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

[mknittle]

Is this lens any good.I am looking at reasonably priced wide angle lenses. I am reading good reviews but thought I would ask here. I trust you guys better than strangers

[Dave Humphries]

Might be useful to remind us what camera you shoot with Mark?

Also whether you're looking for buying new or s/h?

[mknittle]

Guess I should put that in my signature. Canon 7D mk1.

[rpcrowe]

I have a Tokina 12-24mm f/4 Mark-1 which I use on a Canon 7D and 7D2. It's a very good lens, well built and with good image quality. I have not had problems with flare that many user's of that lens complain of. I would have no hesitation in buying an 11-20mm f/2.8 Tokina but, suggest looking at the 12-24mm f/4 (Mk-1 or Mk-2) unless you absolutely need the extra stop and the 1mm wider focal length. The price may be quite a bit less expensive.

[mknittle]

Thanks Richard, I will have a look at the 12-24 f/4

[rpcrowe]

I have "heard" but, cannot confirm that there is less flare using the Mark II model of the 12-24mm Tokina. Like I said, I have not had flare problems.

Here are three shots done with the Mark-I...







I must admit that I don't use this lens a lot because I am not a wide angle guy...

[mknittle]

Thanks Richard those images are the perfect example why I am looking at wide angle lenses. WE will be moving to the Midwest in about a year. The change in scenery will bring new photographic opportunities.

I checked around, The 12-24 f/4 MK2 can be found for pretty good prices new and downright cheap for good used ones.

[ajohnw]

The flare aspect probably came from me. I suspect it's something I read on Lenstip.com. I bought the 12-24mm. I used it indoors recently and wished it was wider but I don't think that another 1mm would have made any difference. I did a quick compare with the Canon 10 to what ever it is at 12mm. My son has that. I'd need to look more carefully but I'd be inclined to say that the Tokina may be a touch better for pixel peepers. Most certainly not worse.

Much to my amazement I did manage to get some camera shake problems but at extremely slow speeds, 1/15 sec etc.

I posted some shots taken with it in a flikr album - Baddersley Clinton. One thing I found is that as Manfred pointed out they are not the easiest of lenses to use. I feel I should have widened the view away from the subject more partly to allow for more manipulation. So next time I will try to do that. Distortion effects due to angles in the thing being photographed can be a bit odd. Others are as I would expect. I'm wondering if it has something to do with distances from lens to verticals. Not at all sure.

I will wonder if I should have bought the F2.8 lens now I have used it and maybe comments about flare are best gained here.

John
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[mknittle]

Thanks John. Good info.