Photography News Issue 33

Photography News | Issue 33 | absolutephoto.com

48 First tests

Tokina AT-X Pro SD 11-20mm f/2.8 IF DX £499

Specs

Tokina’s latest lens is a fast aperture, APS-C ultra-wide zoom with a full- frame equivalent focal length of 16.5- 30mm, and available for Canon EF-S andNikonDXDSLRs. Its rangemakes it ideal for landscapes, interiors, environmental shots and much more and the fast constant f/2.8 aperture is a big selling point too. The lens has a great balance and feels solidly put together too as you’d expect from a Tokina product. I tried it on a Canon EOS 70D and the pair made for a great handling package. A quarter of a turn takes you from infinity to the lens’s 28cm minimum focusing distance which speeds upAF and manual focusing. There’s a nice, firm resistance to the zoom control too and it stay put once you take your hand off. Using Tokina’s proprietary One- touch Focus Clutch Mechanism you can instantly switch from AF to manual focusing and back again by pulling the focusing barrel towards you or pushing it forward. This has a smooth action, but firm enough so the barrel only moves when you want it to. AF is swift and quiet so no complaints there, while the manual focus barrel is delightfully smooth too.

That is more or less it on the physical attributes front, apart from to say that a bayonet lens hood is supplied and the filter thread is 82mm, a possible minor detraction for keen filter users. Optically, the Tokina proved a very solid performer. Sharpness at 11mm is very good, particularly at the wide apertures from f/2.8 to f/5.6 where detail at the centre and edges is crisp and gradually falls away from f/8. F/11 is fine for critical use, but diffraction softens the image after that. It is a similar pattern at 14mm, with f/8 giving the best balance between central and edge sharpness but you still get a very decent performance at the faster apertures too. Again, sharpness starts to decline from f/11. Central quality at the 20mmsetting is acceptable at f/2.8 but markedly improves from f/4 onwards peaking at f/8. The edges, on the other hand, need the benefit of stopping down and you see the best sharpness at f/11 and f/16, although it is good at f/8 too. All round, the Tokina showed itself capable of delivering very sharp images throughout but especially at the wider focal lengths where sharpness is impressive withminimal stopping down. WC

Format APS-C/DX Mount Canon, Nikon

Construction 14 elements in 12 groups Special lens elements 3x SD (super-low dispersion), 3x aspherical Coatings Advanced multilayer Filter size 82mm Aperture range F/2.8-22 Diaphragm 9 blades Internal focus Yes Manual focus Yes, using Tokina One-touch Clutch mechanism – pull the focus barrel back for manual focusing Minimum focus 28cm Focus limiter No Maximummagnification 1:8.62

Distance scale Feet and metres Depth-of-field scale No Image stabiliser No Tripod collar No Lens hood BH-821 supplied Weather-sealed No Dimensions (lxd) 92x89mm Weight 560g Contact hahnel.ie

11mm

14mm

20mm

Verdict

There are several alternatives from the camera brands as well as from independent makers if you want an ultra-wide zoom including some at prices lower than that of this Tokina. For instance, the Canon EF-S 10- 22mm at £377 and the Tamron 10-24mm at £349, but while both are cheaper they also have less impressive maximum apertures. The Sigma 10-20mm at £329 has a constant f/3.5 aperture. Thus, with its f/2.8 throughout this Tokina does have an advantage, it’s just a question of whether this aspect is important to you and that you are willing to pay for it. All round, it certainly proved itself a capable, high-quality lens and well worth a look.

f/2.8

f/5.6

With its f/2.8 throughout this Tokina does have an advantage

Features Good range, fast f/2.8 throughout 22/25

f/11

Performance Showed itself to be a capable lens 23/25

Handling Smooth handling and fast AF – big filter size though 23/25

f/16

Value for money You pay for the f/2.8 aperture

22/25

Overall Amore than capable ultrawide zoomwith a handy fast aperture, even if it does come at a price Pros Good price, solid performance, handling, constant f/2.8, close focusing Cons 82mm filter thread

90/100

f/22

Above Tokina’s latest zoom is available for Canon and Nikon APS-C format DSLRs.