Tokina 12-24 f4

Hi everyone,

I've been wanting to get a UWA lens for my 600d/T3i for a while now. I originally wanted to get the EF-S 10-22 but I just spend a wad on a used EF 24-70, so funds are a little more limited.

I have just seen a used (2009) Tokina 12-24 f4 on offer for €300 (ca. $400 USD). I think the price sounds ok (new they go for €590), a little more than half the new price. What I am wondering about is the IQ for this lens and whether they have any focussing issues or quality problems. I've searched through the forum but couldn't find much to go on. I want to use it mostly for landscapes and city architecture.

Can I go wrong at this price or will I regret it? I won't get a chance to try it out before purchase.

Thanks for your help!

Like you, I didn't want to spend much on an UWA because I thought I wouldn't use it much (I was right). I chose the Tokina 12-24 based on price, and I've been very pleased with it. It's very well built, solid, handles well, focuses nicely and produces good IQ. It complements my Tamron 28-75 perfectly. I've never regretted choosing this lens, and find it plenty wide enough. I used it recently at a wedding, for flower shots and shots of the church, and it performed really well. No complaints here. I've had mine for a couple of years and have had no issues with it. It's a really nice lens.

thanks for the feedack much appreciated. I'm still waiting for the seller to get back to me, so fingers crossed.

I have the Tokina 12-24 f/4 for my 7D and have been very pleased with the results. You will hear a lot of people talk about the Tokina 11-16 f/2.8, but unless you need the extra stop of light, it may not be worth the extra price. Also in the mix is the Canon 10-22 which people also love. I found that the best bang for the buck (for me) was the 12-24 as it came with a hood already, and I didn't need the extra stop of light. Hope this helps!

-Mike

I have and use the first version of the Tokina 12-24, which based upon the sale price is probably what you are looking at. It's a good lens... better built than the Canon, nearly equal IQ, just not quite as wide and the Canon is exceptionally good handling flare, while the Tokina is merely "very good" handling it. The 11-16/2.8 might be a wee bit sharper, but is quite prone to flare and costs more.

Don't worry about the original version or the version II of the 12-24 on your Canon camera. There is very little difference between them. Supposedly internal coatings were changed in some way. There is a much bigger difference in the Nikon mount version, the II has an AF motor added so it will focus on all Nikon cameras. I think Tokina simply updated the lens in all mounts, at the same time.

The price is good for this lens (at least it would be here in the US)... not a steal, but not overpriced either.

The lens can be fun to work with, I find 12mm wide enough and f4 plenty fast.

I deliberately made the following image the worst possible way, to push the lens to its limits. Normally, shooting into the sun and glare like this, I'd have used a full frame camera, prime lens (20mm) at a middle stop and avoided using any filter. Instead I made a point of using the 12-24 on a 7D with a B+W MRC C-Pol on it, and underexposed... I was pleasantly surprised how well the image came out, though it's not perfect and some post-processing was needed.

I have had the 12-24nn f/4 Tokina (mk-i) for several years and I like it very much.

The build and IQ is great and I always use a lens hood and seldom shoot into the sub so I have not experienced the flare that people talk about. CA has also been not any great problem in my shooting...

Great lens, i love mine. Build quality is prob the best of the UWA non Ls. I really wanted the 10-22 Canon but didn't like the plastic feel of the lens, the Tokina is a metal tank!

thanks for all the reviews of this lens. it really helped me make the decision and I think the price was reasonable. Lens should arrive middle of next week

Congrats on your find ... I'm sure you will enjoy the 12-24 a lot. I have really been impressed with mine.

I hope you get a good copy. I have heard good things about the 12-24, but I personally would never buy a lens I couldn't try out first.

Personally, I wouldn't buy a used lens from a seller I didn't know, without a chance to try it out first. I would get one with a warranty from Canon or a reputable store, like Adorama or B&H.
The lens is good.... I have one. AF is accurate, it is sharp, but there is some CA in the far corners if you have contrasty stuff against the sunny sky, like tree branches.
I have read that some early models may have had problems develop with aperture blades or AF. Do a search on this forum for more information. In the world of AF, 3 years can be a long time if a lens is heavily used.

ceegee wrote in post #14582254
Like you, I didn't want to spend much on an UWA because I thought I wouldn't use it much (I was right). I chose the Tokina 12-24 based on price, and I've been very pleased with it. It's very well built, solid, handles well, focuses nicely and produces good IQ. It complements my Tamron 28-75 perfectly. I've never regretted choosing this lens, and find it plenty wide enough. I used it recently at a wedding, for flower shots and shots of the church, and it performed really well. No complaints here. I've had mine for a couple of years and have had no issues with it. It's a really nice lens.

Not to high jack but how is that Tamron 28-75mm walk-around lens treating you? Message me if necessary

artyH wrote in post #14590889
Personally, I wouldn't buy a used lens from a seller I didn't know, without a chance to try it out first. I would get one with a warranty from Canon or a reputable store, like Adorama or B&H.
The lens is good.... I have one. AF is accurate, it is sharp, but there is some CA in the far corners if you have contrasty stuff against the sunny sky, like tree branches.
I have read that some early models may have had problems develop with aperture blades or AF. Do a search on this forum for more information. In the world of AF, 3 years can be a long time if a lens is heavily used.

I really didn't want to either, but there was no way other way. There isn't a great deal of used stuff on offer locally unfortunately.

typehxr1 wrote in post #14591541
Not to high jack but how is that Tamron 28-75mm walk-around lens treating you? Message me if necessary

I've heard god things about that lens, good value for money apparently.

kwando wrote in post #14584092
Great lens, i love mine. Build quality is prob the best of the UWA non Ls. I really wanted the 10-22 Canon but didn't like the plastic feel of the lens, the Tokina is a metal tank!

ceegee wrote in post #14582254
Like you, I didn't want to spend much on an UWA because I thought I wouldn't use it much (I was right). I chose the Tokina 12-24 based on price, and I've been very pleased with it. It's very well built, solid, handles well, focuses nicely and produces good IQ. It complements my Tamron 28-75 perfectly. I've never regretted choosing this lens, and find it plenty wide enough. I used it recently at a wedding, for flower shots and shots of the church, and it performed really well. No complaints here. I've had mine for a couple of years and have had no issues with it. It's a really nice lens.

So glad you guys help him make a decision as it provided some great points as quoted above. I now have a new strategy going forward.....not to drop a boat load of cash on my "specialty" lenses but to only do so on the one's I use the most. Thanks amfoto1 as well for your feeback and pics!