Excellent Build/weight/size/cost

17mm is very wide and usable on FF

Sharp sharp sharp early at 5.6

77mm filters

*Acceptable flare

Decent corner performance

Very close focusing < 10"

Great 14 point sunstars

Acceptable distortion (1.7, 3.3 on FF) - less than Nikkor 20mm

Fantastic absence of vignetting - a key reason to get over Nikkor 20mm

Acceptable CA - much better than Nikkor 20mm - D700 fixes most of it in body w/ jpeg

Kinda soft wide open

*Flare can get goofy (I have no hood - not sure if it is effective)

I purchased this lens after careful review to replace (yes replace) my Nikon 14-24mm on D700. It was nice seeing that many of the reviews online were published in the film era. It was my first Tokina - and build quality is superb. IQ is quite soft at 3.5 - I almost always stop to f5 or further. People gripe about the af/mf clutch mechanism on Tokinas - it is pretty lame. Leave it in AF - it's very fast and accurate - even in low light (on D700). This lens loses its appeal on aps-c cameras - but I believe it is the best bang for buck full format ultrawide. It's compact, accepts filters (no huge bulbous front element), and a rare blessing in the $100-$200 range. I paid $150 shipped - and it had never been mounted on a camera...



Colin Wadsworth
OpticPursuit.com

Similar Products Used:

Nikkor 10.5, 10-24mm, 14-24mm

compact, sturdy build, very sharp, 77 mm filters

'only' f/3.5, a slightly annoying AF/MF push-pull system

I bought this lens to be used as wide-angle prime on a DSLR with 1,5 crop factor (well before I actually bought the DSLR). I also use it on my film body, just because 17 mm is such fun. Build quality is absolutely top. Sturdy and compact build, heavy, with a nice lens hood. This lens looks professional. On the film body the edges ot this lens are sometimes a bit soft (as to be expected maybe, after all it is a 17 mm). On the DSLR this problem is non-existing. A wonderful sharp and contrasty lens. To be compared with my 24/2.8 lens on a film body. I've printed extreme sharp pictures up to 25 by 38 cm, without any problem, and I've shot some published pictures with it. I also used this lens in flare-prone situations, and it performed very well. Very contrasty pictures, with the sun actually ín the picture.

Customer Service

Not used

- Build quality (non-Pro: different finish, but solid, too) - AF/MF clutch (non-Pro doesn't have it) - Compact size (wider than long) - Bigger, bayonet-mount lens hood (non-Pro: smaller, built-in metal one which makes it hard to attach and remove filters)

- Sharpness is worse compared to the non-Pro version. - 77 mm filter thread (non-Pro: 72)

I bought the Pro version to replace the non-Pro 17/3.5 ATX I have, thinking the Pro one must be better. I was wrong: the image quality of the non-Pro version is better. In the center they are the same, but in the corners (both on film and on 1.5x crop DSLR) the non-Pro version is sharper. The difference is significant wide open, noticeable stopped down. The Pro version has somewhat less CA, however. They both have distortion, but this is to be expected at this focal length. I'll keep the non-Pro version.

Similar Products Used:

Tokina 17/3.5 ATX, non-Pro version

Sharp, VERY flare resistant (super feature for a wide angle lens), built like a tank, price.

Weird AF system.

A sturdy, sharp lens thats main strength is it's flare resistance. Great complimentary lens for 24-70 F2.8L owners since it uses the same filter size. This lens truly has a "pro" aura. This lens is not perfect. The AF is very noisy compared to Canon's USM, and the manual focus clutch mechanism is rather convoluted. My overall conclusion is this is an excellent wideangle lens that cannot be matched in terms of value for money.

- well built - sharp - can't beat the price

- lens hood makes lens cap hard to remove - wish it focused a little closer, but you can't have everything!

A great lens, especially for the money. I have been using it on a Konica Minolta 7D, so I don't see any edge degradation (it is an effective 25.5mm on this camera). I would caution that several of the reviews on here are referring to the 17mm f/3.5 ATX, not the ATX Pro. The older ATX version was a flimsy thing. This ATX pro is built like a tank, IMHO.

Similar Products Used:

Sigma 24mm Macro (on Film SLR) so it has an equivalent FOV. This lens is sharper and sturdier than my old Sigma.

Build, contrast,colour, feeling

Soft edges, no good for low-light, manual focus clutch. Prone to chromatic aberration (which also goes for some of my canon primes)

It's a lovable lens, with wonderful build quality. Great overall feeling. Sharp from 5.6 and up. Warm colour. Great contrast! Pretty resistant to flare. Distortion is there, but not bad at all for a 17mm.

Customer Service

none so far

Similar Products Used:

I also have a Canon 20mm, it's a wee bit sharper, but has less contrast.

Build!!! Contrast, color, price, overall feeling.

A bit soft, mainly for use at f5.6 and up. The focus- witch clutch can be annoying until you get used to it.

I bought this lens recently and have very mixed feelings about it. I simply love the build and feel of this lens. It also has wonderful contrast and color. But I am a bit dissapointed with performance. It's a bit soft, and doesn't get sharp until 5.6, good at 8. It's best for outdoor shots in good light. In bright sunshine it's marvellous, because of resistance to flare and good contrast. As soon as lighting gets poor it gets more difficult to use. I would recommend this lens, but not for low -light situations. It is also difficult to use flash and get good light all over with a lens as wide as this one. When compared to my Canon 20mm this lens is softer, but has nicer build if you like the steady, manual kind of lens, the Tokina also has better contrast and warmer color.

Customer Service

Not used.

Similar Products Used:

Canon ef-s 18-55/3.5-5.6 Canon ef 20/2.8

FIXED lens> sharper than anything WEIGHT Cheap

too cheap

I have been searching for a good high end lens for wide angle work for my canon D1 and D10 and it wasnt easy. I first went for the famed 17-40 from Canon and then heard about this lens ,i gave it a chance since i read that IF you got a good sample it could beat almost anything!I ordered it and hold my breath; well,the sample i got is extremely sharp and with no distortion to note;so this one is a keeper.Well i still like the Canon 16-35 and 17-40 those are stunning,but this pearl comes very very near by 93,9 % but saving you lot of money and WEIGHT which was the most important factor for me as i walk around all day,packed as a mule.....ITs hard. More than recomanded considered the price and quality; Its an overseen PRO lens. Tokina>> Make it with better coated glass next year!

Customer Service

nope

Similar Products Used:

many PRO lenses from canon and nikon

all all

none

Yeah this little tokina is much more than a toy! its a hidden jewel and if you go pro and want a cheap high end lens for medium wide angle,well this is it. all my colleagues and other people who see the prints from my canon d 10 and d1 Love the quality! it is a very overseen product..my advise is ; BUY IT! you will not regret whether youre a pro or high end consumer!

Customer Service

nope

Similar Products Used:

canon 17-40 canon 20-35 canon 16-35 vivitar 17-28

feels like a good one, solid and chunky!

soft focus and edge drop off?

I'm a little confused really, I am normally using RB67 but I am just going digital and wanted similar lens to what I had in 6x7 . the 17mm seems like a good choice, build, and price compared to name brands. I am using it on a fuji S2 which I have found to be unmatched in almost every area! but I find this 17mm soft and the sharpness falls away quickly at edges, @ f3.5 but is better at aleast f8? strange though as digital only uses really the centre of lens ( 1.5 mag) so one would think it should be at its best? a bit sad really great build etc right price too ! maybe someone out there can give me some suggestions?

Customer Service

good from tokina agent, but they are puzzled too! they can't get specs from japan for comparison ! so I cannot have workshop gheck it against specs, can only compare to other buy trying another of the same lens?

Similar Products Used:

50mm mamiya 6x7