Lens Review Tokina AT-X 116 PRO SD 11-16mm F2.8 (IF) DX-II
76 % Rs.45,000
Alate entrant into the Indian thirdparty lens market, Tokina has not introduced a barrage of products, but instead stuck to their strict standards of quality. The Tokina AT-X 116 PRO SD 11-16mm f/2.8 (IF) DX-II is the latest wideangle lens from Tokina’s stable. The lens is a minor upgrade to the award winning AT-X 116 PRO DX, 11-16 f/2.8 lens, which we reviewed in 2009. The improvements are limited to a silent focussing motor on the Nikon model that allows the lens to autofocus on bodies that do not have an AF motor, such as the D3100 and D3200 and improved internal coatings.
Design and Build Quality
The lens bears the nomenclature of AT-X (Advanced Technology Extra), indicating that it is of professional quality and features the best optics available in Tokina models. The company claim superior material selection and micronunit quality control in the manufacture. The DX-designated lenses are specially made for D-SLRs with APS-C sized sensors and hence if used on D-SLRs with Full-Frame sensors, the image circle will not cover the sensor area. The lens is constructed to provide a tough professional feel. The zoom and focus rings have rubber grips and the lens uses Duralumin in metal parts to provide better durability and tensile strength. The lens mount is made of chromeplated brass. The exterior of the lens has a hardened Alumite (armalite) finish.
Key Features
With a short zoom range, the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 lens maintains a high optical quality. The fast and bright f/2.8 provides good background defocussing and enables faster autofocus in low-light situations. The lens features Tokina’s original One-touch Focus Clutch mechanism. The mechanism allows you to switch between AF and MF by pushing the focus ring forward for AF, and backwards for MF. One-touch mechanism means that you do not need to toggle the AF/MF switch on the camera body to switch between AF and MF. The lens has Internal Focussing mechanism, which focusses the image by moving a group of elements instead of the lens barrel. This means that the length of the lens remains the same throughout the focal range. It also allows for faster focussing and use of circular polarisers and graduated filters since the front element does not rotate. The lens focusses as close as 30cm. Tokina has a technical collaboration with Hoya, which accounts for the high optical performance of their lenses. The 11-16mm DX-II is constructed with 13 elements in 11 groups. The elements are multicoated to resist flare and ghosting. It uses two Aspherical all-glass elements to minimise spherical aberration which causes loss of sharpness towards the edges, and distortion, which are common in wide-angle lenses. The lens bears the SD mark which means that it uses Super-low Dispersion glass (Fluorite). In fact, it uses two such SD elements. These provide Apochromatic properties to the lens, correcting chromatic aberration and eliminating secondary spectrum. The lens weighs 550g, which makes it lighter than its predecessor by 10g.
Ergonomics
The Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 DX-II has a combination of optimum size and excellent grip, which makes it a pleasure to use. The One-touch Focus Clutch
mechanism is very convenient when you need to change quickly from auto to manual focus. The smooth, but slightly dampened focus and zoom rings provide the apt amount of friction. The focus ring rotates less than 90 degrees from the nearest to farthest focus points in manual mode, which is very good.
Performance
We received the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 DX-II in the Nikon mount, hence we used a Nikon D80 body. The lens performed well in our tests except in extreme situations. Images were sharp, though the sharpness reduced from the centre to peripheries. Sweet spot was around f/8 and f/11, though this depended on the focal length. At 11mm, f/5.6 produced the sharpest images while at 12, 15, and 16mm f/11 delivered the sharpest results. At 13 and 14mm, f/8 was found to be the sharpest. This can vary from lens-to-lens even if their specifications are identical. The lens coatings did not introduce any discernible cast. AF was smooth and fast, though quite audible while refocussing between close and far off subjects. Prominent darkening of corners was observed at the wide-angle end at f/2.8. This could be reduced by stopping down the lens. The 11-16mm f/2.8 produced flare along with purple fringing at the wide-angle end at f/2.8. The flare characteristic was reduced considerably, thanks to the new improved coatings. Lateral chromatic aberration was observed , but this was much less compared to the previous version. The lens produced barrel distortion throughout the zoom range, which is pardonable for a wide-angle lens. Mustache distortion was observed till 14mm.
Value for Money
The Tokina AT-X 116 PRO SD 11-16mm f/2.8 ( IF) DX-II lens retails at an MRP of Rs.45,000. Though this might sound fair for a fast wide-angle, the zoom range of 11-16mm does not do justice to this price. The previous version debuted at Rs.26,800, and the new lens does not feature many improvements to warrant such a steep price rise.
SPECIFICATIONS
Mount Availability : Canon EOS, Nikon-D Focal Length : 11-16mm Maximum Aperture : f/ 2.8 Minimum Aperture : f/ 22 Optical Construction : 13 Elements / 11 Groups SD Glass : 2 Elements Coatings : Multi- layer coatings Angle of View : 104 to 82 degrees Minimum Focus Distance : 30.0cm Reproduction Ratio : 1: 11.6 No. of Diaphragm Blades: 9 Filter Size : 77mm Max. Outer Diameter : 84mm Dimensions : 84mm (dia.) x 89mm Weight : 550g