Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X116 Pro DX II Digital Zoom Lens (AF-S Motor) (for Nikon)

Bought this as after a prolonged research for the most appropriate choice of a ultra-telephoto f/2.8 lens in my kit bag. I had considered the widely respected Nikkor 35mm, 50mm options that have wide open apertures lower than f/2, the venerable Nikkor 10.5mm fish-eye and some ultra-tele zooms like Nikkor 10-24 because of its high recommendations on several photography forums. I did not consider the Sigma 8-16 because of the aperture limitation.It was delivered the same-day - thanks to my Prime membership (Yay!). I have never ever done Night Sky Photography before. This lens basically was the motivation to do that. I picked a dark sky spot (check cleardarksky.com for a location near you) and mounted this lens on the Nikon D7100 setup on a tripod. Settings: ISO 3200-6400, Exposure lengths: 15"-25", WB: Auto-Daylight, Picture Setting: Vivid-Neutral, f/2.8, 11mm-12mm, Color temperature - Choose a cooler one, tending more towards the blues and blacks. First shot - see attachment! I cannot describe the joy of what I saw on the camera screen. Yes, there were more shots that followed. But this one was the first. A lot more shall follow.I see this camera as a multi-purpose lens for night sky photos, wide open panoramic shots, near-fisheye shots @ 11mm, low light photography @ 15-16mm etc. This one is a keeper!Pros:1) Super sharp anywhere from 12mm to 16mm. Slight vignetting at 11mm, but tolerable.2) Love the manual/auto slip ring - takes a little learning, but super effective3) No lens creep and feels very well built4) Price point - can't be beat!Cons:1) Short focal range compared to other options2) Sigma has a 8-16 that may appeal to some - more fisheye than the Tokina / eliminates need for a separate fisheye lens

I first used a DX wide angle years ago at my old job - the Nikon 12-24 f/4. Loved that lens, even at 12mm f/4.So last summer when I was shopping for a DX WA of my own, the Nikon 10-24 3.5-4.5 seemed like a no brainer. I figured I would use it mostly wide open at 10mm, so the slightly larger aperture and wider end seemed like a step up. However, after using it for a while I was never really happy with the sharpness of the images my copy delivered. It was good but not great (I use WA's to feature a subject prominently in the frame, not for landscapes, so I like to shoot close to wide open if possible.)I didn't have access to the Nikon 12-24 f/4 anymore to compare to, but after discovering the Tokina 11-16 f/2.8, I decided to look into the Tokina 11-16 as a possible replacement.After almost a year and a lot of research, I decided to go for a Tokina 11-16. Since I still had the 10-24, I did tripod comparisons with a remote shutter, comparing the lenses at 11mm f/3.5, 11mm f/5.6, 11mm f/8, 16mm f/4, 16mm f/5.6, 16mm f/8 from exactly the same position, without moving the tripod.In every shot comparison the Tokina images at 100% were obviously sharper than the Nikon images - just as I suspected, and as my research suggested. Wonderful! Now, I may have received a great copy of the Tokina, and had a not-so-great copy of the Nikon. But in my real-world tests using the Nikon previously, I never thought the sharpness was "bad" - just not amazing. And I always wondered if starting at f/2.8 meant a sharper f/8 when I got there. The answer for me is: it does. This Tokina's sharpness is great! As a bonus, I get f/2.8 throughout the limited range if I need it.So, in summary...TOKINA 11-16 PROS:- Sharp. Sharper than the Nikon 10-24 between 11-16mm and f/4-8.- Fast. Option of using f/2.8 throughout the range.- Solid. This lens feels pro grade and the Nikon feels plasticky.- Price! Remarkably, this lens is currently $200 less expensive brand new then the Nikon 10-24 is, brand new.TOKINA 11-16 CONS:- Range. Less range than the 10-24. Sometimes being able to go to 24mm was handy and meant I wouldn't need to swap lenses.TOKINA 11-16 NEUTRAL:- Color/Contrast. Color overall seems better delivered on the Nikon. Although to be fair, I didn't test for this (i.e. used AWB in all shots.) Contrast seems to be about the same as the Nikon.As a final note, I was concerned that the Auto Distortion Control menu option on my Nikon DSLR would be greyed out with the Tokina 11-16 as it is with my old discontinued Tokina 50-135. But the answer is, it is not! The camera recognizes the lens for Auto Distortion Control. Meaning I can get straight lines SOOC just like I did with the Nikon lens. Very convenient if you're like me and try to get as much right as possible in the camera to avoid post processing.

I am a novice photographer/videogpraher. For me and my use, this lens is simply amazing. This is a well reviewed product, so I will try to keep it short. I got the Nikon version, for USA market from The Camera Box.I find that the lens I received is great. Sure, if you pixel peep, you will find this, that and the other. Dont care. For the deal price that i got this for (with USA warranty confirmed with Tokina) from The Camera Box, you simply cannot get a better ultra wide from Nikon or anyone else. This is a fast lens, which is great for low light and night sky use. Tac sharp. Feels like its made to last. Comes with quality lens cover, interface cover and hood. It is a bit hard at first to install and remove the hood, but after a few dozen operations it settles into perfect (unlike the Nikon lens/hoods, that feel too easy to install/remove after just a few operations).This does not have VR, but you really dont need it. Ultra wides do just fine without VR. I find that the 11-16mm focal range is perfect for this lens intended purpose. The newer model is 11-20mm, and, honestly, I feel like I am not missing out on anything. That extra 4mm of focal range is totally not a thing. If it was 11-28mm-ish, well, thats different. That would get you into portrait territory. 20mm is just not quite enough (even with the DX conversion) for it to be anything other than an wide angle lens. So, unless you can get the 11-20mm for the price of the 11-16mm, dont bother. The other differences between them are trivial at best.In summary, this is a fantastic lens for the price I paid with USA warranty. The 11-20mm would have been 35% more expensive vs the deal I got on the the 11-16mm. That extra focal range is totally not worth 35% more money. Fact is, either way, if you want portraits, you will need to switch to another lens. 20mm is just not going to do it. The 11-16mm and the 11-20mm are ultra wide to wide, and thats all they can be.