Tokina 12-24MM F/4.0 Pro II Zoom Lens for Digital Canon SLR Cameras

by Tokina

Product Details

• Item Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• ASIN: B001LD51H2
• Item model number: AT-124 PRO DX II
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 17, 2003

Product Description

Tokina 12-24MM F4 Pro II Zoom Lens for Digital Canon EOS SLR Cameras.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars TOKINA 12-24MM WIDE ANGLE, October 15, 2010

By 

Danny (California) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tokina 12-24MM F/4.0 Pro II Zoom Lens for Digital Canon SLR Cameras (Electronics)

Please let me be brief in my conclusions concerning the TOKINA 12-24MM F/4...

This is the first TOKINA piece of glass that I have owned. My first impression was that in appearance it looks very much like a Nikon. It's handsome in appearance and build quality appears to be superb. I immediately got the feeling of holding a precision instrument and I like that. While some plastic is used, it can't be much judging by the weight of this lens, but it is not overly heavy. Fit-up when mounted to the camera (40D) is as good as anything I have from Canon. I found the zoom and manual focus rings to operate smoothly.

As far as operation goes...this lens has no switch to change from manual to auto focus, you simply pull the focus ring back and manual focus engages without having to hunt for any precise spot. Return to Auto by pushing forward. It snaps smartly in and out. I like this arrangement on a wide angle because when using auto-focus on a lens with a wide field of view, sometimes your auto-focus will lock in on an area other than your intended subject and when this happens you can quickly and smoothly make the transition to manual and adjust without fumbling for switches or removing your eye from the viewfinder. I might add that this lens seems very easy to focus accurately in manual and I have found it a pleasure to use and on occasions I just left it in manual for the entire shoot. I really have no issues with the auto-focus. It is spot on at least 95% of the time and gets there quickly and smoothly. Low light performance may be a bit more sluggish but I think focus performance on anyone's lens in low light is dependent upon a lot of variables. Speaking of low light, I have not found the F/4.0 to be a great handicap for shooting in low light situations within reasonable limitations for this aperture (wide angles gather a lot of light), but you still can't defy the laws of physics which means if you have the need for speed, this is not your lens. With this lens' 77mm objective, and using standard rather than slim filters, and shooting wide open, I have seen no vignetting. Field curvature becomes mildly apparent down near 12mm but the lens does a good job of maintaining a rectilinear perspective (this lens is no fish-eye).

Image quality is a paramount concern to me and I have not been disappointed. Center of frame is sharp as a tack most always (in fact, better than some of my L glass) and occasionally there is pronounced softness near the corners and at the extreme left and right sides of the frame. Some of this I view as typical of wide angles with a view as broad as this one and I have found that it is not always present in every shot (at least not to a high degree). Much (in regard to what this or any wide angles IQ is) is dependent upon variables that the user can learn to control (to some degree more/less) so as to achieve the desired effect. Concerns of distortions related to Chromatic aberrations and flare have been voiced about this lens and this is a tendency of this glass but maybe more-so than would be typical with other wide angles. I have (by experimentation) concluded that much of these can be reduced or eliminated by the use of good quality coated filters along with following basic rules of photography. I'm certain that I can make any lens I own flare if I tried hard enough, so don't shoot into the sun, think about your shot before you pull the trigger, and this lens will produce fine images for you.

I have used Canon products since 1973 with few exceptions and have had wonderful results. Today, it's a new world that's filled with many smart people who have at their disposal superior manufacturing techniques and the finest materials ever. You have to step back and ask yourself, What do I really require to achieve my objective and what will I spend to do it? TOKINA has impressed me. I have had a lot of fun with this lens and have out-rightly been amazed with the quality of it's images. I hope to see them add more glass to their line because in a world of compromise, TOKINA'S 12-24mm is not in first place, but in my opinion they are damn well ahead of whoever is in second place and for a very reasonable price.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tokina 12-24 dxll, November 22, 2009

By 

Glenn Gonzales "Glenn" (Gaithersburg md usa) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tokina 12-24MM F/4.0 Pro II Zoom Lens for Digital Canon SLR Cameras (Electronics)

All my research was on the earlier model as no one had tested ll seperately but was told that optics were the same but with better coating. This is one great lens,no CA problem,sharp,built like a tank and uses a standard tiffin 77mm uv filter [$11.95] without vingetting. It does not have a flare problem when used with normal care [don't put the sun in the frame, shade with your hat when needed]. An excellent lens for the money, an excellent lens at any price. Also came with it's own lens shade. GG

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Product, August 28, 2009

By 

W.Berger (Wisconsin) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tokina 12-24MM F/4.0 Pro II Zoom Lens for Digital Canon SLR Cameras (Electronics)

Before I bought this lens for my Canon 40D,I informed myself and read reviews on all wide angle lenses not in the astronomical prize range.After having used it now for a couple of weeks I find it quite outstanding.The build quality is first class it feels as smooth and solid as my 24-104mm L lens[which is saying a lot].The colors and image quality too leave nothing to be desired.So I am very happy with it and can only recommend it.