Tokina 12-24 or Tamron 17-50? Opinions?

[Photoguy]

Okay so after I saw the price increases on the Tamron, I started to explore my needs again regarding lenses. I usually shoot as wide as possible...landscapes and such, and I've been wanting something wider than the 18-55mm kit lens. I've read alot of good reviews of the Tokina and I can get it slightly cheaper than I can get the Tamron now. And I'd STILL have the kit lens to cover the difference between the 12-24mm and my 50mm prime. For purposes of shooting Disneyworld, I'm thinking the 12-24 might give me a lot of interesting shots and I'd have the 50mm 1.8 for low light situations. Between the 12-24 and the 17-50 what do you guys think? Wider lens with a constant f4, or a more general purpose zoom range with a constant f2.8? I hate to keep asking opinions but you guys really know your stuff!

 

[jann1033]

17 isn't much wider. i have the tokina 10-17 and it would make me buy another tokina. it's a nice sturdy lens, good iq, no complaints except some ca( but that is probably at least somewhat due to the wide angle.) one review said the 12-24 was better iq than the 10-17 which would make me buy it for sure. personally i wouldn't miss the 25-50 that much. the f4 vs 2.8 would make me wonder some but really the tamron isn't reviewed as well . i don't know what other lenses you have but if you have a general walk around lens i'd go with the 12.

 

[Photoguy]

I was kind of thinking the same thing, that I wouldn't miss the 25-50 so much. My only walkaround lens right now is unfortunately the kit lens, which is serviceable...I suppose I could always get the Tamron in the future.

 

[zackiedawg]

I'd probably lean to the Tokina between those two, as the 12 vs 17 is a pretty serious difference. I personally have very good experience with Tamron lenses, so that wouldn't be a problem for me...I just wouldn't think the 17-50 will give you THAT much more than the kit lens except at the 50mm end in lower light, and you'd be missing out on the wide end that is something you're still missing.

Another possible consideration would be to compare the Tamron 10-24 to the Tokina 12-24...that would seem a closer comparison. The 10-24 is 3.5-4.5, so it brackets the Tokina at either end of the zoom...in reviews it gets dinged for soft corners wide open, but seems to get quite sharp stopped down a bit, and has no distortion or CA issues. Throw in Sigma 10-20 for an extra comparison - the cheaper F4-5 version that's been out a while seems to have its fans too. And Sigma announced a more expensive 10-20 F3.5 constant which is supposed to be coming, though I've no idea when!

 

[El Nebuloso]

I have the Tokina 12-24 and really like it. The IQ is great and this thing is built like a tank. I have found myself using it more indoors than out (there's only so far you can cram yourself into the corner of a room before you run out of space). You could also consider the Sigma 10-20 which gets you noticeably more wide angle, but possibly at some cost in IQ (or so I have heard).

 

[fitzperry]

If you really enjoy shooting wide angle, you'd love the Tokina 12-24. It's a decent zoom range, and IMO the color and contrast in the images I've taken with that lens are fabulous. And it's reasonably priced to boot.

 

[Photoguy]

How do you guys feel about an ultrawide angle in general? Do you find it's more difficult to compose your shots? Do you think it distorts the scale of things too much? I'm not worried about generic landscape shots, but Disneyworld shots specifically. Will it make familiar scenes look less recognizable? Does that even make any sense? We're going to Disneyworld in two weeks and my brother will be very critical of my shots if he thinks things don't "look right" to him. We're staying at Wilderness Lodge and I'd love to try an ultrawide in there!

 

[zackiedawg]

I think they rock for Disney! I am on the hunt for one myself - I'm looking at the Sigma or Tamron (Tokina isn't made for Minolta mount any more, and used ones are few and far between)...unfortunately the Tamron hasn't been released yet, so I'm hoping it does this month sometime before I go in June, because I want to try them both out for comparison to help decide which to get.

I believe Gdad shoots with a 10-20 for Disney shots I've seen here (if he sees this and can confirm or deny!)...I know I've seen someone post some wide shots and they look unbelievable - I seriously want one for Disney!