Tokina 11-16mm
- Thread starter aguia
- Start date
handsome pete
Well-known member
Could be both, but this lens has been in high demand since the video DSLR boom.
Samuel H
Major Contributor
I got mine from bhphoto a few months back
it was perennially out of stock, so I clicked to receive a notice if it arrived, but that's not good enough, as it would appear, then dissappear again in a couple of hours (I know they arrived because I know people who bought them, but it was so fast that they didn't even send the notification mails)
so I added that page to my morning and evening sets of bookmarks, until I saw it in stock, and inmediately bought it
it took me over a week of sniping this way before I had my order in place
it was perennially out of stock, so I clicked to receive a notice if it arrived, but that's not good enough, as it would appear, then dissappear again in a couple of hours (I know they arrived because I know people who bought them, but it was so fast that they didn't even send the notification mails)
so I added that page to my morning and evening sets of bookmarks, until I saw it in stock, and inmediately bought it
it took me over a week of sniping this way before I had my order in place
It's a special-purpose lens. It does have barrel distortion around the edges, much more at 11 than at 16. It's very useful for landscapes, and for interiors (understanding that the edges will bend), but it is a great lens.
It's been back-ordered almost constantly for a year or so. You just have to be lucky enough to get to B&H or Adorama on the day they get a small shipment. Other than that, yeah... individuals who have them are going to take advantage of supply and demand by charging above retail.
It's been back-ordered almost constantly for a year or so. You just have to be lucky enough to get to B&H or Adorama on the day they get a small shipment. Other than that, yeah... individuals who have them are going to take advantage of supply and demand by charging above retail.
aguia
Active member
For some reason I seem to recall a cigarette advertisement from the 70s. . .something about "a silly millimeter longer"
The 11-16 is barely a zoom range at all, but I guess that was tactical, the narrow range allows some performance benefits in speed and resolution, but all the lab reviews I've read place the Tokina 12-24 in Canon L series territory. I'm not really convinced I need 15 or 20 more lines of resolution. I was using an Olympus 11-22 on a Panasonic GH1 last year and I never felt I needed wider or faster for anything, there were only times I wanted better AF or IS.
The 11-16 is barely a zoom range at all, but I guess that was tactical, the narrow range allows some performance benefits in speed and resolution, but all the lab reviews I've read place the Tokina 12-24 in Canon L series territory. I'm not really convinced I need 15 or 20 more lines of resolution. I was using an Olympus 11-22 on a Panasonic GH1 last year and I never felt I needed wider or faster for anything, there were only times I wanted better AF or IS.
TooTallTim
Well-known member
It's part of the holy trinity of fast zooms for crop DSLRs, alongside either Canon 17-55 or Tamron 17-50, then whatever flavour 70-200 2.8 zoom you go for (Canon being the obvious choice). When you're getting down to short focal lengths like this, although 'a silly millimeter' may not seem like much, but translate that into a percentage of how much wider the field of view will be. It's a phenomenally useful lens, very sharp, and you'd be surprised how often you here someone say "don't need much wider than 16mm" then realise that they can't get that super wide shot they're after. We've shot some of the nicest interview footage ever using it in a tiny space, looked immense.
Really? I just looked at ebay, and the lens is selling for anywhere from $630 to about $820. It retails on B&H (when available) for $599. The other thing about ebay buying for hot-ticket items like this: stolen goods and counterfeits. It has been backordered over the last year with reputable dealers. I had to check with B&H and Adorama several times a day for about 2 weeks before I found one. It was out of stock in the morning, in stock in the afternoon, and I called and ordered the last one.
vision_filmz
Carbonite Member
Personally I would not pay $700+ for this lens, even though it is a great lens. I would try some wide angle adapters and some other lenses to achieve similar results.
vision_filmz
Carbonite Member
But then you don't really know what you are talking about, do you?
Says the person with "nothing" as a a user name. What kind of spamming troll post was that? Grow up man and bring something useful to these forums
Matt Harris
Veteran
Try Adorama in NYC, they had a few in stock last month.
Matt Harris
Veteran
Vision, I have tried many wide angle lenses, both new and vintage, both nikon and canon, and even adapters from cheap 3rd party manufacturers. Personally, the 11-16 is worth it's price tag, it's my holy grail of wideness. (plus the 2.8 is perfect)
WhiteMonkey
Well-known member
you're comparing this lens, which is a great buy if you can find one, to "a wide angle adapter" That cracks me up. Is that something you screw on the front of another lens? I'm afraid that's not something I'd want. I'm happy to have the Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 in my bag.