Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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

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.

I bought and returned the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 lens, then I bought a Tokina II 12-24 f/4 and became my 2nd walk-around lens
together with my Canon 24-105mm L f/4 lens. This lens provided me the UWA lens with range that I wanted. I am like the quality
overall, but this lens is having a hard time focusing indoor on a low dimmed lighted room w/o flash compared to my Canon 24-105mm L f/4
lens. It is great for outdoor landscape and architecture photography in which this lens was made for.

This is my first ultra wide angle lens and the purchase was way overdue. I bought this lens because I needed a wide angle lens
for Real Estate and landscape photos. This lens has far exceeded my expectations it is fast and the images are very crisp and clear

This is a great lens, especially for the money; it was $499 when I purchased it. The lens is very well constructed and has worked flawlessly for over a year. I have not experienced any issues with flare problems, but I try to be careful to avoid situations that might cause flare. I have not missed the extra 2mm that the Canon provides. Sometimes, something bigger than f4 would be nice, but the having f4 from 12-24 is great. .

This lens produces awesome quality images! I just with I got the 2.8 fixed aperture version instead for low-light conditions!

I asked other photogs for opinions and checked various web reviews and decided on this lens. It has been all as advertised,; sharpness very high, CA well controlled, and good construction (though heavy). AF is fast and accurate as well. I use this on a Canon 350D and Canon 500D, both with APS-size sensors. I use this as well as the Canon 24-105 L lens for my stock photography work, which is judged for acceptance at image size of 100%. This is large enough to show all the lens flaws, which are minimal for this Tokina lens. I highly recommend it.

Have owned previous Tokina lenses with my old 35mm film camera, and thought they were excellent. I use this lens with a Canon DSLR. Haven't had an opportunity to use the lens very much yet, but thus far this wide angle lens does not disappoint - it produces some very sharp images. It's not Image Stabilized (IS) , but that's OK as I'll probably use it outdoors in brightly lit conditions. I use lens mostly in Auto Focus mode, but it can be switched to Manual Focus, by adjusting textured ring (pull or push). Lens comes with a 'petal' style hood that mounts with a bayonet connection. Hood can be reversed to take up less space in the camera bag. I would have liked a comparable Canon lens, but the Canon lenses are a bit too pricey for me.

I see the price went up $50 for the Tokina right after I bought it - assume this was due to the natural disasters that occurred in Japan at about the same time(?).

It is a nice lens both on my canon xs and 7D. however, when you use a CPL on it with 7D, the auto focus fails sometimes. All in All, good lens.