Which wide-angle zoom is of better quality? I am planning to purchase a wide-angle zoom, either a Tokina AT-X 11-20mm f/2.8 PRO DX Lens or a Tamron Auto Focus 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 SP Di...

Dziadzi Loc: Wilkes-Barre, PA

I am planning to purchase a wide-angle zoom, either a Tokina AT-X 11-20mm f/2.8 PRO DX Lens or a Tamron Auto Focus 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 SP Di II LD. Which, in your humble opinion, will give me the better photographs? I am inclined to go with the Tokina because of the smaller aperture @ wide open. Thanks for you help. Frank

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

Dziadzi wrote:

I am inclined to go with the Tokina because of the smaller aperture @ wide open. Thanks for you help. Frank

The Tokina has a larger aperture wide open.

bobbyp7714 Loc: Orange MA

I'll be interrested to see the replies you get. I asked a similar question a few weeks ago but only concer- ning the tamron. I did not get too many replies.

Mr Bob

DZ,
I did a quick review of len's at DXOMARK.
The test results point to the Tokina 11-20, Score 19, Sharpness is 10.($479)
Tamron 10-24, Score 14, Sharpness 7 ($499)
You may also consider- Tokina AT-X 14- 20mm F2, PRO DX Score 20, Sharpness 16 ($629 B&H)
Bob

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

The Tokina is a sharper, faster lens for less money!

CO

LensTip.com does extensive lens testing. These are the charts for their image resolution testing for lens center and lens edge. It looks like the Tokina has better image resolution in both the lens center and edge. The Tokina's center resolution is incredible. It resolves 54 line pairs per millimeter at 16mm and f/4. That's as good as the best Zeiss lenses. Its edge resolution is outstanding also.

Tokina AT-X 11-20mm f2.8 Pro center resolution

(Download)

Tokina AT-X 11-20mm f2.8 Pro edge resolution

(Download)

Tamron 10-24mm f3.5-4.5 SP Di II LD center resolution

Tamron 10-24mm f3.5-4.5 SP Di II LD edge resolution

MikieLBS Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"

Dziadzi wrote:

I am planning to purchase a wide-angle zoom, either a Tokina AT-X 11-20mm f/2.8 PRO DX Lens or a Tamron Auto Focus 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 SP Di II LD. Which, in your humble opinion, will give me the better photographs? I am inclined to go with the Tokina because of the smaller aperture @ wide open. Thanks for you help. Frank

I bought the Tokina AT-X 11-20mm f/2.8 because of the small aperture. It works good for me in lower light situations.

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

MikieLBS wrote:

I bought the Tokina AT-X 11-20mm f/2.8 because of the small aperture. It works good for me in lower light situations.

Its a larger aperture!

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

Dziadzi wrote:

I am planning to purchase a wide-angle zoom, either a Tokina AT-X 11-20mm f/2.8 PRO DX Lens or a Tamron Auto Focus 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 SP Di II LD. Which, in your humble opinion, will give me the better photographs? I am inclined to go with the Tokina because of the smaller aperture @ wide open. Thanks for you help. Frank

https://www.dxomark.com/Lenses/Compare/Side-by-side/Tamron-SP-10-24mm-F35-45-Di-II-LD-Aspherical-IF-Nikon-on-Nikon-D7100-versus-Tokina-AT-X-11-20-F28-PRO-DX-Nikon-on-Nikon-D7100__500_865_1452_865

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Dziadzi wrote:

I am planning to purchase a wide-angle zoom, either a Tokina AT-X 11-20mm f/2.8 PRO DX Lens or a Tamron Auto Focus 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 SP Di II LD. Which, in your humble opinion, will give me the better photographs? I am inclined to go with the Tokina because of the smaller aperture @ wide open. Thanks for you help. Frank

I see by your equipment list you own several Nikon lenses so I am assuming you own a Nikon camera. In that case I would strongly recommend a decent lens for your NIKON camera. With that said the Nikon 12-24 F4 DX lens is a great lens that is still in production because of it's esteemed place in photo lore. You can get this lens mint off ebay for less than those Tokina and Tamron impostors. You will be pleased by the robust build of this lens, it's outstanding IQ and will give you years and years and years of reliable service. The other NIKON lens would be the 10-24 DX. It is lighter than the 12-24 and the image quality is outstanding, read the reviews from actual users on the B&H site. Stick with the best, stick with NIKON.

MikieLBS Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"

nimbushopper wrote:

Its a larger aperture!

lol! Smaller, larger, bigger, smaller... I replied to the op, didn't stop and think about it. You must be a lot of fun at parties. Why don't you correct the op. He/she was the one referring to it a small.

Spirit Vision Photography Loc: Behind a Camera.

Have you considered the Sigma 10-20 lens?

Greenmachine Loc: Chicago, IL

Good question! Looking at your list of possible lenses:

I have the Tamron 24-70 lens (full frame lens) and it's excellent for group shots that I take as a freelance photographer.
I find it to be razor sharp with great autofocus, and you can shoot portraits at 70mm, but it's not the cheapest lens in the bunch...

Are you planning to shoot a lot of landscapes? It would be great for that as well! Let us know what you decide, OK?
--Greenmachine

kymarto Loc: Portland OR and Milan Italy

billnikon wrote:

I see by your equipment list you own several Nikon... (show quote)

The Tokina is far superior to the Nikon 12-24 in terms of resolution, especially in the corners, plus it is a stop faster. I would never recommend the Nikon over the Tokina. The Sigma 8-16 is also an excellent lens, much wider than the others, optically in the same class as the Tokina. I love mine, and still use it at times in place of my Nikon 14-24. It is, however, f4.5-5.6, which may be a bit slow for you.

MikieLBS Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"

billnikon wrote:

I see by your equipment list you own several Nikon... (show quote)

You must either work for Nikon or are heavily invested. I agree that usually Nikon produces better quality but you are comparing apples to oranges here.
1. It cost twice as much and
2. it doesn't have the low light capabilities of a 2.8