GH3 Alternative to Tokina 11-16mm F2.8

S

Stab

Well-known member
I shoot a lot of weddings and I would like to have a light sensitive wide angle lens to use on the GH3 and G6, with both a Metabones Nikon -> MFT adapter and a Nikon -> MFT Speed Booster.

A while ago I ordered the Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 as I've read good things about that lens. The specs sure are amazing and the price is right.

Unfortunately, I got a bad copy. The lens was decentered on both adapters and was very soft in about 1/3rd of the image. I went back to the shop and exchanged it for a new copy. Unfortunately again, this one suffered from the same problems only now the other side of the image was soft. I contacted Tokina and they let me send it in for repair / calibration.

This week I got a response and they stated that, atfter testing, they found out that the copy did not meet the factory requirements, and thus they sent me a new copy.
And yep, also this one shows similar problems on both adapters. The Speed Booster is better than the regular adapter though but still, problems persist.

So, now I have had 3 copies of this lens and for some reason it just doesn't seem to work for me. Either I'm very unlucky with the copies I'm getting, or Tokina has serieus quality management problems. I almost can't believe it has to do with the Metabones adapter, as they are expensive high quality adapters.

What to do next? I've asked Tokina to send me a new copy which has been calibrated / tested before they send it out to me but I'm not sure that's going to happen.
Anyone familiar with these problems? Anything else I can do? Are there any lens alternatives in the same price range with similar IQ?

Thanks!

PS. I have also tried the 2nd copy on a native Nikon (d7100) camera and it had the same problem. The 1st copy was also tried on a Novoflex adapter, which I have later exchanged for a Metabones adapter.
 
well, you could ask them to send you their new 11-20/2.8 instead ;)

There aren't many fast ultrawides available. The only other such lens that comes to mind is the Sigma 10-20/3.5, albeit half a stop slower (it does work without vignetting on the Speedbooster)
 
Out of all the ultra-wides I've used, my favorite is the Sigma 8-16mm f/4.5-5.6. It's not ideal for low light, but it's SOOO sharp. However, if you need those extra stops of light, then try the Tokina 11-20mm f/2.8. In general, ultra wides won't be their sharpest when wide open. Especially at f/2.8.
 
Replace your adapters. As you know, the wider the lens, the greater the DoF, but that also means the inverse is true: Your adapters need to be even more precise.

Didn't see your edit: Not much choice then. Try the new 11-20 or... hmm. What version is this? Try a newer or older version.
 
Also, re what yslee said, don't trust infinity focus with your adaptors. On my speed booster, the 11-16 is at infinity at 11mm with the distance set to 7 feet. At 16mm it's much closer to infinity mark.
 
Cosimo Bullo said:
Also, re what yslee said, don't trust infinity focus with your adaptors. On my speed booster, the 11-16 is at infinity at 11mm with the distance set to 7 feet. At 16mm it's much closer to infinity mark.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Yea you're right, that doesn't really say much. But is your lens sharp all over the frame at f2.8? Of course there it might get softer in the corners and edges. But what I'm seeing is that there is only a circle of sharpness in the middle of the screen with pretty much 1/3rd or more of the image being really soft. This happens when I focus at trees in the far distance (10+ meters). I understand at f2.8 corners might be soft and a slight softening outside of the middle due to the distortion pattern, but to the extend what I'm seeing.

The first two lenses weren't even consistent in this. The whole right side of the image was unsharp in the first one, and the second one had problems on the left side...

Anyway, Tokina answered me. I have to send this one back to them again and in the meanwhile they will do tests on several lenses out of the factory and will send 'the best' copy to me.

Not really high hopes though. I almost can't believe that 3 copies in a row have problems. I start to believe that this lens is not made for a smaller sensor with adapters. I will see when the new one arrives. If that gives me problems as well, it's time for something else.
 
It does sound you have some terrible luck in manufacturing defects. Mine's the other way around. I tried two copies and both were stellar.
 
The Panasonic 12-35/2.8 seems to fit what your looking for. I have been happy with the performance of mine on a GH3, an AF100 and a BMPCC.

Kevin
 
I did some more testing. I have strange results so I'm a bit lost here.

I used the G6, and tried my Sigma 18-35mm and Tokina 11-16mm both with Metabones adapter and a Metabones Speed Booster.

The results:
- At 35mm on the Sigma, there is no difference in sharpness between the SB and the regular adapter.
- At 18mm on the Sigma, the regular adapter is quite a lot sharper than the SB. Even when I stop down 1 or 2 stops on the SB.

- The Tokina is much sharper on the SB, both at 11mm and 16mm than on the regular adapter. At F5.6 the Tokina is amazingly sharp on the SB. At 2.8 there is a too large area of softness outside the circle in the center. I'm not sure what I actually can expect from a lens this wide at f2.8 but it seems too much softness for me.
- With the regular adapter, the Tokina suffers from heavy decentering. It's not really that sharp to begin with at f2.8 and the whole right 1/3 of the image is soft.

So, mixed results here that I can't explain. Both lenses respond differently with the two adapters. Although I'm sure this copy of the Tokina isn't perfect, I'm also starting to wondering what is going on here and if adapting these kind of lenses will always give trouble at large apertures.

Anyone has any idea about this?
 
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wwjd said:
will that be a FISH EYE?
Click to expand...

Nope

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But they are making a 8mm F/1.8 fisheye too

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I almost can't believe that 3 copies in a row have problems.
Click to expand...

Just to sorta back you up, I have an older 11-16 that has been sent in for servicing once already. (can't remember what was wrong, it was a few years ago.) And now in it's current state, the auto-focus sounds quite anemic and still images come up a bit soft. Also I occasionally get the "Please clean contacts" or similar message. It's a shame this lens is plagued with technical issues as the OP and I are experiencing. It produces such a great image when in good working condition. Best blue skies!

BTW, i've had no real issues with any other lenses in my kit. Just this one.
 
Both Olympus', & Panasonic's, 7-14mm lenses are tricky to filter, so if you require NDs, Polarizers, etc, consider other options.
 
Thanks guys. I'm not really considering native MFT lenses anyway because I work with adapters / speed boosters. I'm sure I will buy another camera in the foreseeable future so I prefer APS-C / Full Frame lenses that can be adapted to any s35 / APS-C sensored camera. Besides, I don't like the look of the native Panasonic lenses to begin with. Too much corrections and sharpening going on that make the image too 'clinical' looking.
 
I have the older version of the Tokina 11-16 that has always worked great on my Epic. I didn't remember if I had used it with my GH4 with the MB SB. So, I just put it on to try it. It is tack sharp across the image. It does vignette below 12.5mm just like on the Epic's sensor.

Is it possible that the mount on your camera has gotted torqued? The wider the lens, the more critical the FFD is perfect. Do you always support your adapter or lens to take the weight off the camera mount? The MFT mount isn't really built to take a lot of weight.
 
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