Tokina 16-28 f/2.8 or Canon 17-40 f/4 for UK castle trip?

Hello all

I am taking a holiday to the UK next month and wanted your opinions on a lens to rent for the trip. I have a 5D and used my 24-105 a lot during my last trip to the UK, but I felt I was missing a bit with some of the shots I took. So I wanted to go wider. I've used the 17-40 before, and enjoyed it very much, but don't know much about the Tokina and was hoping for some first hand experience.

I know the Tokina is a bit heavy and is a pain with filters, but for the 2.8 vs the 4, is it worth it?

Or is there another lens?

Cheers!

Bueller....Bueller...

Never used the Tokina, but the extra stops may be good in a low light Castle.

Thanks! That was one of my thoughts as well. I've only shot with the 17-40 once and was pretty impressed. I wonder how the Tokina compares?

I've heard nothing but good things about the tokina and plan on buying it this week. Sharp wide open (at least sharper than the canon 16-35 f2.8), very little distortion at 16mm, and just very very sharp overall. I can't wait to use this thing at like f8-f11 for some landscape stuff.

Keep in mind that on a FF camera, wide angle zooms in general, and I know the 17-40 in particular, have a lot of softness at the edges and often vignetting in the corners. It's pretty much a given thanks to physics, although I don't know anything specific about the Tokina. I would not plan on using either lens wide open unless you're only concerned about the center of the picture. Your best results are going to be in the f/8 to f/11 range (as with most zooms really). Therefor, the difference in an f/2.8 lens and an f/4 lens is mute as far as the maximum aperture is concerned. You'll get a little more light in the viewfinder with a 2.8, and that might be handy inside a castle, but if you did fine with your 24-105 f/4L then I wouldn't pay more for f/2.8. I'd be wary of claims that the Tokina is "sharp wide open". It may be true on a crop camera like a 7D, but not too likely on a 5D.

Let's see, it's the 9th of June, has the OP made the choice?

I highly recommend the Tokina for amateurs and enthusiasts. There are some issues with in regards to inability to take a filter and flare in center conditions, but overall it's a great lens for $600. It's actually very sharp at 2.8 in the center as well if you want to isolate objects from the background. Check out my review of it here. It might help in your decision if you haven't already made one.

Love my Tokina 16-28. We went to the UK a couple years ago and I was stuck with the 24-105 f4 IS (which is no slouch), but it forced high ISOs that the 7D barely managed. This time I'll have my 6D and the Tokina, so life should be easier inside the castles. Speed is good and the 6D handles high ISO like a champ.