Tokina Fírin 20 mm f/2 FE MF review - Image resolution

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Tokina Fírin 20 mm f/2 FE MF

16 November 2017

Arkadiusz Olech

4. Image resolution

The resolution test (resolution meaning the MTF50 function values) of the Tokina Fírin 20 mm f/2 FE MF was based on RAW files from the Sony A7R II camera. In the case of that mirrorless device the decency level we set about 38-40 lpmm and the best fixed-focal lenses have reached 65- 70 lpmm. Currently we base these values on a just small sample of several fixed focal length lenses we’ve tested so far so they might be slightly verified in future.

Let’s check how the tested lens compares – its performance in the frame centre, on the edge of the APS-C sensor and on the edge of full frame presents a graph below.

Tokina Fírin 20 mm f/2 FE MF - Image resolution

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The performance in the frame centre is sensational. It’s easily the sharpest Sony FE system lens we’ve tested so far. Already at the maximum relative aperture the MTFs notably exceed 60 lpmm, a very high level indeed, and by f/4.0 they reach a record-breaking value of 72.6 ±0.9 lpmm – a round of applause!

The results on the edge of the frame aren’t so delightful but they can hardly be called bad. The edge of the smaller APS-C sensor offers you a sensible image quality even at the maximum relative aperture and on more pronounced stopping down you can get to 53 lpmm.

When it comes to the edge of full frame, the aperture must be closed down to over f/2.8 in order to make the lens produce acceptable images. A good occasion for complaining? Look at the performance of the rivals. The proper correction of optical aberrations on the edge of full frame is very difficult at such an angle of view. For example the Nikkor AF-S 20 mm f/1.8G ED had to be stopped down to about f/4.0 in order to produce decent image quality. Compared to that, the Tokina fares pretty well.

To sum up the Tokina Fírin 20 mm f/2 FE MF is a very sharp lens which allows you to reach resolution values unavailable to many system “primes”. Despite a wide angle of view and a very good aperture fastness its results, even those on the edge of the frame, are sensible, better than the results of its more renowned competitors.

At the end of this chapter, traditionally, we present crops taken from photos of our resolution testing chart, saved as JPEG files along RAW files we used for the analysis above.

A7R II, JPEG, f/2.0