Tokina 19-35

[Arnie]

This lens has been talked about alot in another forum. Any members would like to give their on this lens? Im still saving for the Canon 24-70L and my next project is the 16-35L. Since, i dont have a wide-tele yet i want to know if its an "acceptable-for-the-mean-time" lens? I do weddings and will use this lens mainly for groups shots and interior shots. My body, btw, is a 10d.

[PaulB]

If you do weddings commercially - ie. for money - then I would be hesitant in buying the Tokina as a stop-gap lens.

My advice would be to go the whole hog and buy the 16-35/2.8 at once, then save up for the 24-70/2.8.
There is after all quite an overlap in the range on the two lenses anyway - and perhaps a 50/1.8 to go with the 16-35/2.8 would give the extra reach at a budget price (but with excellent quality and is equivilent to an 80mm on the 10D - ideal for head and shoulders without flash).

Or - another thought - how about a 17-40/4L at half the price of the 16-35/2.8. The 17-40/4 is still an L lens after all and gets some good reviews and think of the saving?
I bought a 16-35/2.8 and it is really, really good on the 10D but I still wish I could have afforded to wait and see what the 17-40/4 was going to be like. But I needed the wideangle end at a time when the 17-40/4 was not available in the UK.

[Arnie]

Ouch! :)

I got carried away by the discussion on the tokina lens I completely forgot about the new 17-40L, thanks Paul!

BTW, the money goes to CANON after buying my D60, 10D, 550ex, 70-200f2.8,etc. :( I had i chat with my supplier and asked him when will the spending stop so that most the earnings goes to the bank. He jokingly said, that it wont or they will go out of business. Such a vicious cycle ;)