A wide-angle, yes, but which one? (Part 1)

These lenses are used to shoot landscapes, panoramic images, and architectural subjects (again, for this last, with resulting straight line deformation).

We tested a Tokina very wide-angle lens on Nikon and Canon mounts – the Tokina AT-X 12-24 AF PRO DX Nikon and the Tokina AT-X 12-24 AF PRO DX Canon.

Since their appearance in 2004, these lenses have been joined by some serious competitors: the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM (2007), the Sigma 12-24mm F4.5-5.6 EX DG HSM II Canon (2011), the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 16-35mm f/4G ED VR (2010), and the Sigma 12-24mm f4.5-5.6 EX DG Nikon (2003).

Let’s take a look at the results for the Tokina AT-X 12-24 AF PRO DX on the Nikon D7000 and the Canon EOS 7D:

Results: Tokina AT-X 12-24 AF PRO DX on the Nikon D7000 and the Canon EOS 7D

What we liked:

A good balance between quality and price.
Very good resolution for this type of lens.
Very good homogeneity across the field.
Negligeable distortion.

What we didn’t like:

Significant chromatic aberrations.
The lens is a rather heavy.

Comparisons

Tokina AT-X 12-24 AF PRO DX Canon vs Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM vs Sigma 12-24mm F4.5-5.6 EX DG HSM II Canon on a Canon EOS 7D:

Tokina AT-X 12-24 AF PRO DX Canon

Strong points	Weak points
Price	Low transmission
Good resolution	Significant chromatic aberrations
Low distortion
Weak vignetting

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM

Strong points	Weak points
Good resolution	Price
High transmission	Weight
Low distortion	Strong vignetting
Quality of the L-series	Significant chromatic aberrations

Sigma 12-24mm F4.5-5.6 EX DG HSM II Canon

Strong points	Weak points
Good resolution	Weak transmission
	Strong vignetting
	Significant chromatic aberrations

Please note that the comparison were made on an APS-C camera (the Canon 7D), if you own a full frame Canon, here is the comparison on the 1Ds Mark III (without the Tokina which isn’t compliant with full frame cameras).

Tokina AT-X 12-24 AF PRO DX Nikon vs Nikon AF-S Nikkor 16-35mm f/4G ED VR vs Sigma 12-24mm f4.5-5.6 EX DG Nikon on a Nikon D7000:

Tokina AT-X 12-24 AF PRO DX Nikon

Strong points	Weak points
Price	Significant chromatic aberrations
Weight
Good resolution
Low distortion
Weak vignetting
Good transmission

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 16-35mm f/4G ED VR

Strong points	Weak points
Good resolution	Price
High transmission	Weight
Few chromatic aberrations	Strong vignetting
Low distortion

Sigma 12-24mm f4.5-5.6 EX DG Nikon

Strong points	Weak points
Good resolution	Price
Low distortion	Weak transmission
	Strong vignetting
	Significant chromatic aberrations

Please note that the comparison were made on an APS-C camera (the Nikon D7000), if you own a full frame Nikon, here is the comparison on the D3X (without the Tokina which isn’t compliant with full frame cameras).

Conclusion

Just from looking at the tabled comparisons above, the Tokina appears to have the upper hand, offering good quality for a better price.