Tokina 11-16

suicdekng

suicdekng

Active member
Firstly - I just think this now makes the 57th topic posted about the Tokina 11-16.... but I feel like I have a relevant reason to make a unique thread about it...

I would like to buy the Tokina, but I want to use it for mid-shots of people and some movement, ect. EVERY photo or video I can find that uses it is of landscapes or stock stuff. I have the 24-70 2.8L for my 7d, but I find that sometimes it isn't nearly wide enough for shots of, say, 2 actors sitting across from each other at a table. I want to be able to be physically close to the actors and get nice wide shots, control the DoF and the like. Can the Tokina do this, or is it really more of a far-away subject lens?

Does anyone have video of actors in mid-shot to tight shots that they used this lens for? Maybe even extreme close ups of the actor reaching past the camera or that kind of thing?

Please and thank you!
 
This lens is often not used for tight two shots and mediums because it is so wide that it distorts straight lines. If you put two actors at a table and frame to encompass both of them, your table will be curved, even though the Tokina has surprisingly little distortion for such a wide angle.

And you wouldn't want to use it on extreme close-ups (at least of talents' faces) because wide angle lenses exaggerate facial features - unless you want your talent to have an enormous nose and small head.
 
To the OP, I have the Tokina, and what you describe, will be possible with it, albeit the distortions, but its not the ideal lens for it, your better off using your 24-70 for the scenario you described. You'd want to close down your lens for deeper dof to keep a wider plane in focus. Or keep it at full open to for shallower dof, if you really want to set them apart from the background, use the 70mm end of it and move back.
 
suicdekng said:
Does anyone have video of actors in mid-shot to tight shots that they used this lens for? Maybe even extreme close ups of the actor reaching past the camera or that kind of thing?
Click to expand...

I would avoid using this lens for head shots. It's a great lens but has a tendency to distort the shape of spherical shapes (Heads) from the center of the frame to the sides. Try some tests with longer lenses like a classic portrait 85mm lens and compare it to a wide and super wide lens. Your test will tell you everything you need to know. I did a test with heads here on a thread a few months ago and will try to find it.
 
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