The Tokina 12-24 mm is a success story of Tokina and in this case, we test the second version, fully named Tokina 12-24 mm 4.0 AT-X PRO DX II. The difference between the first and the second version is in another coating. If you want to get even more on the photo with a totally different effect, Tokina provides the 10-17 mm 3.5-4.5 Fisheye. A 12-24 mm is often seen as ‘the’ ideal lens for landscape photography, and can be combined well with a kit lens of 18-55 mm in terms of zoom range. Even when photographing buildings and interiors, you will soon enough appreciate the Tokina 12-24 mm.

Construction and autofocus

Lens experts immediately see that it is a Tokina. If you want to focus manually, you push the focus ring towards you. And when you trust the AF, then you push the ring away from you. Both the zoom ring and the focus ring have exactly the right friction over the whole area. The filter fitting does not turn and the lens feels solid.

The drive of the autofocus happens with a classic drive. You will hear a softly whirring noise during focusing. Focusing, with the Canon 60D as test camera, is fast; from 15 meters to 1.5 meters in 0.23 seconds. Hunting in low light is rarely observed.

Vignetting Tokina 12-24 mm

Vignetting is only significant at a focal length of 12 mm and only at full aperture. With the right software, this can be controlled. Despite the high bar, this is a good achievement for this fish eye zoom.

Distortion Tokina 12-24 mm

At 12 mm, the distortion is considerable, and in some situations (think about buildings) this will have to be controlled software-wise. At other focal distances, the distortion is negligible, which is quite an achievement.

Bokeh

Blurred areas in the background look a little restless due to the rings. All in all, the bokeh is not that nice.

Flare

Some flare occurs with a bright light source. Also, ghosting occurs. During the shoot, you will have to make sure that you get no sunshine directly in the lens.

Resolution Tokina 12-24 mm

In the center, the resolution of the Tokina 12-24 mm is very high; stopping down is hardly necessary. Keep in mind that the scale of the 12 mm graph is to 2000 instead of 1500. The measured values in the corners are lower, but reach very nice values at f/8.0.

Click at the graph to see all Imatest results.

Chromatic aberration

The chromatic aberration of the Tokina 12-24 mm is high mainly at 12 mm, and will have to be controlled by the right software at subjects with a high contrast.

Click at the graph to see all Imatest results.

Tokina 12-24 mm 4.0 AT-X PRO DX II

See our overview of tested lenses to compare the performance of this lens with other lenses.

Pro

• Very good resolution in center already at full aperture
• Good resolution in the corners at f/8.0
• Fast autofocus
• Small distortion at 18 mm and 24 mm
• Low vignetting except for 12 mm/4.0

Con

• High distortion at 12 mm
• High vignetting at 12 mm/4.0
• Not so pretty bokeh
• High chromatic aberration