I’m a Nikon user, moving from DX to FX. I’ve been shooting with a D7100 for a few years, and have always purchased glass with the idea of moving to FX; I’m now very happily using a D810. My glass is: Nikon 200-500, Nikon 70-200, Nikon 24-70, and the Tokina 11-16 II. The Tokina has been an excellent performer for me but is, unfortunately, a DX lens, so now I have to acquire an ultra wide zoom. I’ve no access to a camera shop, so I’ve been researching online and considering my options. I’ve been looking at the Nikon 14-24, Tamron 15-30, Tokina 16-28, or perhaps a Nikon 20 f1.8. I’m very interested in this Tokina, because I’ve had a very good experience with the 11-16. But my biggest concerns are: a few comments I’ve read regarding significant sample variation (mostly decentering), and that the optics are soft throughout the range in the corners and soft overall from 22-28. Do you have any comments about those two issues? I’m in Canada, and the pricing for these options are Nikon 14-24 (used from a reputable store 9/10 condition) $1700, Tamron 15-30 $1500, Nikon 20mm $1000, Tokina 16-28 $900. Obviously, I could get this lens plus a Nikon 20 f1.8 for basically the same price as a good used Nikon 14-24. I’m a seriously hobbyist not a pro, and other than general city/nature landscapes, I would like to be able to get some decent+ astro shots. You review didn’t cover night sky shots at all, so I’m wondering if you’ve done any and what your experiences were if you have. Thanks for a good review.
Thank you Darren, this is a wonderful review. I'm looking for a super wide angle zoom with F2.8 for my Nikon D750, Initially my choice is Tamron 15-30mm over the Nikon lens, which is way too expensive, then I find out Tokina has one many years ago. I read a lot of reviews, written and video and I like yours. Now I decided to buy the Tokina 16-28 to complete my F2.8 lineup from superwide angle to 70-200mm.
You're work, video and full coverage has sold me on it and helped me with buying out side 1st party glass . this video? 10/10 amazing you helped so much !
I've owned the first generation Canon 5d. However, due to your best review here on you tube about this lens I've finally go over the fence and decided to purchased this lens and so far no regrets - image quality is second to none as well as the built quality better than the canon version. Keep up the great work and keep the videos coming! Cheers!
Great vlog! Thank you very much! Beautiful photo's as well. Purple fringing I can easely correct in Adobe Camera Raw. I own this lens and could not find a review. It is a beautiful lens to see and hold. So F8.0 is the best aparture, I did not know that. This is not a new lens, but my lens looks like it just came out of the box, like new! I have always been very happy with it and still am!
Hi Darren, excellent review. I am a Canon shooter and a real estate photographer. I have been shooting with a Canon EOS 60D and a Sigma 10-20 4-5.6 until I bought my EOS 6D with a Samyang 14mm f2.8. I am very impressed with the change, more wide angle and amazing image quality. I like very much this Tokina 16-28 since I've seen your review. Possibly my next purchase.
Thanks Jhoebe! I used to own this lens and loved it! The only reason why I got rid of it was because it didn't have weather sealing. I did a written review with sample photos - you can find it on my channel... This was done before I got the courage to put myself out there in front of the camera...
Hey Deep! Thanks for your comment. I understand the 14-24 is an amazing lens - my point about comparing it to the Tokina was based purely on the notion that Tokina is 1/3rd the price. The Nikon is probably sharper.... but THREE times sharper? Probably not...
I've been thinking about buying the canon 16-35 for a couple of months ..but know i'm sold on the tokina mainly on the price and sharpness ...Great job my friend ...greetings from Fort Myers
For some reason I can't reply directly to THE JEDEYEMASTER's post. Anyway Thank you for your comments! Dave Dugdale does great reviews, true the lens isn't all metal, but it's mostly metal - it also has a rubber gasket on the mount but Tokina doesn't claim the lens is weather sealed either. You'll note that I was reviewing the Tokina on it's own and it exhibits a lot of chromatic aberration - and the only real comparison I made to the Canon (and Nikon) was based on price and comparing images on line. Call me crazy, but from everything that I've seen and read, I don't see enough difference between them to justify that much of a price difference. The Tokina is a steal. Pretty sure Dave came to the same conclusion.
Thanks for the great review Darren Miles I just got this realty gig and was using the Tokina 11-16 on my #canon 6d. After watching your video I overnighted the 16-28 and YES, a huge difference!! Thank you!
Hi Darren, thanks for a great review. I just got this lens thanks in part to your good self. As for the question of filters as I'm sure you are aware by now of the 150mm square filter holders that fit over the lens hood. I also got one of these filter holders (no filters yet, they tent to be quite expensive here in the uk), made by Rollei from Amazon UK on sale £43/$55 from Rollei in Germany not a knock of from China normal price £175/$223 without filters. This one seems to be different from the other types of large filter holders as it is held inplace bu 2 simple semi circular clamps that simply screw in and out, there are different sizes to suite different lenses mine is actually the one that fits the Phase One 28mm ls f4.5 it's the same diameter 90mm. It is also extremely well made as you would expect from Rollei, so there is a possible review if you can get them in the states. The filters start around £100/$127 to over £300/$383. Thanks again for helping me make my mind up. Gary.
Funny Because on someone's else video he thought the Tokina controlled Chromatic aberration better than his own Canon similar lens & I personally with my Nikon version I also did not find it to be prone to chromatic aberration. Just so you & everybody knows & at less than 1/2 the price of the same period Nikon 14-24mm f2.8 than it's a no brainer which one to choose.
Boston - thank you, there's no "right" or "wrong" answer to your question. A better question may be what were you planning to be shooting with the Tokina? And do you need 16mm on the wide end? If you do, the Tokina is a great option for the money.
I have been looking for a reliable review on this Tokina 16-28mm lens, and by far your review is the best! You've covered all the aspects about the pros and cons about this lens. However, I'm on the market of buying a wide angle lens that wouldn't break my bank, a canon 16-35mm would be nice but I can't justify spending $1300 more where I can get a cheaper Tokina lens and for this price I think it's a steal! Thanks for the great review! and I've just subscribed to your channel as well. Keep the great reviews coming!
This might be 6 years old but what a great review! I decided to buy this lens used and I am excited after looking at the best landscape lens I feel I got the best bang for my buck thanks for Info I also subscribed!
Looking a few wide angle lenses for my Nikon and came across this lens. Great review, Darren! The videos and stills you took were absolutely incredible! Definitely helped me on my decision on which wide angle lens I should buy. Thanks!
Great review! I have had the lens for 2 years now and it is one of 2 lenses I almost always keep on my 6D (the other is the 35 IS). One thing I noticed in your review is the lack of flare. I have learned that you need to keep light sources away from the front because if flares really bad (but if used right, it creates some cool effects).
Great vid Darren I think you have succeeded where many other video makers have failed and single handedly made me want to order this lens for my Nikon D800 :-)
No doubt Canon and Nikon are great but you really have to be careful not to lose it or someone stealing it. I don't want that worry. So Tokina is my choice. I like heavy large heavy lenses too.
Awesome review on this lens. I am contemplating on buying the Nikon 14-24 f/2.8 and this review gave me something to think about. By the way, your pics are amazing!
I'm sold... I owed the 11-15 Tokina when I had my Canon 7D. But now that I have the Mark 3 I was looking for an inexpensive way to avoid the L series 16-35 price tag. Thank you for the review.
Great video. Thanks. At 5:32 how did you get those long exposures without an ND filter.?? The only thing holding me back is not being able to use filters.
GREAT review...Could you someday review the Canon 50mm macro? (I've already bought the Tokina 100mm macro)...GREAT review for that lens also....Keep up the super job!! ...you DO make a difference...
Here we are in 2022 and i am looking for wide angle for EOS R. the fact that it has no stabilization, is that an issue? How will it work with the required adapter? Any issues there. Thanks. Great reviews. i like the real world approach/. Its on sale now for 499, at B&H. Hope to hear back soon
You have provided even more validation I should BUY this lens. The image of the lady on the beach is exactly what I imagined this could produce. For that matter all of your images and video in this was a delight to view. I have a SIGMA 28-70 2.8. I'm buying a D7000 and was thinking of augmenting the 28-70 range with this TOKINA - seems 28 (42MM 35 equiv) is too tight for the bride/groom prewedding shots and 2.8 is fast. Would you buy this before a 70-200 2.8 in my situation, for weddings? TY
Great review! I've been spending my entire day researching on which ultra wide to buy with a low f stop (I shoot a lot of night and street photography), and it came down to the Tokina and Canon 16-35. I am planning on selling my Canon 24-105mm f4 L lens, which is a bit upsetting because of how great L series is, but I hope the Tokina meets my needs. Thanks again for the review!
Thanks for a great review. I'm glad you mentioned the chromatic aberration. I haven't seen that mentioned in any other reviews. After inspecting flickr images taken with this lens, it really does have bad chromatic aberration. I was close to buying, but I'm going to have to spring for the Canon (as much as it pains me). Thanks for the info.
It's a great lens - ESPECIALLY for the money - that said, keep in mind most of what was shot with this lens was with a full frame camera at the wider end - 16,17 & 18mm.... Even the lady on the beach(16mm). With a D7000, you may want to consider the 11-16 from Tokina - also really well built and sharp or the Sigma 10-20. I use the 10-20 on a D7000 for real estate and get amazing results... Compared to a 70-200? Apples and oranges. To me, the 70-200 is the most valuable lens for weddings...
The best review on anything I've ever seen period. Great video. I never post comments but this was a great video I'm definitely getting this lens. Maybe you can do a review on the 24-70 and 70-200 from Tamron.
Thanks Neri! You're too kind comments like this one just make my day. Much appreciated!! I'm working on a slew of projects/reviews right now - and with the busy holiday photo card season finally winding down, I can get back to the reviews shortly. Darren
Hi Darren, Only doubt I have is: how would hold up against the canon 17-40 f4.0? It's almost the same price range as the Tokina and you can mount filters on it. I will also be using the lens for video on the 5d m3, and wonder if you would notice a lot of the difference between the f4.0 vs. f2.8? Looking forward to your comments. regards, Titus
Thanks man.. I do a lot of high end real estate work and have been using a sigma 12 24.. the lens is getting old and even at f/11 my results are a little softer than I'd like.. seems like this Tokina could be the solution, and keep the sigma for those times when I need to go wider than 16.. with 2 young kids and living in the Dominican Republic where my earning potential isn't what it should be, I can't justify or afford a $2,000 lens
He Titus, I haven't used the 17-40, but it is a highly regarded lens at a great price for an L lens. The depth of field between f/2.8 and f/4 is nominal with a wide angle lens, unless your subject is in the foreground, then you'll notice a difference in the bokeh rendering, but it may only be you who notices and not the people watching your videos... Either would probably suit your needs well.
Hello from from far future! From 2023. I still have 6D and want to get Tokina 16-28 ATX pr. that's a total match. Thanks for the review. Have you had a chance to compare ATX Pro versus their new Opera? Is there significant difference?
Deep, Thanks for the clarification, I haven't used the canon 14mm, though I understand the Mark ii is MUCH better than the Mark I. In general - prime lenses are sharper than their zoom counterparts - not always, but usually. Ken Rockwell raves about the 14mm mark ii. It too is 3 times as expensive as the the Tokina...
@darrenmiles I recently purchased a second hand tokina 16-28mm for £385/$480 for my Nikon D810 in part thanks to you and your great review. But 6 years on are you planning to do a review on the replacement 16-28 f2.8 opera, there are very few reviews on it especially in English.
Hi Darren Miles! I gotta tell ya, you make great lens reviews :) I am right now in the middle of a big decision. I need a wide angle zoom lens that is good for landscape photography, both during the day and during the night. My personal photo career (just for fun) started with photographing the stars at night and a little later on I started taking photos of sunsets and simple landscape shots. I recently sold my Canon 600D (T3i) and also one of my absolute favorite lenses the Tokina 11-16mm F/2.8. Right now I own the Canon EOS 6D along with some prime lenses, ranging from 14mm to 50mm. Primarily, I use these lenses for nightscape photography but sometimes for regular shooting during the day. But when I'm out on countryside walking along the dirty road I find a bit annoying to switch from prime to prime. Not just because you have to take and put on caps and everything but also because dust can end up in the sensor. So most of the time when I'm taking landscape shots while "walking" I usually use my Canon EF 24-105mm F/4 lens. Great lens and all but I think that 24mm isn't wide enough, plus it has distortion at it's widest angle. So, as far as I know there are two options out there. First we have the Canon EF 17-40mm F/4L USM lens. Have heard both great things and bad things about that lens. The other option, as you reviewed in this video is the Tokina 16-28mm F/2.8 AT-X Pro lens. Let me just get this out of me right now, I can live with a lens that doesn't have weather sealing or takes filters. So let's remove those benefits from the Canon. So, what does the Canon have over the Tokina. Well, it has a larger zoom range, it has manual override in AF and perhaps better control of Chromatic Abberation (I don't know) Let's go over to the Tokina, what does the Tokina have over the Canon. Well, it is 1mm wider, it has a larger aperture and it has less distortion aswell as vignetting. Also, I don't care that the Tokina has less zoom range, I'll just put on the 24-105 ;) Judging by what other people say, the Tokina is sharper than the Canon. And... Judging by what other people say, the Canon has better control of flare than the Tokina. I would really appreciate if you could do a review of the Canon EF 17-40mm F/4L USM sometime in the near future :) So this is what I think. The Tokina is more suitable for nightscape photography and the Canon for landscape photography (daytime). If you don't shoot into the sun the Tokina works great for daytime photography, mind you this is what I think or believe :) Now I'm coming to you Darren. The moment of truth! What would you suggest? Judging by "ALL" that I have written :) Sincerely David! :)
David, For starters, thank you for the kind words about the reviews, that means a lot to me. In full disclosure, I've never used the Canon 17-40, it's been around for awhile and it's still one of Canon's most popular lenses and for good reason, it's **reasonably priced** for an "L" lens, it has good optics, and that red ring sure is tempting for a lot of people :-) I use the Tokina on a regular basis and it's still my go to lens for real estate photography, that said, I usually shoot real estate at f/8 or f/9, so f/2.8 of the Tokina really isn't that much of a selling point, unless I was shooting indoor venues with it. They're priced competitively Tokina ($639) and the Canon ($839). The Tokina is definitely sorta meh against bright light, and it does suffer from CAs in the transition areas, but that can be fixed pretty easily in lightroom.. Most of the downsides of the Tokina can be effectively mitigated in post. Given that you shoot mostly at night, then it seems the Tokina is probably the way to go... Not to mention you'll save some cash in the process. Just a word of caution, I would buy it new from a reputable dealer (like B&H) to make sure you have the 30 day return in the event it doesn't work the way you like it. Good luck!! Darren
Darren Miles Hi Darren! Thank you so much for your suggestion! :) It's strange that (at least here in Sweden) the Tokina hasn't gotten really that much of attention. Many that I asked the same question said to go for the Canon, not even bothering saying why I shouldn't go for the Tokina. Like yeah, for daytime photography the Canon is better but what about my nightscape photography? Did you guys forget that I also like to shoot the stars? :/ Like you said, it's probably that red ring that attracts people ^_^ I know the perfect store here in Sweden that offers a 30 day return policy, even letting me test the lens out ;) Any tips on what I should look for in the test results? Like equal sharpness in the corners? Btw, according to this guy at SLR Lounge the Tokina has low flare. Link is here: www.slrlounge.com/tokina-16-28mm-f2-8-atx-pro-fx-ultra-wide-lens-quick-field-review/ However, I can't say that the Tokina has low flare based on that photograph of the tree. Once again, thank you so much Darren and keep on with the reviews! ;) Sincerely David! :)
Thank you for this awesome review. I am seriously interested in this lens, but also looking at the new Tamron 15-30 F2.8 with vc, There is a 600 dollar difference. Do you feel that the vibration control is a needed option. I am not a landscape shooter or a tripod shooter, but low light shooter, weddings, concerts, ambient outdoor walk around street shooting.
Excellent review! Really professionally done! XD Would love to see the Tokinas (12-24, 11-16 and/ or 16-28) vs the new sigma 18-35 f1.8. I'm planning on getting 3 of these 5 lenses: 1. Canon 70-200 f4 non is 2. Sigma 18-35 3. Tamron 28-75 4. Tokina 11-16 5. Canon 100mm 2.8. I want the Canon (budget) Holy Trinity for Wedding and low light Photography. If you could do a budget Canon Holy Trinity video as well that would be awesome!
Hey Darren great reviews, easy to understand in part because your speech's flow and speed are the right ones when talking to a video camera, unlike others that don't even show what they are doing and in 5 and 1/2 seconds the video is over, That said, is the chromatic aberration of this lens at all FStops? and if one has a Canon 17-40 F4L and do you think it makes sense to buy one of this as a back up or not? Cordially, Julio Cesar Miami Florida
Great video mate. I have a 5DM3 and a 7D. I use the Canon 17-40L on the 5D and am not too happy with the barrel distortion and the night pictures do not perform as well as my Sigma 10-20 do on the 7D. Question is, is this a better lens than the 17-40? I take a lot of night shots, landscapes and sometimes indoor shots. (Have a wedding to do this summer). Cheers, Adam
Nice video Darren! Can you review film vs digital? I find medium format film cameras like Hasselblad 500CM and Pentax 645N are less expensive than the full frame Canons/Nikons. Does it make them a good alternative these days? What are the pros and cons? Thanks in advance.
Great review! However I can't decide between this one and the Tamron 15-30, which one would you recommend? I'd mount this on a Nikon D800 so I want the best lens that can output the power of the D800
Hi Darren great review. Can you do a similar high-def review for the UW version Tokina 11-16? And compare it with Nikon UW lenses? Your review was very to the point and gave just the information needed. Keep up the good work.
ey, what about the filters for that lens? how to manage not just of safety of lens but also of polaryzing and using grey filters if conditions demand that. Did you use any to that photos or just plain lens or for example cokin system or sth?
Phenomenal and really lucid video. Thank you for your guidance. You have made up my mind😀
I’m a Nikon user, moving from DX to FX. I’ve been shooting with a D7100 for a few years, and have always purchased glass with the idea of moving to FX; I’m now very happily using a D810. My glass is: Nikon 200-500, Nikon 70-200, Nikon 24-70, and the Tokina 11-16 II. The Tokina has been an excellent performer for me but is, unfortunately, a DX lens, so now I have to acquire an ultra wide zoom.
I’ve no access to a camera shop, so I’ve been researching online and considering my options. I’ve been looking at the Nikon 14-24, Tamron 15-30, Tokina 16-28, or perhaps a Nikon 20 f1.8. I’m very interested in this Tokina, because I’ve had a very good experience with the 11-16. But my biggest concerns are: a few comments I’ve read regarding significant sample variation (mostly decentering), and that the optics are soft throughout the range in the corners and soft overall from 22-28. Do you have any comments about those two issues?
I’m in Canada, and the pricing for these options are Nikon 14-24 (used from a reputable store 9/10 condition) $1700, Tamron 15-30 $1500, Nikon 20mm $1000, Tokina 16-28 $900. Obviously, I could get this lens plus a Nikon 20 f1.8 for basically the same price as a good used Nikon 14-24.
I’m a seriously hobbyist not a pro, and other than general city/nature landscapes, I would like to be able to get some decent+ astro shots. You review didn’t cover night sky shots at all, so I’m wondering if you’ve done any and what your experiences were if you have.
Thanks for a good review.
Thank you Darren, this is a wonderful review. I'm looking for a super wide angle zoom with F2.8 for my Nikon D750, Initially my choice is Tamron 15-30mm over the Nikon lens, which is way too expensive, then I find out Tokina has one many years ago. I read a lot of reviews, written and video and I like yours. Now I decided to buy the Tokina 16-28 to complete my F2.8 lineup from superwide angle to 70-200mm.
I own this lens I absolutely love it!! you won't regret it
After this review I no longer hesitate whether I should go for 16-35 or for Tokina. Thanks a lot!
You're welcome!
Awesome review.. thanks a bunch! I definitely need get my Tokina 16-28 2.8
You're work, video and full coverage has sold me on it and helped me with buying out side 1st party glass . this video?
10/10 amazing you helped so much !
Estevan Rodriguez Thank you very much, so glad I could help.
I've owned the first generation Canon 5d. However, due to your best review here on you tube about this lens I've finally go over the fence and decided to purchased this lens and so far no regrets - image quality is second to none as well as the built quality better than the canon version. Keep up the great work and keep the videos coming! Cheers!
Thank you very much Phillip!!
Great vlog! Thank you very much! Beautiful photo's as well. Purple fringing I can easely correct in Adobe Camera Raw. I own this lens and could not find a review. It is a beautiful lens to see and hold. So F8.0 is the best aparture, I did not know that. This is not a new lens, but my lens looks like it just came out of the box, like new! I have always been very happy with it and still am!
I'm definitely getting this lens for my D750
Thanks Desmond, so glad I could help! Be sure to use the links referenced in the review to buy the lens!
Hi Darren, excellent review. I am a Canon shooter and a real estate photographer. I have been shooting with a Canon EOS 60D and a Sigma 10-20 4-5.6 until I bought my EOS 6D with a Samyang 14mm f2.8. I am very impressed with the change, more wide angle and amazing image quality. I like very much this Tokina 16-28 since I've seen your review. Possibly my next purchase.
Your review just sealed the deal for me. Going to pick one up today
Thank you!! Glad you enjoyed it, it's a GREAT lens - especially for the money!!
awesome review' i think ill get this lens.
Thanks Darren for the review.
Now time to review the Tamron 15-30mm f/2.8 VC.
That's a great compliment, thanks Titus! Be sure to use the links in the written part of the review!
Thanks Jhoebe! I used to own this lens and loved it! The only reason why I got rid of it was because it didn't have weather sealing. I did a written review with sample photos - you can find it on my channel...
This was done before I got the courage to put myself out there in front of the camera...
Great review thanks for the details I was looking at the lens for the c300 cinema
I was considering buying this lens. After your review I have no doubt, I will buy it. Thanks, your video review is very informative.
Manu9780 Thank you very much!
Hey Deep! Thanks for your comment. I understand the 14-24 is an amazing lens - my point about comparing it to the Tokina was based purely on the notion that Tokina is 1/3rd the price. The Nikon is probably sharper.... but THREE times sharper? Probably not...
I've been thinking about buying the canon 16-35 for a couple of months ..but know i'm sold on the tokina mainly on the price and sharpness ...Great job my friend ...greetings from Fort Myers
For some reason I can't reply directly to THE JEDEYEMASTER's post. Anyway Thank you for your comments!
Dave Dugdale does great reviews, true the lens isn't all metal, but it's mostly metal - it also has a rubber gasket on the mount but Tokina doesn't claim the lens is weather sealed either. You'll note that I was reviewing the Tokina on it's own and it exhibits a lot of chromatic aberration - and the only real comparison I made to the Canon (and Nikon) was based on price and comparing images on line. Call me crazy, but from everything that I've seen and read, I don't see enough difference between them to justify that much of a price difference. The Tokina is a steal. Pretty sure Dave came to the same conclusion.
Thanks for the great review Darren Miles I just got this realty gig and was using the Tokina 11-16 on my #canon 6d. After watching your video I overnighted the 16-28 and YES, a huge difference!! Thank you!
That's awesome Tony! Thank you for the great feedback and good luck with the reality gig!!
+Darren Miles Hello sir can i use nikon D7100 body?
Hi Darren, thanks for a great review. I just got this lens thanks in part to your good self. As for the question of filters as I'm sure you are aware by now of the 150mm square filter holders that fit over the lens hood. I also got one of these filter holders (no filters yet, they tent to be quite expensive here in the uk), made by Rollei from Amazon UK on sale £43/$55 from Rollei in Germany not a knock of from China normal price £175/$223 without filters. This one seems to be different from the other types of large filter holders as it is held inplace bu 2 simple semi circular clamps that simply screw in and out, there are different sizes to suite different lenses mine is actually the one that fits the Phase One 28mm ls f4.5 it's the same diameter 90mm. It is also extremely well made as you would expect from Rollei, so there is a possible review if you can get them in the states. The filters start around £100/$127 to over £300/$383. Thanks again for helping me make my mind up. Gary.
Thanks for the review.
I'm about to buy it and this was very helpful for my decision.
thanks,
Titus
Thanks Josh - it's a great lens - it's a hot fudge sundae with a cherry on top when you factor in the price!
Funny Because on someone's else video he thought the Tokina controlled Chromatic aberration better than his own Canon similar lens & I personally with my Nikon version I also did not find it to be prone to chromatic aberration. Just so you & everybody knows & at less than 1/2 the price of the same period Nikon 14-24mm f2.8 than it's a no brainer which one to choose.
Boston - thank you, there's no "right" or "wrong" answer to your question. A better question may be what were you planning to be shooting with the Tokina? And do you need 16mm on the wide end? If you do, the Tokina is a great option for the money.
Nice review! I have a canon 5D mark lll on the way and I need a new wide lens! Btw beautiful shot at 5:54! Very creative shot
I have been looking for a reliable review on this Tokina 16-28mm lens, and by far your review is the best! You've covered all the aspects about the pros and cons about this lens. However, I'm on the market of buying a wide angle lens that wouldn't break my bank, a canon 16-35mm would be nice but I can't justify spending $1300 more where I can get a cheaper Tokina lens and for this price I think it's a steal! Thanks for the great review! and I've just subscribed to your channel as well. Keep the great reviews coming!
Thank you sir! Which camera body are you using?
Thank you SO much for this! The samples photos and videos especially were so helpful. I love this lens!
So glad I could help, thank you for the kind words!
Of course! I got the lens and I love it!!
Cool review Darren.. enjoyed it.. now I want this lens..
Great review Darren. Thanks for the review! Keep them coming.
This might be 6 years old but what a great review! I decided to buy this lens used and I am excited after looking at the best landscape lens I feel I got the best bang for my buck thanks for Info I also subscribed!
Looking a few wide angle lenses for my Nikon and came across this lens. Great review, Darren! The videos and stills you took were absolutely incredible! Definitely helped me on my decision on which wide angle lens I should buy. Thanks!
***** Thank you!! Enjoy, it's a great lens!
Great review! I have had the lens for 2 years now and it is one of 2 lenses I almost always keep on my 6D (the other is the 35 IS). One thing I noticed in your review is the lack of flare. I have learned that you need to keep light sources away from the front because if flares really bad (but if used right, it creates some cool effects).
Great vid Darren I think you have succeeded where many other video makers have failed and single handedly made me want to order this lens for my Nikon D800 :-)
Thanks Paul!
No doubt Canon and Nikon are great but you really have to be careful not to lose it or someone stealing it. I don't want that worry. So Tokina is my choice. I like heavy large heavy lenses too.
Awesome review on this lens. I am contemplating on buying the Nikon 14-24 f/2.8 and this review gave me something to think about. By the way, your pics are amazing!
I'm sold... I owed the 11-15 Tokina when I had my Canon 7D. But now that I have the Mark 3 I was looking for an inexpensive way to avoid the L series 16-35 price tag. Thank you for the review.
Well explained and structured review. Thanks! It was very helpful. I'll buy a Tokina tomorrow, without any doubt:)
Still using it in 2024 on my sony a7 R iii. Its a big but outstanding results.
Hey Darren, how about a review on the Canon 17-40L F4 zoom lens?
Great video. Thanks. At 5:32 how did you get those long exposures without an ND filter.?? The only thing holding me back is not being able to use filters.
That's awesome Tony!
GREAT review...Could you someday review the Canon 50mm macro? (I've already bought the Tokina 100mm macro)...GREAT review for that lens also....Keep up the super job!! ...you DO make a difference...
Here we are in 2022 and i am looking for wide angle for EOS R. the fact that it has no stabilization, is that an issue? How will it work with the required adapter? Any issues there. Thanks. Great reviews. i like the real world approach/. Its on sale now for 499, at B&H. Hope to hear back soon
You have provided even more validation I should BUY this lens. The image of the lady on the beach is exactly what I imagined this could produce. For that matter all of your images and video in this was a delight to view. I have a SIGMA 28-70 2.8. I'm buying a D7000 and was thinking of augmenting the 28-70 range with this TOKINA - seems 28 (42MM 35 equiv) is too tight for the bride/groom prewedding shots and 2.8 is fast. Would you buy this before a 70-200 2.8 in my situation, for weddings? TY
Excellent review , would like to have ur suggestions on few more options on wide angle for wedding photography , if u can please help .
Great quality videos!!
Pablo x Thank you very much!
THANKS FOR THIS CONTENT. would get Opera for myself. Do you have a review for this?
great review darren.. 2 thumbs up...
What settings did you use to shoot the video when you were painting on the camera and it had a lot of Boca?
What point in the video? It's been awhile, but if you can tell me at what time frame I may be able to tell you.
Darren Miles hey awesome thanks for the quick reply. Like at the one minute and 15 second mark. Which lens did you use. Thanks for your help
Flowrider Broz Canon 5D3, 70-200mm f/2.8 Mark ii lens at f/2.8
Darren Miles okay awesome thank you for your help your videos are very helpful
its an awesome review Darren. I would like to request a review on Sigma 70-200 2.8 EX DG OS HSM. Thanks
Great review! I've been spending my entire day researching on which ultra wide to buy with a low f stop (I shoot a lot of night and street photography), and it came down to the Tokina and Canon 16-35. I am planning on selling my Canon 24-105mm f4 L lens, which is a bit upsetting because of how great L series is, but I hope the Tokina meets my needs. Thanks again for the review!
Thanks for a great review. I'm glad you mentioned the chromatic aberration. I haven't seen that mentioned in any other reviews. After inspecting flickr images taken with this lens, it really does have bad chromatic aberration. I was close to buying, but I'm going to have to spring for the Canon (as much as it pains me). Thanks for the info.
It's a great lens - ESPECIALLY for the money - that said, keep in mind most of what was shot with this lens was with a full frame camera at the wider end - 16,17 & 18mm.... Even the lady on the beach(16mm). With a D7000, you may want to consider the 11-16 from Tokina - also really well built and sharp or the Sigma 10-20. I use the 10-20 on a D7000 for real estate and get amazing results... Compared to a 70-200? Apples and oranges. To me, the 70-200 is the most valuable lens for weddings...
The best review on anything I've ever seen period. Great video. I never post comments but this was a great video I'm definitely getting this lens. Maybe you can do a review on the 24-70 and 70-200 from Tamron.
Thanks Neri!
You're too kind comments like this one just make my day. Much appreciated!! I'm working on a slew of projects/reviews right now - and with the busy holiday photo card season finally winding down, I can get back to the reviews shortly.
Darren
Well done review!
Hi Darren,
Only doubt I have is: how would hold up against the canon 17-40 f4.0?
It's almost the same price range as the Tokina and you can mount filters on it.
I will also be using the lens for video on the 5d m3, and wonder if you would notice a lot of the difference between the f4.0 vs. f2.8?
Looking forward to your comments.
regards,
Titus
thanks for great review it was very helpful
That's very kind, thank you!
Thanks man.. I do a lot of high end real estate work and have been using a sigma 12 24.. the lens is getting old and even at f/11 my results are a little softer than I'd like.. seems like this Tokina could be the solution, and keep the sigma for those times when I need to go wider than 16.. with 2 young kids and living in the Dominican Republic where my earning potential isn't what it should be, I can't justify or afford a $2,000 lens
He Titus,
I haven't used the 17-40, but it is a highly regarded lens at a great price for an L lens. The depth of field between f/2.8 and f/4 is nominal with a wide angle lens, unless your subject is in the foreground, then you'll notice a difference in the bokeh rendering, but it may only be you who notices and not the people watching your videos... Either would probably suit your needs well.
Very useful review thanks
Thank you for the great review.
+Giang Vu Thanks for watching!
Thank you man, really I was confusing between Canon 16-35mm and Tokina 16-28 f/2.8, so definitely I will buy Tokina now : )
nice review! thanks for your work!
Thank you!
Great video! I have a Nikon 24-70 and was wondering if the difference between 16mm is worth it?
Hello from from far future! From 2023. I still have 6D and want to get Tokina 16-28 ATX pr. that's a total match. Thanks for the review. Have you had a chance to compare ATX Pro versus their new Opera? Is there significant difference?
Deep,
Thanks for the clarification, I haven't used the canon 14mm, though I understand the Mark ii is MUCH better than the Mark I. In general - prime lenses are sharper than their zoom counterparts - not always, but usually. Ken Rockwell raves about the 14mm mark ii. It too is 3 times as expensive as the the Tokina...
Amazing review! Thanks!
You're welcome!!
@darrenmiles I recently purchased a second hand tokina 16-28mm for £385/$480 for my Nikon D810 in part thanks to you and your great review. But 6 years on are you planning to do a review on the replacement 16-28 f2.8 opera, there are very few reviews on it especially in English.
I'll take a look and put it on the list - thank you for asking.
@@DarrenMiles thanks
I mainly shoot landscape but I'm not sure if its wide enough when I already have the 24-70.
Hi Darren Miles! I gotta tell ya, you make great lens reviews :) I am right now in the middle of a big decision. I need a wide angle zoom lens that is good for landscape photography, both during the day and during the night. My personal photo career (just for fun) started with photographing the stars at night and a little later on I started taking photos of sunsets and simple landscape shots. I recently sold my Canon 600D (T3i) and also one of my absolute favorite lenses the Tokina 11-16mm F/2.8. Right now I own the Canon EOS 6D along with some prime lenses, ranging from 14mm to 50mm. Primarily, I use these lenses for nightscape photography but sometimes for regular shooting during the day. But when I'm out on countryside walking along the dirty road I find a bit annoying to switch from prime to prime. Not just because you have to take and put on caps and everything but also because dust can end up in the sensor. So most of the time when I'm taking landscape shots while "walking" I usually use my Canon EF 24-105mm F/4 lens. Great lens and all but I think that 24mm isn't wide enough, plus it has distortion at it's widest angle.
So, as far as I know there are two options out there. First we have the Canon EF 17-40mm F/4L USM lens. Have heard both great things and bad things about that lens. The other option, as you reviewed in this video is the Tokina 16-28mm F/2.8 AT-X Pro lens. Let me just get this out of me right now, I can live with a lens that doesn't have weather sealing or takes filters. So let's remove those benefits from the Canon. So, what does the Canon have over the Tokina. Well, it has a larger zoom range, it has manual override in AF and perhaps better control of Chromatic Abberation (I don't know) Let's go over to the Tokina, what does the Tokina have over the Canon. Well, it is 1mm wider, it has a larger aperture and it has less distortion aswell as vignetting. Also, I don't care that the Tokina has less zoom range, I'll just put on the 24-105 ;) Judging by what other people say, the Tokina is sharper than the Canon. And... Judging by what other people say, the Canon has better control of flare than the Tokina. I would really appreciate if you could do a review of the Canon EF 17-40mm F/4L USM sometime in the near future :)
So this is what I think. The Tokina is more suitable for nightscape photography and the Canon for landscape photography (daytime). If you don't shoot into the sun the Tokina works great for daytime photography, mind you this is what I think or believe :)
Now I'm coming to you Darren. The moment of truth! What would you suggest? Judging by "ALL" that I have written :)
Sincerely
David! :)
David,
For starters, thank you for the kind words about the reviews, that means a lot to me. In full disclosure, I've never used the Canon 17-40, it's been around for awhile and it's still one of Canon's most popular lenses and for good reason, it's **reasonably priced** for an "L" lens, it has good optics, and that red ring sure is tempting for a lot of people :-)
I use the Tokina on a regular basis and it's still my go to lens for real estate photography, that said, I usually shoot real estate at f/8 or f/9, so f/2.8 of the Tokina really isn't that much of a selling point, unless I was shooting indoor venues with it. They're priced competitively Tokina ($639) and the Canon ($839).
The Tokina is definitely sorta meh against bright light, and it does suffer from CAs in the transition areas, but that can be fixed pretty easily in lightroom.. Most of the downsides of the Tokina can be effectively mitigated in post.
Given that you shoot mostly at night, then it seems the Tokina is probably the way to go... Not to mention you'll save some cash in the process. Just a word of caution, I would buy it new from a reputable dealer (like B&H) to make sure you have the 30 day return in the event it doesn't work the way you like it.
Good luck!!
Darren
Darren Miles
Hi Darren! Thank you so much for your suggestion! :) It's strange that (at least here in Sweden) the Tokina hasn't gotten really that much of attention. Many that I asked the same question said to go for the Canon, not even bothering saying why I shouldn't go for the Tokina. Like yeah, for daytime photography the Canon is better but what about my nightscape photography? Did you guys forget that I also like to shoot the stars? :/ Like you said, it's probably that red ring that attracts people ^_^
I know the perfect store here in Sweden that offers a 30 day return policy, even letting me test the lens out ;) Any tips on what I should look for in the test results? Like equal sharpness in the corners?
Btw, according to this guy at SLR Lounge the Tokina has low flare. Link is here: www.slrlounge.com/tokina-16-28mm-f2-8-atx-pro-fx-ultra-wide-lens-quick-field-review/ However, I can't say that the Tokina has low flare based on that photograph of the tree.
Once again, thank you so much Darren and keep on with the reviews! ;)
Sincerely
David! :)
Great and helpfully video.
That would be a HUGE difference especially landscapes.
Thank you for this awesome review. I am seriously interested in this lens, but also looking at the new Tamron 15-30 F2.8 with vc, There is a 600 dollar difference. Do you feel that the vibration control is a needed option. I am not a landscape shooter or a tripod shooter, but low light shooter, weddings, concerts, ambient outdoor walk around street shooting.
there is something unique and distinctive about this lens when shooting people. I dont know what it is, but it's better looking than my L Series lens.
Great videos! Thank you very much!
Great Review Thanks
Excellent review! Really professionally done! XD Would love to see the Tokinas (12-24, 11-16 and/ or 16-28) vs the new sigma 18-35 f1.8. I'm planning on getting 3 of these 5 lenses: 1. Canon 70-200 f4 non is 2. Sigma 18-35 3. Tamron 28-75 4. Tokina 11-16 5. Canon 100mm 2.8. I want the Canon (budget) Holy Trinity for Wedding and low light Photography. If you could do a budget Canon Holy Trinity video as well that would be awesome!
Thanks David! I haven't done a whole lot of comparison videos, but I will certainly keep that in mind. Thank you for the kind words!!
sigma 18-15 art 1.8 its the best of all other in the market, trust me, I had one, sadly its only for apsc so I had to change it...
This review is just perfect. Thank you so much, it helped me a lot
Thank you Sir!!
Hi Darren, I would like this lens to shoot the Milky Way, does this lens produces coma in the edges?
Can the Tokina lens be used on an Aps C camera (Canon 90D)?
this is awesome review !
i am planing to get wide angle lens and don`t care about focus speed .
can it be nice for me?
Hey Darren great reviews, easy to understand in part because your speech's flow and speed are the right ones when talking to a video camera, unlike others that don't even show what they are doing and in 5 and 1/2 seconds the video is over,
That said, is the chromatic aberration of this lens at all FStops? and if one has a Canon
17-40 F4L and do you think it makes sense to buy one of this as a back up or not?
Cordially,
Julio Cesar
Miami Florida
Great video mate. I have a 5DM3 and a 7D. I use the Canon 17-40L on the 5D and am not too happy with the barrel distortion and the night pictures do not perform as well as my Sigma 10-20 do on the 7D. Question is, is this a better lens than the 17-40? I take a lot of night shots, landscapes and sometimes indoor shots. (Have a wedding to do this summer). Cheers, Adam
Great review! Please help me find Tokina 16-50mm/2.8
Nice video Darren! Can you review film vs digital? I find medium format film cameras like Hasselblad 500CM and Pentax 645N are less expensive than the full frame Canons/Nikons. Does it make them a good alternative these days? What are the pros and cons? Thanks in advance.
Great review! However I can't decide between this one and the Tamron 15-30, which one would you recommend? I'd mount this on a Nikon D800 so I want the best lens that can output the power of the D800
Great review, thank you very much.
What lens and camera are you using to shoot the video. I like the Shallow depth of field.
+Benjamin Telfort Canon 5D Mark iii and the 70-200 f/2.8 Mark ii lens.
Hi Darren great review. Can you do a similar high-def review for the UW version Tokina 11-16? And compare it with Nikon UW lenses?
Your review was very to the point and gave just the information needed. Keep up the good work.
Thank you very much! I have the Tokina 11-16 for Nikon and I'll probably review it at some point in the future. I appreciate the kind words!
Thank you very much!
well done great review!
Thank you sir!
Hey Darren!
How would you rate this compared to the Nikon 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5G?
Are you going to review the new version? I bought this 7 years ago after watching this review.
Possibly, I need to catch up, it's been awhile since I've had the time to do a proper review on anything...
ey, what about the filters for that lens? how to manage not just of safety of lens but also of polaryzing and using grey filters if conditions demand that. Did you use any to that photos or just plain lens or for example cokin system or sth?
I need someone to do a review on the Tokina 17-35mm f4 lens. I have a Nikon but still cant find any reviews about that lens.
Thanks from Siberian photographers!
will you ever do dslr review?