 |   Publisher : Tokina Company : Tokina |
Features
- This lens gives the digital photographer an ultra wide-angle zoom lens that has the equivalent of an 18-36mm zoom range
Product Description
The AT-X 124 AF PRO DX lens is Tokina's first lens designed for use exclusively on Canon and Nikon Digital SLR cameras having an APS-C sized sensor.This lens gives the digital photographer an ultra wide-angle zoom lens that has the equivalent of an 18-36mm zoom range on a 35mm film camera while maintaining a bright constant aperture of f/4.SimilarProduct
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Customer reviews
Amazing Value 
by .. Ricardo (New York City)
When I recently purchased a D80, I found myself lacking a true wide angle lens. I have always preferred prime lenses, but even the Nikkor ultra wide primes received only lukewarm ratings.
I was one step away from purchasing the Nikkor 12-24mm f4 zoom, but every report that I read said that the Tokina was pretty much its equal at only half the price.
Frankly, I have always had misgivings about third party lenses. I tried a few many years ago and was sorely disappointed. While I'm sure that there are still some poorly made third party lenses, the high end offerings from Tokina, Tamron and Sigma really give the camera brand lenses a run for their money. I guess that computer designing has leveled the playing field.
Anyway, what about the Tokina? As far as I'm concerned, it's a keeper. While I haven't done side by side comparisons with the Nikkor lens, 13X19 enlargements from the Tokina are everything that I could ever want.
If I had to pick a nit, it would be that the Tokina shows a bit of chromatic abberation at the edges. This is easily dealt with in the RAW converter and most people wouldn't notice it anyway. As I said, I'm picking nits here.
If you're in the market for a lens in this range in Nikon mount, the Tokina is the only f4 other than the Nikkor which is twice the price. Don't be a snob as I once was. Check out the third party offerings and base your decision on the results that they deliver and not on brand alone.
Better than Nikon (?) by .. Jack Rothman (NY USA)
I originally bought the Nikon 12-24mm lens, it was expensive. I took it home and found that it simply was not sharp. I may have gotten a bad copy of the lens. I was disappointed and returned it.
A month later I decided to try another copy of the lens. However, after reading about the Tokina, I decided to try it instead. I am extremely pleased. The photos are very sharp. I found no chromatic abberation as reported by other reviewers. Colors are well balanced and saturated. I can't fault it in any way. The lens is solidly built. I highly recommend it. However, before you buy any lens, be sure to read the Amazon reseller's return policy. Some of the camera stores they sell through charge a 15% restocking fee for returns.
The Wide-Angle Lens Nikon Should Have Made by .. John S. Johnston (Newnan, GA)
So far I am very pleased with the results of this Tokina lens with my Nikon D80. Accurate color, little/no noticeable distortion, excellent sharpness. I recently had a 20x30 enlargement made of a photo I made with this lens, and it looks flawless. Sharp edge-to-edge, no noticeable distortion, beautiful color. What more can you ask of a digital camera lens?
Nikon makes a wide angle zoom that covers about the same zoom range as this Tokina. The Nikon is about double the price of this Tokina. From my experience with this Tokina, it would be extremely difficult to convince me that the Nikon zoom could possibly be worth the extra money. This Tokina is so good, I can't imagine how the Nikon could be good enough to be worth an extra $500. And, this Tokina feels like a very high-quality piece of machinery; metal construction, smooth-as-glass zoom and focus action.
The only warning I would give potential buyers of this lens concerns the use of filters: filters will cause you to have vignetting unless you use a filter with a very slim, low-profile frame. I am using Hoya Pro 1 Digital filters with my Tokina, and they are vignette free.
I bought my Tokina 12-24 through Amazon merchant 17th Street Photo, and their service was exemplary: fast delivery, USA lens warranty (not grey market), sturdy shipping container, unopened factory pack.
Many of the other big New York-based photo equipment retailers have less than great customer service reputations, and very few of them seem to be members of the Better Business Bureau. But, 17th Street is the exception to the rule that you had better hold on to your wallet when dealing with the big NY photo houses.
17th Street IS a member of the BBB, I checked. You can check any retailer's complaint record and BBB membership status at http://search.bbb.org/.
I have been very pleased with this purchase and with 17th Street Photo, and I would buy this same lens from them again without hesitation.
Absolutely fantastic lens. by .. Sam (USA)
I've had this lens for one year. Incredibly enough, it's more expensive NOW then it was a year ago. My Nikon lenses have plummeted in price in the past year.
It's a very comfortable lens and fairly lightweight. Nice big rubber zoom and focus rings although I would have preferred the zoom ring not to be next to the camera body.
Nice smooth zoom ring action; no loose play, grinding or resistance. Much, much better than the $1100 Nikon 18-55mm lens that I hated and returned.
Here's a wonderfully weird characteristic of this lens that I simply cannot figure out: It will focus and take a picture in a room with barely any light at all! My Nikon 50mm f1.4 lens can't even come close; the Nikon lens cannot focus even though it's several f-stops faster. You have to see it to believe it.
The only thing that the lens can't do (which is no big deal for such a wide angle lens) is the ability to manually focus after an auto-focus.
Want even better performance photographing outdoors? Turn the auto-focus off, set the aperture to about f11 and the distance between 7ft and infinity. Everything will be in focus.
Even though it's an inexpensive lens, don't cheap out and get a lousy filter. Pay the $50+ for a good multi-coated 77mm UV filter.
For landscapes or working in tight areas or crowds, you simply can't beat this lens.
If Nikon put their logo on it and charged $1200, people would rave that it's such a great lens.
tokina 12-24 f4 by .. D. J. Ortiz (Houston, TX United States)
i did a lot of research on super wide angle lenses and the consensus seems to be that this tokina is comparable in quality to the nikon 12-24, but for almost half the price. i bought this lens just before a short trip to austria and italy. the results were spectacular. the lens is sharp and contrasty, and did well in a variety of conditions. i was able to get sharp images of the architecture in venice AT NIGHT without a tripod. (at f4 and iso 1600). sure it would have been easier with a tripod, but i was travelling light. highly recommended.