TOKINA AT-X 11-20mm f/2.8 AF Pro DX £529/$469

A rarity among APS-C formats, the Tokina combines ultra-wide viewing angles with a fast aperture

Ultra-wide zoom lenses with fast aperture ratings for APS-C format cameras are few and far between. The main competitor to this lens is Tokina’s own AT-X 14-20mm f/2 AF Pro DX, which is pricier, has a faster aperture rating and delivers impressive quality for general shooting and astrophotography. However, its max viewing angle is restrictive compared with this 11-20mm offering.

The sophisticated optical path includes two all-glass moulded elements and three SD (Super-low Dispersion) elements. The autofocus system feels basic, powered by an electric motor that’s rather noisy, but not lacking in speed. As with most Tokina lenses, there’s a ‘One-touch Focus Clutch Mechanism’. This relies on you snapping the focus ring forwards or backwards to engage AF or manual focus respectively. It works well as an alternative to the manual override offered by most alternative autofocus systems.

Typical of Tokina’s ‘AT-X Pro’ lenses, build quality feels very solid and robust, and there’s a weather-seal ring on the mounting plate. The zoom and focus rings operate smoothly, the latter including a focus distance scale.

Performance

Sharpness is good but drops off a little more than usual in the corners when combining the shortest zoom setting and widest aperture. It’s similar to the Tamron 15-30mm in this respect. Vignetting, distortion and spherical aberration are well controlled, and there’s little coma and astigmatism.