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Review: Tokina 12-24 Mm AT-X Pro DX Zoom LensTokina 12-24 mm AT-X Pro DX zoom lens Price: $850 Highly recommended The low-down: This wide-angle lens has a zoom range that equates to 18-36 mm film equivalent, with constant f/4 aperture. It is designed for digital single-lens reflex cameras and is not suitable for film cameras. It comes in either Nikon or Canon mounts. Its construction and finish are excellent. The lens barrel is metal with a crackle enamel finish and the zoom and focus rings are rubberised material. Zoom and focus mechanisms are smooth with just the right amount of resistance. Auto focus is fast and accurate, however, prospective buyers should note that it doesnt have an in-built focus motor so it will not autofocus with cameras such as the Nikon D40/D40X that do not have in-camera focus motors. Manual and auto focus are easily selected by pulling the focus ring towards or away from the camera body. Zoom and focus movements are in the lens body and do not alter the overall length. The lens is supplied with a hood. Like: The image sharpness and minimal distortion at the 12 mm end of the zoom range are exceptionally good. The lens is colour-neutral with excellent contrast. Dislike: Chromatic aberration (colour fringing on sharp edges in high-contrast situations) is noticeable. However, keep in mind that, as with barrel distortion, this is a characteristic of wide-angle zooms. The Tokina is no worse than the competition. Verdict: This is a marvellous lens. There is a special joy to wide-angle photography because of the great depth of field and peculiar perspective on subjects. The well-controlled barrel distortion (its there but in most photos it is not noticeable) means that it is ideal for photographing buildings and streetscapes. It is competitively priced next to the competition. We had a lot of fun using the Tokina. It is highly recommended without reservation. View a photo gallery taken with the Tokina 12-24mm lens and created with JAlbum at http://snap.to/imaging/Tokina. Tag CloudExternal InformationAdditional InformationBits: Google’s Advertising Black Box Becomes Just a Bit Translucent...Coke Is Holding Off on Sipping Facebook’s Beacon... Basics: Seizing the Moment... Streaming Music That Users Choose... Where Am I?News Main Page - Business - Review: Tokina 12-24 Mm AT-X Pro DX Zoom Lens |
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