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I have just parchased this lens. I would have liked the Tokina, but it is almost impossible to get here in Melbourne.
My initial views are:
10mm f4. edge poor, centre good.
10mm f8. edge good, centre v. good.
15mm f5. edge acceptable, centre v.good
15mm f8 edge good, centre v.good
20mm f.56 edge v.good, centre v.good
There is some CA visible, especially full open at 10mm. But I guess the lens is not designed to be used at this aperture.
Sigma seem to have kept barrel distortion down to acceptable levels.
Flare is very well controlled, and in my limited tests I could see no sign of vignetting.
Focus is quick and quiet. The focussing is internal. Sigma does say that one filter can be used with no vignetting, but I have not tested this yet. As is usual with the EX series of lenses, the lens finish is excellent.
I have posted some of the test pics on the Pixspot site. My gallery is on page 11 of the User galleries.
Note the test is not scientific, just some shots of the rear of my unit.

Regards
meicw

meicw,
Congrats on your new toys! Our Sigma chairman will have his welcome to you later to the Sigma board

Yes, there are mixed reports on the Sigma 10-20, mostly at the wide open and I knew people prefer the Sigma 12-24 or Tokina more than the 10-20 after playing with the Sigma 10-20.

Here is one place I came across while ebay surfing. They accept pick-ups.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Tokina-ATX124-12-24mm-Nikon-mount-12-24-mm-NEW-D70s-D50_W0QQitemZ7553887112QQcategoryZ30067QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Tokina-12-24mm-F4-AT-X124-Pro-DX-Lens-12-24-f-4-NEW_W0QQitemZ7552935027QQcategoryZ30067QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Just food for thought if you still want Tokina.

Regards,
Bill

meicw wrote:Note the test is not scientific, just some shots of the rear of my unit.

So I'm guessing these images aren't work safe?

 LOL Owen!

Thanks for the mini-review meicw, seems this is another lens to add to the myriad of wide-angle lenses, each with its own set of compromises.

Hehe Owen. Definitely not work safe!!
I have returned the lens and I am now trying the Tamron 11-18. The few landscapes I shot were disappointing. They only confirmed what I found in the test shots. The left hand edge was definitely not as sharp as the right hand, and there seemed to be an inconsistency of focus across the focal plane even at F11.
It is quite probable that I got a bad specimen (I have heard that Sigma's quality control could be better), but I can only judge a lens on the one that I have in my hand (or on the camera.)
The test results for the Tamron (again of the rear of my modest abode) do seem be sharper and more consistent, but there does seem to a tad more CA.
I have started a new thread entitled Tamron 11-18 test.

Regards
Meicw

... Obsolete ...

VK4CP wrote:

meicw wrote:... I would have liked the Tokina, but it is almost impossible to get here in Melbourne...

How hard did you try?
I ordered a Tokina ATX124 from a guy in Endeavour Hills today, $680 delivered to my door.

He's a regular photographic eBayer, and a chat with him on his mobile to order direct saved $34. Comes with a UV filter too.

Should arrive Friday.
Looking forward to it .

Wow, thats a great price delivered! Which ebayer is that from ? Is the included UV filter a slim filter to suit the WA lens?

I paid about $760 delivered not long ago for the lens and a hoya pro1 filter... also from an ebayer.

... Obsolete ...

I have been waiting anxiously to see some reports on the sigma 10 20
I am interested to learn that the Tokina is better value. I was, before reading this thread, convinced of going the way of the sigma.

The suggestion that there are some inconsistencies with the sigma 10 20 and the sharpness depends on the particular lens you get rings true with other reports I have read. This inconsistency rules this lens out for me.

Is the suggestion here that the inconsistencies between different units is not present with the Tokina and if so how does the tokina rack up against the Nikon 12 24. ?? sharpness wise.

I have been looking around for links but have not managed to find a site that addresses this topic in detail ie comparing all of the super wide angle lens. Is anyone aware of such a site??


Regards

Owen F

Gidday Owen,

In the current Australian Photography magazine is a review of these lenses writen by me! I did the review because I was interested to discover which lens would be best for me to buy for the work that I do and after working with five different lenses including the Tokina, Nikon, Canon, Sigma 12-24 and Sigma 10-20 I went for the Tokina.

The Nikon has the advantage of being SWM along with the fact that it has the Nikon badge... important if you have to have everything Nikon. The Tokina on the other hand eats the Nikon for breakfast when it comes to sharpness, particularly wide open. There is no comparing them. The only awkward thing about the Tokina is that it relies on the AF motor on the camera ... given that we are talking wide angle though it does not make a lot of difference though (its not like trying to rack out a long telephoto through the focusing range). A push-pull clutch mechanism lets you drop between manual and AF.

The fact the Tokina is less than half the price of the Nikon had nothing to do with my decision, I just wanted the best lens for the job and in this case it was not a Nikon.

Cheers,
Anthony

Hi Anthony
First off thanks for your response. It does say a lot for this forum when a question can be answered by the author of an article for one of Australians premier photog mags.I have not yet managed to get a chance to buy the mag but will tomorrow though I think you have talked me into the Tokina.

Living in Tassie makes it hard to try before you buy so the sigma with varying reports is out of the question.
Much like yourself, sharpness is the prerequisite and whilst price is important the quality I intend to keep for a long time.
This I suppose leads me to a challenging question

With all lenses there is varying quality within the same model and make
Is there a service in Australia, for which I will gladly pay, that will test a lens and provide a report on how this lens rates compares with lenses of the same make and model.
This is a service that I would direct all of my lenses to giving me the advantage of knowing where in the F range they are at there best and if I should retire that lens or not.

Thanks also for taking the time to test these lenses and share the info.


Owen F

Adding a bit more info on the tokina to the list ...

Popular Photography has an interesting review of the tokina 12-24
http://www.popphoto.com/article.asp?sec ... le_id=1349

The other thing I'd add from personal experience. I find the push pull focus clutch on my copy of the tokina rather annoying as it is quite stiff. Otherwise ditto to all the other comments re the optics.

Cheers,

Pete

Can I get some opinions regarding filters on tokina 12-24 lens? I'm just wondering whether you've had to use slim or have the normal ones been okay?

Cheers,
Owen.

Normal filters should be ok .. the only thing is do not stack them .. ie ..remove the UV filter before attaching a polariser. It a 77mm filter and so it is compatible with the same filters you would use on a 80-200 2.8 etc.

Nikonians long awaited shootout for these wide angle lenses is now out.

Oh, and btw, there is a new "super-wide shoot out" article up, comparing the 12-24mm Nikkor, the 10-20mm Sigma, the 11-18mm Tamron and the 12-24mm Tokina.
http://nikoniansemea.c.topica.com/maad9HOablBS3bP0Onub/

Interesting results.

Cheers
Albert

Extract from the website:
"Tokina recommends using HOYA PRO 1 Series low profile filters with the AT-X 124 PRO DX."

Whether there is any noticeable visual differences on most images using normal filters .. i am unsure as i use a slim filter.

Pete

poiter86 wrote:Extract from the website:
"Tokina recommends using HOYA PRO 1 Series low profile filters with the AT-X 124 PRO DX."


Pete

That's because Tokina and Hoya are part of the same company

THKPhoto

Just had a look at that link above and I think that whoever did the test must have had one of the better Nikkor 12-24mm lens to test... having done my test twice with two different sets of stock I can tell you my resuts are very different to theirs! I think the site must be hosted by Nikon or something!!