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The Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X Pro DX II Lens' predecessor, the version I model, was the first Tokina lens I used in the field and I found that experience to be a positive one. The major version II changes are found in the Nikon mount version of this lens. Utilizing an internal silent focusing motor, the version II lens no longer requires a Nikon DSLR with an AF drive gear and motor to autofocus this lens. Both Nikon and Canon mount versions of the Tokina 11-16 II have improved multi-layer coatings to minimize light reflection "... for slightly improved optical performance." [Tokina] There were no other changes made to the Canon mount version of this lens. With so few changes made, much of the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X Pro DX II Lens review will be very similar to the version I lens review. A quick 11-16 II overall summary is that this is a well-built, ultra-wide angle lens that has very good overall image quality and, key at review time, the widest max aperture available in a zoom lens wider than 14mm. Focal Length / Focal Length Range Getting the proper focal length or focal length range is crucial when selecting a lens. The first attraction to any ultra-wide zoom lens is just that – the ultra-wide focal length range. Being a Tokina "DX" (Digital Format) lens, the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X Pro DX II Lens has a smaller-than-full-frame image circle designed to work only on APS-C/1.6x/1.5x FOVCF DSLRs. The Tokina's 11-16mm provides an angle of view similar to a 17.6-25.6mm lens mounted on a full frame DSLR. These angles of view are extremely useful, but they are too wide for this lens to be considered as a general purpose lens for most people. Following are examples of what this focal length range looks like. Tokina AT-X 11-16mm f/2.8 PRO DX and the Tokina AT-X 11-16mm f/2.8 PRO DX II. The latter of these was released in 2012 and benefited from a built-in AF motor to make it compatible with a wider range of Nikon DSLRs and introduced superior anti-reflective coatings to reduce the affects of lens flare that the original had been known to suffer from. Although it doesn’t shoot quite as wide as alternatives such as the Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM or Nikon 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6 G AF-P DX, it has the benefit of a constant f/2.8 aperture all the way through its zoom range. It’s also built to a more robust standard than most budget wide-angle zooms, The 1.45x 11-16mm range is not an especially long one, but if your current lens kit goes no wider than 17 or 18mm, you are going to find a lens with this focal length range to be a very valuable complement to your kit. Shooting at these ultra-wide angles of view is especially fun and the results are very impressive with a well-composed scene. These focal lengths take in a very wide angle of view and subjects must be close to not become a tiny spec in your frame. One of the best ways to use an ultra-wide angle lens is to find a relatively close subject that you want to stand out in relation to the background while generating a sense of presence in the viewer. Landscape photographers are of course one group that loves to find a close subject and frame it in a striking, vast in-focus scene while utilizing the deep depth of field these ultra wide angles of view can give them (with narrow apertures of course). People are the one subject that you will not want to be too close to when shooting at ultra wide angles as they will appear perspective-distorted. And this means that, unless you are going for the big head/big nose look, group photos and environmental portraits are the type of people pictures this lens is most useful for. And caution is still required for these shots. Any group members closer to the camera than those in the back of the group by any significant relative distance will appear larger (potentially much larger). Also, those members of the group positioned close to the edges of the frame will appear wider than they actually are because of the distortion. There a many other uses for ultra-wide angle lenses including architecture (especially interiors) and automobile photography. While not generally as impressive from a composition standpoint, there is nothing wrong with simply capturing snap shots containing the big picture. The Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X Pro DX II Lens has a shorter focal length range than any of the other comparable wide angle zoom lenses. It does not go as wide and it goes no longer than any of the others. Still, 11mm is very wide and 16mm remains quite useful. The 11-16mm range will complement an 18-something mm lens very nicely.Read full review
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