Tokina AT-X PRO FX SD 16-28 mm f/2.8 (IF) review - Chromatic and spherical aberration

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

10 May 2016

Arkadiusz Olech

5. Chromatic and spherical aberration

Chromatic aberration

The longitudinal chromatic aberration wasn’t especially bothersome in the case of the Tokina 16-28 mm f/2.8. It was almost imperceptible when the lens was attached to the EOS 5D Mk III. A bit higher level was noticed when the lens cooperated with the EOS 50D but still those were medium values, nothing more.

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

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How the tested lens dealt with the lateral chromatic aberration? Graphs presented below answer that question, showing its connection to the focal length and aperture respectively on the edge of the APS-C/DX sensor and full frame.

There are no big differences between particular focal lengths. The results at 28 mm lag behind a bit but not especially so and the overall trends remain the same. You get the higher values near the maximum relative aperture and, especially on the edge of the APS-C/DX sensor, they can be approaching high levels. Already from near f/4.0 the aberration becomes medium and on further stopping down it approaches low level; however, it is not able to reach that at any place.

No going into raptures in this category, especially that the rivals managed to perform a tad better. On the other hand this model stands out in a positive way among other wide angle Tokinas, especially those designed for smaller sensors.

Canon 5D Mk III, 22 mm, f/2.8	Canon 5D Mk III, 28 mm, f/16

Spherical aberration

The circles of light we got in front of and behind the focus are not identical but the differences between them aren’t huge. As there is no ‘focus shift’ effect, there are no reasons to suspect the spherical aberration is corrected badly.