Just got the new Tokina 12-24mm - DPChallenge Forums

03/30/2005 06:16:52 PM · #1

I understand its difficult to get right now. Not too many orders being filled. Adorama.com is on back order. Lucky me. I got mine from my camera rep at Samyscamera, in Los Angeles.

Well so far I am glad to have purchase it. I was looking for a super wide angle lens for landscape, citscape type photography. Its not as heavy as I have heard. It is sturdly built of strong metal material. The "clutch mechanism" is new to me. It actually works faster than the on the side button for AF & Man. switch. The constant aperture of only f/4 seems to work okay. This lens needs to be in bright outdoors to work properly. Keep the lens hood on, there maybe flares up on the lens barrel/sides. Some of the images are cool, in that it "fisheyes" some area's of the image. The best focus for me so far has been in the middle ranges. Somewhere between 14-18mm.
This lens is available for the Canon and Nikon Digital camera's. Check Tokina site for specs. Tokina Web Site

Here are some samples images from the Tokina 12-24 wide lens on my photo site. Tokina Image Samples
Has anyone else picked up this new lens?

mariomel

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

03/30/2005 07:07:52 PM · #2

Seems pretty sharp from the samples.
One thing though: your horizons are crooked. Feels awkward.
Good colours and contrast. Did you PP much?

03/30/2005 07:28:33 PM · #3

Originally posted by mariomel:

Seems pretty sharp from the samples.
One thing though: your horizons are crooked. Feels awkward.
Good colours and contrast. Did you PP much?

Yeah, thanks for viewing. Actually I fixed the horizon a lot.
The shot was from a steep hillside up. I did not want it to look
unnaturally straight, since some of these images are intended for
owners of the flower display. As far as PP, I used a CPL filter, and
zoom up the colors a bit. This photo actually would not fly in the DPC contests, because I cloned those puffy white clouds to cover other structures in line of sight. So far the owners did not mind this liberty. Thank you...

yido

Sigma 20mm f/1.8 EX Aspherical DG DF RF for Canon

03/30/2005 11:44:58 PM · #4

I'm waiting for Adorama to send me one. I'm on their waiting list. Where did you get your from???
As for the constant f4 aperature, I thought it was an f4-22 as is advertised on B&H and Adorama.
See here //www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=360349&is=REG
//www.adorama.com/TN1224EOS.html?searchinfo=tokina%20124&item_no=1
This review on photo.net has it being stopped down atleast to f8 to compare corner sharpness. Check it out.
//www.photo.net/equipment/tokina/12-24-f4/
Popular Photography's review of the Tokina shows various f stops from 4-22 as well.
I do see that at the Tokina's site, only min. and max f value they give is f4 though.
What's going on???
As for the pictures, they look nice, but I'll reserve my judgements till I get one of my own. But if the only aperature is f4 and it is not adjustable as in all lenses, I may return it unless it is optically really really good, negating the reason to stop down to a higher f value (sharpness).

Maverick

Nikon D200

Tamron SP AF 90mm f/2.8 Di for Nikon

03/30/2005 11:57:43 PM · #5

The aperture is adjustable. Constant f/4 means that at any position of the zoom you can use the maximum aperture of f/4.

bryanbrazil

Sony Alpha a7R III

Sony 16-35mm f/4 Vario-Tessar T* FE ZA OSS Lens

03/30/2005 11:59:09 PM · #6

Originally posted by yido:

But if the only aperature is f4 and it is not adjustable as in all lenses, I may return it unless it is optically really really good, negating the reason to stop down to a higher f value (sharpness).

Of course you'll be able to stop down, f4 is just the fastest/largest aperature.

yido

Sigma 20mm f/1.8 EX Aspherical DG DF RF for Canon

03/31/2005 12:11:01 AM · #7

Of course you'll be able to stop down, f4 is just the fastest/largest aperature. [/quote]
That's what I think as well. The aperature range on this lens is 4-22 from what I read.
But it sounds like zagman, who actually has the lens, is saying that the aperature is constant at f4.

03/31/2005 01:08:31 AM · #8

Originally posted by yido:

Of course you'll be able to stop down, f4 is just the fastest/largest aperature.

That's what I think as well. The aperature range on this lens is 4-22 from what I read.
But it sounds like zagman, who actually has the lens, is saying that the aperature is constant at f4. [/quote]

Sorry for the confusion. To clarify, the Tokina 12-24mm lens comes with a "constant" f/4 aperture. It does not mean that the camera aperture settings is also constant. I have had camera aperture's range from f/5-f11, on various shots.

As I mentioned I have a camera store rep. in LA, that got one Tokina in, and I just happen to call at the right time. As I came into the store there were two customers that were also shopping for the Tokina l2-24 lens. My store contact, had already rung up the sale for me from my telephone call. I later email him the samples photos, from my photoblog, and he was showing other customers, so they placed orders as well. They are selling for $550.00 due to product shortages.
So far I don't see any real problems. Next time I will try these shots with a tripod. Thanks...

yido

Sigma 20mm f/1.8 EX Aspherical DG DF RF for Canon

03/31/2005 02:10:12 AM · #9

That's what I thought you were saying.
Good deal on the Tokina. I guess it's starting to come out and should be a bit more plentiful in a month or so.
Hey did you try the regular thickness filters or did you end up getting the slim versions? Getting any vingetting with the filter at 12mm?

Message edited by author 2005-03-31 02:12:10.

03/31/2005 02:26:01 AM · #10

Originally posted by yido:

Yes I hope you can get yours in soon. So we can compare notes...
Yes, I did pick as well a B+W brand, "circular polarizer" 77mm size. Just the regular thickness. I am not getting vignetting at 12mm. I have to keep testing however. Actually I just posted a new photo on my photo blog, and the DOF is very good. It actually looks to me like you can see true depth from foreground to background. But again that's me viewing.
Let me know, thanks...

Mr_Pants

SiPix Blink

03/31/2005 09:16:11 AM · #11

Originally posted by zagman:

Originally posted by yido:
That's what I thought you were saying.
Good deal on the Tokina. I guess it's starting to come out and should be a bit more plentiful in a month or so.
Hey did you try the regular thickness filters or did you end up getting the slim versions? Getting any vingetting with the filter at 12mm?

Yes I hope you can get yours in soon. So we can compare notes...
Yes, I did pick as well a B+W brand, "circular polarizer" 77mm size. Just the regular thickness. I am not getting vignetting at 12mm. I have to keep testing however. Actually I just posted a new photo on my photo blog, and the DOF is very good. It actually looks to me like you can see true depth from foreground to background. But again that's me viewing.
Let me know, thanks...

Drat!

I got the Sigma 12-24. No constant f4 and no fromt filter fitment. Although I normally shoot hyperfocal at f11 with it anyway. I love the field of view and the perspective.