Tokina AT-X 11-16 f/2.8 PRO DX Ⅱ Lens Announced

[xps]

Read online at: http://www.thkphoto.com/news/press/N0000015/

"For Immediate Release
June 25, 2012

The New Tokina AT-X 116 PRO DX-II is an update to the widely popular and award winning AT-X 116 PRO DX, 11-16 F/2.8 lens.

The main update to this lens is in the Nikon mount, the AT-X 116 PRO DX-II has an internal silent focusing motor to allow the lens to AF on Nikon bodies that do not have an AF drive gear and motor.

There have also been some adjustments made to the coating for slightly improved optical performance.

This compact ultra wide-angle zoom has a bright constant F/2.8 aperture make viewing and auto focus possible in lower light situations but still maintaining a reasonable size and weight.

Two Super-Low Dispersion glass elements and two aspheric glass allow the proprietary optical design to achieve excellent contrast and sharpness as well as controlling chromatic aberration.

Tokina’s exclusive One-touch Focus Clutch Mechanism allows the photographer to switch between AF and MF simply by snapping the focus ring forward for AF and back toward the lens mount for manual focusing. The lens is also designed to stand up to the rigors of daily use by photographers in a wide variety of shooting conditions and environments.

Other than the optical coating change there are no changes to the Canon mount. The AT-X 116 PRO DX-II for Canon uses the same AF motor and AF drive system as the the previous model.


Specifications

Mount Availability: Canon EOS, Nikon-D
Focal Length: 11mm – 16mm
Maximum Aperture: F/2.8
Minimum Aperture: F/22
Optical Construction: 13 Elements / 11 Groups
SD Glass: 2 Element
Coatings: Multi-layer coatings
Angle of View: 104 to 82degrees
Minimum Focus Distance: 11.81 in. (30.0cm)
Reproduction Ratio: 1:11.6
Zooming System: Rotary Type
Number of Diaphragm Blades: 9
Filter Size: 77mm
Maximum Outer Diameter: 3.31in. (84mm)
Dimensions: 3.31in. (84mm) x L3.50 in. (89mm)
Weight:: 19.40oz. (550g)
Lens Hood: BH-77B"

[Marsu42]

Read online at: http://www.thkphoto.com/news/press/N0000015/

Good news! Since I will keep on dual-shooting with my aps-c even if I have a ff body, I think I'll get this one. With f2.8, the large dof of an ultrawide plus slow required shutter speeds, these should only need low iso values with Canon's 18mp sensor.

I hope it doesn't take too long for the high list price of Tokina to drop to a saner level... and we'll see if Tokina is faster than Canon when it comes to actually shipping announced products :-o

However: even Tamron claims only "lightly improved optical performance" and "Other than the optical coating change there are no changes to the Canon mount" ... does this mean it's more flare resistant than the mk1 model? Or is this just a waste of money in comparison to a cheaper mk1 model?

[paul13walnut5]

If you have a decent Nikon (D7000 up) you would be better with the expensive version.  If you use canon and are prepared to do a little work in PS (create a lens profile) then go for the older version.  I use it and am delighted with it.  The corners need defringing more as you stop down, but no biggie.

As a video lens, it's peerless as nobody else offers a fast UWA for cropped sensor bodies.

[RLPhoto]

Interesting, Might replace my 10-22mm after all.

[Wilmark]

Interesting,  i used the original on my 7d with great results - good for timelapse and video. When i moved to 5Dmk3, the lens can only be used at 16mm as vignetting occurs wider than this, still not bad though, as i found the zoom range even on the 7d to be hardly useful. 16mm on FF may be more like 11mm i guess.

[Marsu42]

Interesting, Might replace my 10-22mm after all.

I'd get the Tokina over the Canon, too - but it's a little letdown that the mk2 version for Canon seems to be not even face-lifted, but just with new coating.

[paul13walnut5]

Whilst the benefits of a better coating should never be underestimated (more of the wrong light reflected away, more of the good light let through) the positive side is that the cheaper mk1 remains excellent value..

I actually had a bit of bother getting hold of one, and so can only imagine that the used value, should I ever part with it, should be a good proportion of it's new value.

[RLPhoto]

Interesting, Might replace my 10-22mm after all.

I'd get the Tokina over the Canon, too - but it's a little letdown that the mk2 version for Canon seems to be not even face-lifted, but just with new coating.

But the 10-22mm has almost no distortion. It'd be hard to part with w/o renting the tokina first.

[Marsu42]

But the 10-22mm has almost no distortion. It'd be hard to part with w/o renting the tokina first.

If you rent it, please let us know your findings - I'd be very interested since you seem to be very specific about the lenses you use. But everything I've read about the Tokina is very favorable (it's nearly a prime lens with the tiny zoom range), it's f2.8, it's very sharp and while Canon might be better the little distortion is simple to correct in post.