Got a Tokina 10-17mm, still using the Nikkor 10.5mm?

[wobby 7]

Hi All,

 

Currently using a Nikkor 10.5mm for my WA shots, but after seeing everyones great shots, reviews and comments am looking at buying the Tokina 10-17mm.

 

Now that the T 10-17mm has been around for a few months I am interested to know how you feel it compares to the N 10.5mm? Still using the N 10.5mm or is it gathering dust? Do you zoom the T 10-17mm much, or find you use it as a fixed lens more? And any general comments about the lens would be appreciated.

 

Regards

 

Nigel

Edited October 31, 2007 by wobby

[Guest Dan Schwartz]

B&H has 4 reviews of this lens, including one from an UW photographer using it in an Aquatica housing.

 

Just note that this lens is only for DX-sized sensors (and APS ), meaning that if you use it for full 24x36mm frame size, you'll get bad vignetting, especially at the short end of the focal length range.

 

Hi All,

 

Currently using a Nikkor 10.5mm for my WA shots, but after seeing everyones great shots, reviews and comments am looking at buying the Tokina 10-17mm.

 

Now that the T 10-17mm has been around for a few months I am interested to know how you feel it compares to the N 10.5mm? Still using the N 10.5mm or is it gathering dust? Do you zoom the T 10-17mm much, or find you use it as a fixed lens more? And any general comments about the lens would be appreciated.

 

Regards

 

Nigel

[scottleslie 0]

I've got one coming this week and am anxious to try it, as well. Here's a link to a good earlier post/test on this lens on wetpixel by S. Frink: http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=19621

 

Scott

[tjgreen 0]

Hi All,

 

Currently using a Nikkor 10.5mm for my WA shots, but after seeing everyones great shots, reviews and comments am looking at buying the Tokina 10-17mm.

 

Now that the T 10-17mm has been around for a few months I am interested to know how you feel it compares to the N 10.5mm? Still using the N 10.5mm or is it gathering dust? Do you zoom the T 10-17mm much, or find you use it as a fixed lens more? And any general comments about the lens would be appreciated.

 

Regards

 

Nigel

 

I'm still fairly new with it, but here's my $.02. After about 20-25 dives with it, I find I use it at 10 (most often) or 17 (sometimes), but not much in between. I'm using it on a D80, and I have nothing but good things to say about it. It even survived being flooded (individual results may vary).

[Guest Dan Schwartz]

As a side note to the Tokina 10-17mm zoom, if you read Stephen Frinks' excellent report you'll see that this lens has nasty chromatic aberration towards the edges.

 

But! It can be manually corrected in Adobe Camera Raw (if you shoot CCD-RAW). That being said, at this time this lens is not yet supported by DxO Optics Pro, which will automatically correct the CA introduced.

 

In any case, a Big Thank You is due Stephen for his real-world tests!

 

I've got one coming this week and am anxious to try it, as well. Here's a link to a good earlier post/test on this lens on wetpixel by S. Frink: http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=19621

[james 0]

Dan,

 

I think the original poster is looking for responses from people who have actually used the two lenses underwater.

 

Sincerely,

James Wiseman

[Tom_Kline 143]

Dan,

 

I think the original poster is looking for responses from people who have actually used the two lenses underwater.

 

Sincerely,

James Wiseman

 

 

Alex has some comparisons in this thread:

http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showt...&hl=10-17mm

B)

[Alex_Mustard 0]

I still use the 10.5mm a little, but 9 times out of 10 I use the Tokina. That 1 time is probably only out of loyalty anyway!

 

I do still travel with the 10.5mm as well as the 10-17mm because I like to use it attached to my 1.5x teleconverter to create specific shots.

 

I imagine most people use the Tok 10-17mm like I do. Leave it on 10mm and shoot it like the 10.5mm - only zooming in when required. One comment I'd make is that although the 10-17mm offers amazing flexibility it can be a pain to switch your lighting around for the different types of images it can create.

 

Alex

[Guest Dan Schwartz]

James,

 

I was merely expanding on the test data Stephen Frinks acquired in re chromatic aberration; and how to deal with it in software.

 

Dan,

 

I think the original poster is looking for responses from people who have actually used the two lenses underwater.

 

Sincerely,

James Wiseman

[Peter Schulz 1]

I have both. I've used the 10.5 for years. But I now prefer the 10-17 because I shoot a lot of people that don't always cooperate e.g. arms out at last moment and I also like to shoot an occasional turtle or shark or just a fish ... sometimes at the 17 end. My concern was about ease of getting focus lock but it turns out that the 10-17 is as good as the 10.5 .... at least it is for me.

[scottleslie 0]

I still use the 10.5mm a little, but 9 times out of 10 I use the Tokina. That 1 time is probably only out of loyalty anyway!

 

I do still travel with the 10.5mm as well as the 10-17mm because I like to use it attached to my 1.5x teleconverter to create specific shots.

 

I imagine most people use the Tok 10-17mm like I do. Leave it on 10mm and shoot it like the 10.5mm - only zooming in when required. One comment I'd make is that although the 10-17mm offers amazing flexibility it can be a pain to switch your lighting around for the different types of images it can create.

 

Alex

 

I take it you're referring to the 10.5 and the TC, but is 1.4x TC use possible with the 10-17mm?

Edited November 1, 2007 by scottleslie

[craig 0]

The 10-17 will take a 1.4x Kenko/Tamron converter (at least for Nikon mount). How well it autofocuses I don't know, but I have taken test shots with that configuration.

[Alex_Mustard 0]

I have shot the Tokina on my TC underwater - it is OK, but as it is a slower lens than the 10.5mm, when used on a TC the AF does suffer a bit. Also, I was not able to use the zoom without modifying a zoom gear - so that benefit was lost too.

 

Here is one of the shots with the Tokina 10-17mm + 1.5x TC. The fisheye was zoomed to the 17mm end:

Alex

[wobby 7]

Thanks for the feedback. Will be placing my order for the Tokina 10-17mm, and from the sound of it will eventually sell the Nikkor 10.5mm due to lack of use.

 

All the best

 

Nigel

[aczyzyk 1]

That being said, at this time this lens is not yet supported by DxO Optics Pro

 

Actually, it is supported (D80 and D200 not for D70).

 

I love my 10.5 but I would like to have something narrower as well. I thought about getting 16mm as it goes into the same 6" Ikelite port. But it seems to makes more sense to get the Tokina to replace both 10.5 and 16), right?

 

Does anybody have experience with it behind Ikelite 6" dome?

Is there a chance to fit it inside 10.5 port? I guess I know the answers, but I don't like it...

[craig 0]

Alex, I'm excited to see that you shot the combination underwater. I'm interested to see how well it works with the D3.

[Seaboy 0]

Hi,

 

I've been using both for the last 3 month.

 

What I please more on the 10-17 is the ability to narrow a bit when I find other divers on the corners...

 

The 10-17 is a bit slower to focus when there is not enough light.

 

Sometimes, when changing from 10-17 to 10.5mm, I forget the extension ring and mount the 10.5mm with it...

[Guest Dan Schwartz]

I stand corrected -- They (DxO) lists it as Tokina AT-X 107 DX fisheye.

 

Dr. Mustard shot it with a TC above, which pretty well negates the Optics Pro presets.

 

Actually, it is supported (D80 and D200 not for D70).

[jkane 0]

Does anybody have experience using the 10-17 behind a Nexus dome? I know that Nexus offers a dome designed for the 10-17, but I'm curious how well that dome or other Nexus domes perform with the 10-17 and whether or not extensions are needed. Thanks.

[Lasse 1]

Does anybody have experience using the 10-17 behind a Nexus dome? I know that Nexus offers a dome designed for the 10-17, but I'm curious how well that dome or other Nexus domes perform with the 10-17 and whether or not extensions are needed. Thanks.

 

 

I am using the 10-17 behind a 160 nexus dome. I am using the same dome for the 10,5. It works perfect. I have a Nexus D200 housing and im also using zoom gear for the 10-17

[Pedro Carrillo 2]

I have been using the Tokina for a couple of dives now, including competitions (not that much thought since I have moved from the Canary Islands, where extensive testing was possible, to Madrid )

 

With this limited experience, I must say I am rather dissapointed at the lens becouse of the depth of field.

 

If shooting pelagics agains blue water (i.e. turtles) then the lens is perfect and the zooming ability grants you access to otherwise impossible images with the 10,5, as pointed out in previos post.

 

But when shooting lets say "traditional" WA images (with i.e. gorgonians or groupers in the foreground and models in the background, as usual in competition) it is easy to have the model out of focus.

 

I understand that the depth of field is inverse to the focal lenght of the lens, but in this case I think it is rather pronounced, problem that I do not have with my Nikon 12-24.

 

I have change to focus priority mode but I do not think this is going to be of a big help since even focusing on the foreground my problem is with the subjects in the far distance.

 

Just my five cents here...

 

BTW, using it with the Seacam Superdome and PVL20, recommended configuration for this lens.

 

Rgds.

Edited November 6, 2007 by Pedro Carrillo

[Marcelo Krause 1]

Hi Nigel,

 

I have been using the Tokina 10-17, the Nikon 10.5 and the Nikon 16mm

 

Here are my impressions:

At 10.5, up to F8, the Nikon has more sharpness and more contrast, both in the center and on the corners of the photo. From F8 to F22 both lenses are more or less the same regarding sharpness and contrast. The Tokina has a lot o CA trough all the aperture range, and I would also say it has some “ghosting†on the corners.

At 16mm, the Tokina is never on par with the Nikon 16mm trough all the aperture range, and the difference in image sharpness and contrast is much more pronounced from F8 and bigger apertures.

Bottom line:

If you use the 10.5 mostly on sunny days with aperture F8 and smaller, the Tokina can replace the Nikon 10.5 and you still have the extra zoom range if you need.

I have been using the Nikon 16mm a lot lately, on a DX sensor (D2x) and I am amuse by the image quality of the lens. It is really superb. For reef scenes, medium subjects and CFWA I found the 16mm on a cropped sensor to be a great lens.

 

Best regards,

Marcelo Krause

[loftus 42]

I think this is a good assessment Marcelo. I know Stephen Frink did some pool tests which showed the 10-17 sharper than the 10.5 at larger apertures, but this has not been my experience. I also love the 16mm on my D200. For my pool work I use the 16mm almost exclusively. Still as an all purpose lens when I'm feeling lazy on a bright day, the 10-17 is great

[ornate_wrasse 0]

I also love the 16mm on my D200. For my pool work I use the 16mm almost exclusively

 

I've been hearing lots of great things about the Nikon 16mm lens.

Do you know if it will work in the Subal Dome Port that I use with my 10.5? I'm assuming no diopters or other extensions are needed with the 16mm.

 

Same question for the Tokina 10-17....will the Subal Dome Port that I use with my 10.5 work with this lens?

 

Thanks!

 

Ellen

[StephenFrink 9]

I think this is a good assessment Marcelo. I know Stephen Frink did some pool tests which showed the 10-17 sharper than the 10.5 at larger apertures, but this has not been my experience. I also love the 16mm on my D200. For my pool work I use the 16mm almost exclusively. Still as an all purpose lens when I'm feeling lazy on a bright day, the 10-17 is great

 

Jeff - Seeing some of the user experiences, like yours, makes me wonder if there is variability between different copies of the Tokina 10-17? Or cameras, for that matter? I know I had to send my old 17-40mm and 15mm back to Canon for calibration, and then they became much sharper with my 1DsMKII (backfocusing issue). This may apply to certain Tokina lenses as well. But, having said that, where would you send a Tokina lens for fine focus adjustment?