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Tamron 15-30 vs. Tokina 16-28

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secondshot

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So I will be buying a wide angle lens for my Canon 5dmiii in the next week. I have narrowed it down to Tamron 15-30 2.8 or Tokina 16-28 2.8. I need the 2.8 (dark churches) though I am fairly ambivalent about the VC (pesky moving people in most my photos anyway). DXO hasn't tested the Tamron on a Canon yet, but on Nikons the Tamron is sharper. Both appear to be sharper than the canon 16-35 2.8.

Anybody used both of these?
 
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Did you end up purchasing one? I am looking at both for my D800, and I stumbled onto this hoping to get some help deciding. I am leaning towards the Tokina because of the price, but I like some of the features of the Tamron better. If you got one, which did you get, and how do you like it?
 
I have been looking at both as well. I am not clear how these measurements show up in actual pictures but the numbers seem to be significantly better for the Tamron. Is there a big difference in other aspects as well such as contrast and color?

I rented the Tamron and really liked it but have not used the Tokina.

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secondshot said:
So I will be buying a wide angle lens for my Canon 5dmiii in the next week. I have narrowed it down to Tamron 15-30 2.8 or Tokina 16-28 2.8. I need the 2.8 (dark churches) though I am fairly ambivalent about the VC (pesky moving people in most my photos anyway). DXO hasn't tested the Tamron on a Canon yet, but on Nikons the Tamron is sharper. Both appear to be sharper than the canon 16-35 2.8.

Anybody used both of these?
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I've owned and used both. The Tamron is superior in every way that counts that I remember (I've since sold the Tokina since I didn't need both). The Tamron is sharper further out from the center than the Tokina. Both have flaring, but the Tamron less so. The only way that the Tokina is superior is that it weighs less and I believe it's marginally smaller. To get the same sharpness on the Tokina away from the center, you'd need to stop down to f/4 or f/5.6. One way in which the Tokina is head and shoulders clearly superior is on your pocketbook. I believe a new copy is half the price, or less, of an new Tamron.
 
Is the Tokina still a good lens if you hadn't used the Tamron. I'm in college, so I don't have much money to spend on a lens, but the shortest lens I have is my 50 1.8G. So, I'd really like to get a wide angle lens asap. The Tokina's price is more than I would like to spend, but it's doable. Should I buy the Tokina now, or wait until I'm able to afford the Tamron? I have also considered the Tokina 17-35, which I have seen greatly varied reviews on. Do you have any experience with it? It is cheap enough that I would be able to upgrade to the Tamron sooner, so I thought that getting it to have something wide then getting the Tammy when I can afford it might be a good option.
 
Ekill said:
Is the Tokina still a good lens if you hadn't used the Tamron. I'm in college, so I don't have much money to spend on a lens, but the shortest lens I have is my 50 1.8G. So, I'd really like to get a wide angle lens asap. The Tokina's price is more than I would like to spend, but it's doable. Should I buy the Tokina now, or wait until I'm able to afford the Tamron? I have also considered the Tokina 17-35, which I have seen greatly varied reviews on. Do you have any experience with it? It is cheap enough that I would be able to upgrade to the Tamron sooner, so I thought that getting it to have something wide then getting the Tammy when I can afford it might be a good option.
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The Tokina is a perfectly fine lens and you'd probably be able to find a really good deal on the used market. However, if money is really tight and you're looking for a lens that performs well across the frame as close to wide-open as possible AND you don't need auto-focus (which is less of an issue in a ultra-wide lens), then I'd consider the Rokinon/Samyang 14mm f/2.8. It's got some mustache curvature, but for many applications (certain types of landscapes and astrophotography), that's not an issue. It's sharper wide open than the Tokina, wider, and you can sometimes have a new copy for as low as $250 if there's a sale. You might want to go that route while you save up money for the Tamron lens. When you do get the Tamron lens, you can sell the Rokinon for not much less than what you bought it for since it's a popular item. I haven't had any experience with the Tokina 17-35mm so I can't say if it's any good. What you do lose with the Rokinon (aside from auto-focus) is flexibility since it is a prime and you better be happy with look of 14mm since that's all you've got as far as focal length zooming.
 
I thought about the Rokinon, but I don't particularly want a 14mm prime. If I were to get a prime, it'd probably be a Nikon 20 or 28 D. Personally, I just think 14 is a little wide for my taste.
 
Ekill said:
I thought about the Rokinon, but I don't particularly want a 14mm prime. If I were to get a prime, it'd probably be a Nikon 20 or 28 D. Personally, I just think 14 is a little wide for my taste.
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Nikon 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5G ED is a great lens, specially if you can find one secondhand.

I have only use it for a few shots but it get good reviews and price is in the lower end of scale for a good wide-angle zoom lens
 
Thanks. I'd prefer a faster, constant aperture, but I'll look into it. I know that I have to compromise somewhere, so if it gives good quality and is a good price, the trade off in preferred aperture capabilities might be worth it.
 
The pronounced rainbow flare, in some lighting conditions, with the Tokina, should be considered. I am not saying it is good or bad, as some may like it for their shooting. Search both Third Party Lens Talk and Nikon SLR lens Talk, here on DPR.

I have neither of these lenses, but would lean toward the Tamron, for low saggital coma flare, in nightscapes. (The new Irix 15/2.4 may bump both of these zooms from my consideration.)
 
The Irix 15 2.4 does sound good, but from what I can tell it's only available in Europe. I also kind of want autofocus, so I'll probably stick with a zoom. I would love to try that lens, but it's a little too specified for my taste.
 
Ekill said:
The Irix 15 2.4 does sound good, but from what I can tell it's only available in Europe. I also kind of want autofocus, so I'll probably stick with a zoom. I would love to try that lens, but it's a little too specified for my taste.
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You don't really need AF with such a wide lens. The DOF will cover a lot of ground.
 
I know. No AF is by no means a deal breaker, but it's just something I'd like to have.
 
Ekill said:
I know. No AF is by no means a deal breaker, but it's just something I'd like to have.
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I understand. Then you just have to see how much you're willing to pay it and what it's worth to you.
 
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Macro guy said:
Ekill said:
I know. No AF is by no means a deal breaker, but it's just something I'd like to have.
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I understand. Then you just have to see how much you're willing to pay it and what it's worth to you.
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The new Rokinon 14mm with AF is more than double the non AF model. I am not sure what else is different, could be improved in other areas as well.
 
Also, the lens I was talking about there is currently available only in Europe, and I live in the US. It is a 15mm prime, whereas I want a zoom that goes from somewhere between 14-17mm to around 30-35mm. The AF is the least impactful factor on my decision to not go with that lens. Also, that 15mm prime with no AF is more expensive than the Tokina 16-28 f2.8 or the Tokina 17-35 f4 which both have AF. I am leaning towards the 17-35 f4 because it doesn't cost very much, and from the reviews I've seen, it's sharper than the Nikon 17-35 f2.8 and is almost as sharp as the 16-35 f4.
 
The Rokinon 14mm AF is only offered in Sony E mount, though.
 
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