Tokina AF 16-50mm f/2.8 AT-X Pro DX (Nikon) - Review / Test Report - Sample Images & Verdict
Lens Reviews - Nikon / Nikkor (APS-C)
Article Index
Introduction
Analysis
Sample Images & Verdict

Page 3 of 3

Sample Shots

Finally here're some quick'n dirty sample shots taken with the D200 (all converted RAWs via RSP 2006). Please note that RSP applies some degree of automatic CA correction.

Click on a thumbnail to view the original file (opens in a separate window). Please note that the originals are FULL SIZE samples (=several megabytes) thus requiring a significant amount of bandwidth so please take care of the limited resources here.

Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D200
ISO Speed 200
Focal Length 50.0mm
Exposure Data: f/2.8 @ 1/1250s
Size 3898x2613
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D200
ISO Speed 200
Focal Length 50.0mm
Exposure Data: f/2.8 @ 1/2500s
Size 3898x2613
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D200
ISO Speed 200
Focal Length 50.0mm
Exposure Data: f/2.8 @ 1/640s
Size 2613x3898
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D200
ISO Speed 200
Focal Length 16.0mm
Exposure Data: f/8.0 @ 1/125s
Size 3898x2613
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D200
ISO Speed 200
Focal Length 16.0mm
Exposure Data: f/10.0 @ 1/250s
Size 2613x3898
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D200
ISO Speed 200
Focal Length 25.0mm
Exposure Data: f/8.0 @ 1/800s
Size 2613x3898
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D200
ISO Speed 200
Focal Length 50.0mm
Exposure Data: f/2.8 @ 1/2500s
Size 3898x2613

Verdict

The Tokina AF 16-50mm f/2.8 AT-X Pro DX is a long awaited lens but does it really live up to the high expectations ? Well, partially. Despite a slight centering defect the resolution characteristic is pretty impressive with a generally excellent center performance and very good borders and extreme corners from f/4 onwards. At f/2.8 the border resolution is slightly reduced. The bokeh (out-of-focus blur) is smooth and buttery at 50mm @ f/2.8. Vignetting is well controlled except at 16mm f/2.8 - the competition has more problems in this category. The lens shows fairly heavy barrel distortions at 16mm but only marginal distortions at longer focal lengths. The primary weakness of the lens are very heavy CAs at 16mm and 24mm at large aperture settings - this is rather typical for Tokina lenses. A positive thing that we got used to is the very high build quality of Tokina AT-X lenses and the 16-50mm f/2.8 AT-X Pro DX does also qualify here although the duo-cam zoom extension system may not be everybody's darling. The AF performance of the lens is very good both in terms of speed and accuracy.

Optical Quality:    
Mechanical Quality:
Price/Performance:
      
   What does this mean ?

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