Canon 10-22, Sigma 8-16mm or Tokina 11-16

sannesley wrote in post #12342213
One question though: Does the Tokina have a threaded front end for attaching filters?

Yes the Tokina takes 77mm filters

nightcat wrote in post #12342262
I compared the Tokina with the Canon at a local camera store. The Tokina has a build like an L lens. Compared to the Tokina, I thought the Canon had a very cheap build. I took photos with both lenses and the Tokina had very slightly better IQ, but the Canon was fine. But add to this that the Tokina gives you 2.8, and is actually less expensive, it was a no brainer. That Canon is way overpriced.

I guess it just comes down to taste. I find the out of camera colors on the Tokina just awful compared to the Canon. The Tokina Af is pretty weak from what I hear too. But if you HAVE to have 2.8 on crop, there is no other choice.

Unfortunately, if you want your cake and eat it too, you need to go full frame with the 16-35 2.8. That thing puts everything else to shame you can buy for crop cameras. Fast, threaded on the front, wide, great colors... Killer!

The Tokina has such a cult following, that it's really impossible to reason with the fanaticism that surrounds it. Most people aren't as picky as I am about color and contrast, so I guess it's not a problem. I really wanted the Tokina, but just could not get over the shortcomings in order to gain 2/3 of a stop.

Tokina flare...
http://www.flickr.com …/28990608@N02/5​138720821/

Canon_Lover wrote in post #12342385
Tokina flare...
http://www.flickr.com …/28990608@N02/5​138720821/

Not really a fiar flare shot.

I had both the Tokina 12-24 and 11-16 prior and now trying out the Canon 10-22 next.. It arrives tomorrow!

The 12-24 is excellent, and I actually preferred it over the 11-16 for the price... If you need f/2.8 though there is no contest. It was sharp wide open. I did not have much playtime with the 11-16 but over a year with a 12-24...

12-24:
Negative: Flare, distortion, CA, AF could be inconsistent... Not a big deal with UWA, though.
Positive: IQ was great, build.

With the Canon I hope to gain better AF with the USM, flare resistance (especially at night) and although I am giving up rock-solid build, I hope the IQ outweighs that con. If not, I will go back to the 11-16 and give that a second try.

Convex Creative wrote in post #12342430
Not really a fiar flare shot.

Even the worst flare shot on the Canon comes nowhere even close to this.

Here is my best job at making my 10-22 flare. Only got it off the reflection and a little off the sun itself. I tried really hard, but this is the worst I got...

Notice how it flares but also loses little or no contrast. Something the Tokina needs to improve on. The Tokina is not a cheap lens either.

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I am really excited for the flare resistance... The Tokina gave me a headache on some of my better night shots due to flare and had to due quite a bit of editing, which is not easy when the flare falls on brick walls. Very easy to flare!

Invertalon wrote in post #12342813
I am really excited for the flare resistance... The Tokina gave me a headache on some of my better night shots due to flare and had to due quite a bit of editing, which is not easy when the flare falls on brick walls. Very easy to flare!

If Tokina used better lens elements and coating it would be one hell of a nice lens! Tokina must not produce enough lenses to really afford the R&D Sigma, Canon, and Nikon can afford. Sigma is really pulling ahead on the 3rd party front.

sannesley wrote in post #12342213
The one serious issue that puts me off buying the Sigma 8-16mm over the Canon 10-22mm is the lack of a threaded end on the Sigma for attaching filters.

This lens is primarily a landscape lens and filters will be critical for most shooting instances to get exposures right for longer exposures where bracketing images for HDR is not an option due to the extended exposure time and movement of things such as cloud or vegetation in the images.

For this reason the Canon nudges ahead for me.

Although the Tokina having f2.8 may come in handy for indoor shooting as has already been posted it doesn't handle lens flare as well as the Canon. One question though: Does the Tokina have a threaded front end for attaching filters?

The Tokina has a 77mm filter thread.

And yes, it has a cult following--maybe there's a reason for that? (Hint: there is!)

Here's the nice thing, too: the tokina, a 17-55 IS or 17-50 OS, 70-200 f2.8...you'll have 11-200 covered (almost, small gap in middle) with 2.8. Plus, they all have 77mm filter size, so one size fits all for your landscape kit. (Course the 10-22mm canon also has a 77mm filter).

Canon_Lover wrote in post #12342487
Even the worst flare shot on the Canon comes nowhere even close to this.

Here is my best job at making my 10-22 flare. Only got it off the reflection and a little off the sun itself. I tried really hard, but this is the worst I got...

Notice how it flares but also loses little or no contrast. Something the Tokina needs to improve on. The Tokina is not a cheap lens either.

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Canon 10-22 Lens Test #3 by Johan_7, on Flickr

The CA makes my eyes hurt. :/ Is this a worst case scenario? Because I've heard all around better comments about the Sigma 10-20 4-5.6.

tokina ftw

Convex Creative wrote in post #12342430
Not really a fiar flare shot.

OK, how about this from the 11-16...

Canon_Lover wrote in post #12342487
Even the worst flare shot on the Canon comes nowhere even close to this.

Here is my best job at making my 10-22 flare. Only got it off the reflection and a little off the sun itself. I tried really hard, but this is the worst I got...

Notice how it flares but also loses little or no contrast. Something the Tokina needs to improve on. The Tokina is not a cheap lens either.

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Canon 10-22 Lens Test #3 by Johan_7, on Flickr

Yeah, but look at the CA (purple fringing) going on with the branches in the top 1/3 of the pic.

The 10-22 is one of my favourite lenses and I've never seen one do that. At least never as bad as that.
Fortunately, it looks like it only does it at the outer boundaries of its performance.

Edit...missed seeing Pilotdude's post.

woos wrote in post #12343837
The Tokina has a 77mm filter thread.
Here's the nice thing, too: the tokina, a 17-55 IS or 17-50 OS, 70-200 f2.8...you'll have 11-200 covered (almost, small gap in middle) with 2.8. Plus, they all have 77mm filter size, so one size fits all for your landscape kit. (Course the 10-22mm canon also has a 77mm filter).

and the new Sigma 50-150 OS f/2.8 also accommodates a 77mm filter and then NO gap in focal length.

philwillmedia wrote in post #12344530
Yeah, but look at the CA (purple fringing) going on with the branches in the top 1/3 of the pic.

The 10-22 is one of my favourite lenses and I've never seen one do that. At least never as bad as that.
Fortunately, it looks like it only does it at the outer boundaries of its performance.

Edit...missed seeing Pilotdude's post.

Hey, at least I am willing to show my worst shots with the 10-22. I am no fanatic fanboy, and look at these things as objectively as possible. CA or purple fringing don't bother me as much as giant globs of flare and lost contrast, which are arguably more difficult to get rid of in post.

The purple fringing/CA is not necessarily an issue with the lens itself as much as it is with the Canon 60D sensor. As much as I love this camera, it does pull in more PF than even the t2i and 7D for some reason. This has been pretty well observed, but only happens in the worst scenarios. I have yet to see any other color CA on my 60D. I am no expert on PF and CA, but from what I understand, they are different beasts. PF comes from too much IR light entering the sensor, which is really not much fault of the lens as it is the sensor filter.

My Sigma 17-70 is really good at controlling CA, but in the right contrast and focus distances, it can purples fringe like a mofo too with the 60D.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again... There is no perfect UWA lens for crops. They all have some weakness compared to what is offered for full frame cameras.

It's obvious some people puke when they look for any PF while others like myself puke when we see bad lens flare.

If we want the best UWA, full frame is the only way to go!

Flare is the reason I return my Tokina 11-16. I also can't stand the focus motor noise and short zoom range.