focal length and here you get several lpmm more. You really should appreciate that improvement, especially that the constructors’ task was more difficult here, with a wider focal length range.

At the end of this chapter traditionally we present crops taken from photos of our resolution testing chart saved as JPEG files.

Canon 50D, JPEG, 16 mm, f/2.8