Balko Photo

Focal length: 10 to 17mm
Maximum aperture: f/3.5-4.5
Minimum aperture: f/22
Optical construction: 10 elements in 8 groups
SD: one element
Coatings: multi-layer
Angle of view: 180° to 100°
Minimum focus distance: 5.5 in (14 cm)
Reproduction ratio: 1:2.56
Zooming system: rotary type
Number of diaphragm blades: 6
Filter size: N/A
Maximum outer diameter: 2.75 in (70 mm)
Dimensions: 2.75 in. (70 mm) X L 2.79 in (71.1 mm)

It has the same optics as the Pentax 10-17mm, but packaged differently to fit Nikon and Canon.

FYI: It does not work with film cameras or full-frame or 1.3x Canon cameras.

It is more of a zoom fisheye lens, not to be confused with a rectilinear wide angle lens. Fisheyes bend straight lines deliberately. It is a wonderful effect if sparingly used. It is also possible to convert “fishy” images to rectilinear with software. It provides a 180 degree field of view and an entire view or vista can be captured, in one shot.

The front element of the AT-X 107 DX has a newly formulated WP or “Water Proof” optical coating on the glass. This new coating makes marks such as spots left by water or finger-prints much easier to clean than standard multi-coating. The rear optical group of the lens contains 1 SD (Super-Low Dispersion) glass element to reduce the number of elements (pieces of glass) in the optical design in order to make the lens more compact, light-weight and faster focusing.

Tokina is part of Hoya Optics, the worlds’ largest maker of superior optical glass, so the association is a good sign.

If the fishiness is not your cup of tea, then consider Tokina’s 12-24mm f/4 AT-X AF Pro DX. or the better built Canon 10-22mm.

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Most of us love wide angle shooting and the wider, the better. On crop cameras, we lose on the wide end because the 12-24 becomes equivalent to 18-36mm (1.5 crop)

This Sigma is the only one that can be used on a FF (full frame) camera, such as the Canon 5D. The others in the field, Sigma’s 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 EX ASP HSM, Nikon’s 12-24mm f/4G DX, Canon’s 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5, and Tamron’s 11-18mm f/4.5-5.6 cannot be used on FF and serve the other dSLRs.

Overall, it is a well built lens. It is a constant f/4 throughout its zoom range and uses 77mm filters. In Canon mount, there is no separate AF/MF switch. It is sharp at 24mm, even wide open, and even in the corners. It improves slightly by stopping down to f/5.6. Zooming out to 12mm, the center remains sharp, but the corners soften. Surprisingly, at 18mm the corners are softer than at 12mm. The usual solution is stopping down. - in this case to f/5.6, or even better, f/8 if at 12mm, will make for very sharp pictures. There is also a bit of CA, but not much. [photo.net]

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