Tokina 11-16mm Review

http://www.learningdslrvideo.com/tokina-11-16mm-at-x116-pro-dx-canon/

I am reviewing the Tokina 11-16mmF/2.8 Pro AT-X116DX f/Canon version lens. I am going to discuss: 1. Price,
2. Show lots of b-roll I have shot, what this lens is good for,
3. Sharpness test,
4. Speed of focus,
5. Build quality,
6. Which cameras this works well for.

Price

tokina-11-16I would say like to say I am not Scott Bourne, if you don't know who he is you should start listening to his podcast 'photofocus'. I don't own as many lenses as Scott does, so this review will be geared towards amateurs like myself that are on a budget.

First off, wow look at all these reviews of this lens on B&H, which is a ton for a 3rd party lens! I have high expectations. Better be good at $600 which is only $75 cheaper than the price of my camera. They say you should invest in your glass and not the camera body, I hope they are right!

But you really need to put this in perspective because if you wanted to buy something similar like the Canon Super Wide Angle EF 14mm f/2.8L II USM it goes for $2,220!

Isn't pretty much all of Tokina and some of Canon's glass all come from Hoya anyway?

I know a ton of people are searching for the Tokina 11-16mm on Craigslist to find an even cheaper price. I looked in my area but no one was selling this lens, they must like it too much to give it up.
Examples of What do you use it for?

Check out this shoot I got on the ski slopes, before I got kicked off, I love how dramatic the distortion of a wide angle gives you.

A wide angle lens like this has lots of uses, real estate videos, landscape, bathroom scene with knife. There is now way you could do a bath room scene like this with anything less than a 20mm.

2.8 is fast, so it is good for low light shooting where you need a fast shutter speed to capture the action for stills.

Constant aperture so you can zoom while you are filming.

With wide angle I hear from Trey Ratcliff say that f4 f5 everything is in focus after a few years, and I have say he is right.
Sharpness Test

Unfortunately Lightroom does not have a lens profile for this lens yet, I found a profile that someone else made perhaps I can install it.

Lightroom zoom in on corners to see if it is sharp. It is not as sharp in the corners but I hear that is a common trait of wide angle lenses.
Speed of Focus

Some of the expert photographers talk about how 3rd part lenses can't focus as fast as Canon or Nikon, so I wanted to test this out.

Here I am comparing the speed of how fast this lens can focus by focusing out side for a far distance and then inside much closer, I am comparing it to my Canon 28-135mm. it sound like they can focus at the same speed.
Build Quality

Everyone talks about build quality I am very careful with my lenses. Not a pro so heavy is not good for my neck, might get very old on vacation.

My friend who also owns a T2i borrowed this lens and he could get over how well built the lens felt and how wide it got, he kept saying, "I got to get one of these!".
Which camera will this work well on?

You will get full use out of this lens on your Canon crop sensor. Look at the label on box. I bet this would not work well on the 5d because it would vignette at down at 11mm.
Other Info

Filter size is 77mm.

It has a 3 year warranty.

Category:

Film & Animation

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[igobyte]

There are several issues with this review:

a. @ 7:04; 7:22 putting this lens on a full-frame body (e.g. 5D) - this is an EF-S mount lens. It cannot be mounted to a 5D.

b. @ 8:40: the nearest thing being $2,000 (e.g. Canon EF 14mm f/2.8L II USM) - this is only apt if you consider *just* the maximum aperture. A much more apt comparison would be with the Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM lens, which costs about the same as this Tokina.

PS: Dave reminds me of Steve Carell for some reason.

[drumat5280]

@igobyte I get that Steve Carell thing a lot for some reason. I thought you could mount it on a 5D.

[igobyte]

@drumat5280

No, you cannot. This will only work with APS-C-sized sensors. Something like the 60D would work, for example.

To quote from the B&H product page:

"This lens is designed for use with the EOS Digital Rebel series or other DSLR cameras with APS-C-sized sensors, including 7D, 60D, 50D, 40D, 30D and 20D cameras."

[drumat5280]

@igobyte Oh, I thought you meant that it couldn't fit it on the mount (I am pretty sure it can), it is just that once you get to 16mm you will see some vignetting. I thought I mentioned that in the video.

[slydero]

hah! the caboose! i drive by that thing almost every day. 36 frontage road in broomfield. i've even taken a few pics of the thing. i don't think it's there anymore though. bummer.

[drumat5280]

@slydero I think it is back, I think I saw it there on Monday.

[kristofferpence]

great review. I shoot with a 7D and mostly use my 24-70 f/2.8L and 50mm 1.4, Ive been looking for something a little bit wider, but without breaking the bank on a superwide Canon L. I pay for the L to an extent, then its just ridiculous haha. would this be a good substitute for a wide angle? I mean will i be sacrificing alot of sharpness say from my 24-70 to this lens?

Thanks!

[singular23]

Hi Dave, how did you do the shot at 2:18?

[TheJoengaa]

Great video thank you. I want to buy this lens aswell but how does the lens response in low light situations? still sharp and good quality?

[RMACMEDIAPRODUCTIONS]

@Jokker88 thats exactly what it means. I have a 5D MKII and a 60D and to anyone saying it wont mount. Go out and actually do it before you comment. Its on my 5D MKII right now.

[OhSnapitsJuzDin]

DAMN! They jumped up the price! 

[MartijnK1]

@gatler05 Looks the same as the one I have: Samsung Syncmaster 224T . Pretty good.

[IWTBFOY]

$600? it's freaking $699 right now

[BaccillusAnthracis]

cant be mounted on full frame ..

[aayush0404]

is that NCAR? dang...applied for internship there.

[filmsallday]

@drumat5280 dave the guy is wrong, my friend uses it for his 5d