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Now reading: Tokina releases 16-28mm wide zoom with constant F2.8 aperture 143 comments

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Tokina releases 16-28mm wide zoom with constant F2.8 aperture

Published Feb 23, 2019 | Damien Demolder

Lens manufacturer Tokina has officially released details, price and on-sale dates for the Opera 16-28mm F2.8 lens it first showcased at Photokina last September. Expected to ship mid-March the full-frame wide angle zoom will cost $699 and will be available in two versions for Canon EF and Nikon F DSLR mounts.

The lens joins the previously-released 50mm F1.4 in the Opera series. Tokina says it used the Opera name as it hopes these lenses will help photographers to create works of art. The company also says that these lenses are not designed to be small and lightweight but with image quality as a priority.

Using 15 elements in 13 groups the Opera 16-28mm F2.8 weighs 940g (~2lb) and measures 89 x 133.5mm. It also offers a nine-bladed iris for improved rendering of out-of-focus highlights and an upgraded AF system that is claimed to be both faster and more accurate than the original AT-X 16-28mm F2.8 PRO FX.

See the Tokina website for more information, and B&H Photo for sample shots taken with the lens and a first impressions review.

Press Release

New Tokina opera 16-28mm F2.8 FF

Inspired by the focal length and aperture of the widely acknowledged Tokina AT-X 16-28mm F2.8 PRO FX lens, Tokina opera 16-28mm F2.8 FF has been developed with the same concept as the already released opera 50mm F1.4 FF, to offer the photographers another contemporary tool for professional photography.

Super wide angle, superior resolving ability coupled with high contrast and beautiful bokeh rendering, fast f/2.8 constant aperture throughout the zoom range and accurate AF drive system make this lens attractive for photographers who specialize in landscape, interior architect, documentary, environmental style portrait and night sky/time lapse photography genres.

Sales start date worldwide: March 15th, 2019

Tags: lens-news, tokina

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Oldest first

madecov

I own the original version. Picked up a factory refurb for under $400.00 about 3 years ago. I'm pleased with it, but it is heavy.

Apr 7, 2019permalink

Michael Ma

50mm F1.4 link in the article is broken.

Feb 27, 2019permalink

Kevin DiOssi

$700!? I've been looking for an ultra-wide lens to travel with and this might be the winner if the image quality stacks up at f/8. I am intrigued and will keep my eye on it.

Feb 26, 2019permalink

dansclic

Thé older model was weather resistant....
You’d better also check the quality of the lens before buying it because photozone pointed some decentering issues due to (lack of ) quality control from tokina

Feb 25, 2019permalink

oscarvdvelde

Haha, but not sand resistant :( I spent hours trying to get sand grains from under the focus clutch after getting caught in sudden wind gusts on the beach.
I can confirm the misalignment issues... my third copy was finally acceptable. Also the mount of my lens failed at some point (my bag dropped 20-30 cm), it came back from repair with a loose element. A great lens, but huge and heavy, and I do not have much faith in Tokina's quality control since.

Feb 25, 2019*permalink

Condiments

I loved the older model, it was great on my Canon cameras....I do miss the ultra wide 16mm, but the clutch AF just didn't hold up well to heavy use. Because I seldom used the lens at the narrow end, I swapped it with the Sigma 20 Art, which is vastly better lens.

That being said, I will likely check it out when it is released.

Feb 26, 2019permalink

geekyrocketguy

Any word on how this compares to the previous Tokina 16-28 f/2.8, besides new AF?

I owned the previous version for 2 years and used it for astrophotography. It was a lot better than the Canon 16-35L f/2.8L, which is garbage for astrophoto, but it still wasn't great. It had rather bad field curvature, so the stars toward the edges of the frame were quite blobby. Worse, it frequently decentered and then I would get asymmetrical sharpness across the frame. It went back to Tokina for optical realignment on four different occasions before I finally just sold it. I replaced it with a Nikon 14-24 (adapted to Canon) and that lens had far better corners and didn't need to be recalibrated every few months.

Feb 24, 2019permalink

4sofnature

I'm more excited about Tamron's upcoming FE 17-28 f/2.8.

Feb 24, 2019permalink

Sigma82

I am more excited about the new Rtx laptops

Feb 25, 2019permalink

Jura S

I am more excited on general. :)

Mar 12, 2019permalink

JohnDB

The Tokina lens looks to be good quality lens optically and build-wise. But, it seems strange to roll out yet another Nikon and Cannon DSLR lens. I wonder when Tokina and other independent lens manufacturers will begin to offer more lenses for the various mirrorless camera mounts. That is where the new growth will be going forward.

Feb 24, 2019permalink

mandm

Over 120 Million Digital SLR's have been sold and millions will continue to be sold, that's why Nikon & Canon have both announced new lenses for their DSLR's in the last few months, they know that's where the volume lens business will be for the next 5+ years.
Nikon & Canon's new Full Frame Mirrorless camera sales are not even 1% of DSLR sales, so Tokina is going where the volume buyers are and today and for the next few years it's DSLR's.
Many new DSLR sales will be with 2 zoom lenses for $500.00, how long until mirrorless prices are that low?

Feb 24, 2019permalink

babis_greek

Has it any real difference from the older AT-X PRO FX 16-28mm f2.8 ?

Feb 24, 2019permalink

JonHob

I cannot see any mention of environmental seals (?). So it'll no for footy photographers then.

Feb 24, 2019permalink

dansclic

No one kilo lens is for footy photographers

Feb 25, 2019permalink

ffking

It looks very good optically, but I'm slightly surprised that Tokina has not gone gone for greater consistency of features with the 50/1.4 - as is that inherited weather sealing and premium build from Pentax while this is a spruced up older Tokna (I'm assuming from comments made by people more familiar ith Tokina products) - it just seems to me that if you're going to make a premium range, people would like to be able to take things like weather resitence for granted.

Feb 24, 2019permalink

Arcimboldo

Wow, heavy, a huge bulbous front element, and no filter thread - what's there not to like ;)

Well, okay, the price is good. But given the fact that used OEM lenses can be sold at around 70-80% of the original street price, price doesn't really matter.

Feb 24, 2019*permalink

thx1138

Simply an awesome price for such an UWA f/2.8 lens. NIkon, Canon or Sony version would cost $2K

Feb 24, 2019permalink

Cerebral Knievel

The Nikon version is far superior.

Feb 25, 2019permalink

patdinco

just here for the comments roasting other people :D

Feb 24, 2019permalink

(unknown member)

Just like a 16-35, but not as useful.

Wierd decision Tokina.

Feb 24, 2019permalink

lambert4

Looking forward to pricing. On my DX body this is where majority of my wide angle range is shot. I am interested for sure, loved my 10-16 ATX a few years ago. 3rd party progress and pressure is great for consumers

Feb 24, 2019permalink

thx1138

Huh??? It explicitly states $699 in the opening paragraph.

Feb 24, 2019permalink

lambert4

I completely missed that thank you.

Feb 26, 2019permalink

Sardonic G

Opera - The fat lady hasn't sung yet for Tokina

Feb 23, 2019permalink

Lexptr

Nice to see Tokina still alive and releasing lenses. However, low price is almost the only advantage they have these days. At least in this particular lens segment. :(

Feb 23, 2019permalink

M Lammerse

Low price in relation to good quality. 10-15 years ago a 'cheap/' low price lens (is relative) was usually also cheap in the sense of image quality.

Looking at the DSLR/MILC market of today. You can't offer a so called cheap lens anymore. Market is nowadays much more narrow and those who use (need) DSLR/MILC camera's are knowing well (thanks to the internet) in detail what is good and what is lesser good...Bad lens (image) quality is no sales, there is enough choice in a market which gets smaller by the day.

Tokina knows how to make lenses well, former Nikon (Nikkor) employees started the company :-)

Feb 23, 2019*permalink

Lexptr

It is good lens on its own. However, not as good, when you compare to other contemporary lenses. That is what I said, using the word "advantages". I also used the word "almost". That is because compared to specific lenses it may have some additional advantages (e.g. lower vignetting, compared to Canon 16-35 f2.8 III or lower weight, compared to Sigma 14-24 f2.8 Art). Where I'm really wrong is in comparisons of newest lenses with actually the old Tokina 16-28. It is still possible, that the new one will match competition IQ-wise. I'm somewhat skeptical, though. And we can learn from the announcement info, that features-wise it is not there. So, kudos to former Nikon engineers, but Tokina lags behind these days.

Feb 24, 2019permalink

Foto64

I would love to see some manual focus wide and super wide lenses for the Nikon Z mount and the new Canon. Keep them small and high quality but optimized for the large mounts.

Feb 23, 2019permalink

MyReality

"The company also says that these lenses are not designed to be small and lightweight but with image quality as a priority."

That follows on the heels of what Canon and Nikon said. Apparently, they think that in optics. quality follows size. Laws of physics, etc.
If this lens tests out to be very good, it would be a great value for $700.
My Canon EF 20/2.8mm for less than $500 is a very good lens.

Feb 23, 2019permalink

Foto64

Looks like a fantastic lens but when shooting a wide I need filters and the giant ones they make for these are ridiculous

Feb 23, 2019permalink

Imager of

When will they release a constant f1.4 version of this zoom lens?

Feb 23, 2019permalink

Barney Britton

Imagine a number. Then divide it by 2. Multiple the resulting number by the day of the month in which you were born, then divide by the square root of -1. Thats the number of days until we see a 16-28mm F1.4 lens for full frame :)

Feb 23, 2019*permalink

M Lammerse

Hahahaha!

Feb 23, 2019permalink

Great Bustard

Problem with that formula is, since the number I first thought of was 0, that means there should be a FF 16-28 / 1.4 right now. : )

Feb 23, 2019permalink

Tuonov2

Is 0 a number?

Feb 23, 2019permalink

Great Bustard

Not only is 0 a number, but it's even more lonely than 1, no matter what the song says. : )

Feb 23, 2019*permalink

Imager of

Why can’t people just answer a question seriously these days? 🤨

Feb 24, 2019permalink

JakeB

Why can't people just ask a serious question these days?

Feb 24, 2019permalink

ActionPhotoPassion

700€? Holly cow that should sell like hotcakes

Feb 23, 2019permalink

M Lammerse

Not sure if it was some sEUrcasm. Prices in the EU are ridiculous - that is if you compare them with prices in China and Japan.

Feb 23, 2019permalink

ArthurS

The styling on this lens sure looks a lot like a Sigma "Art" series lens. I guess this means that Tokina's given up on trying to make their lenses look a lot like Nikon AF lenses. And perhaps it also means that Tokina is not just trying to woo photographers away from camera maker's lenses, but that they're trying to draw users away from Sigma as well, which I guess is not surprising.

Feb 23, 2019*permalink

MrBrightSide

Beautiful! I need something wider, but lower in weight to complement my 24-70. This should fill the bill nicely.

Feb 23, 2019permalink

armin304

I don't know. With nearly 1Kg it's not really lightweight. Last year I had to replace my old 17-35 for the D700 and decided to get the Nikon 18-35G, which is half the weight of the Tokina. But I really don't need 2.8 in this range that often and then I can use some of my old primes.

Feb 23, 2019permalink

PKJC

I also recently picked up the 18-35G...it is super lightweight, very sharp and you have the ability to use filters with it. I could see having the f2.8 would be great if you are shooting in low-light conditions without a tripod, but otherwise I think the Nikkor is a great alternative.

Feb 23, 2019permalink

MrBrightSide

Everyone seems to love that lens, I forgot all about it. I’m going to have to revisit

Feb 23, 2019permalink

GinoSVK

ooh, that aging MF/AF slide mechanism just show, haw old that dizajn really is, I remember how annoying is if you need switch to MF without micro recompose.

Feb 23, 2019permalink

supersteelman

actually putting the lens brand and quality aside, using the pull push clutch is amazing to use. WAAAAAAYYY better then the afs in nikon lenses.

its much faster and easier to use.

scenerio? youre shooting a perso whos backlit. focus hunts back and forth but cant focus because of the flare/veiling. what do you do, switch to mf and adjust. you cant use the full time mf in the lens, because the lens just hunted and it wont release the shutter. with the clutch, you move your hand on the clutch, pull back and still with hand on it, you adjust shoot and push it back. with afs lenses, you move your hand from the lens to the switch and then back to the focus. it seems minute but when youre stressed to get the shot, it makes all the difference. the clutch is awesome. I had it in my long gone 28-80 2.8 and 28-70 2.8 in the film days.

Feb 24, 2019permalink

Mark Carr

I've never been a big fan of these wide angle zooms. Some lack filter threads, while others suffer from distortion and chromatic aberration. For the same money, or close to it, you can pick up two high quality primes that are optically superior, i.e Samyang 16mm f2.

Feb 23, 2019permalink

io_bg

The said Samyang is designed for APS-C bodies while the Tokina is a full frame lens.

Feb 23, 2019permalink

Peter_Birch

The opera line... Not much to sing about.

Sorry. 🙊

Feb 23, 2019permalink

supersteelman

same lens just a revamped in looks and minor tweaks. price is a up a bit.

nothing new. same lens since 2010, just with a bow on it.

Feb 23, 2019permalink

I am CTz

If it's the same optical formula, it's a lost bet. I just tried few Tokina 16-28, and all of them have strange flare (the famous rainbow flare). So, I took Tamron 15-30 G1, at almost the same price (it was a special price for few days). And it's years away ;)

Feb 23, 2019permalink

TC999

No image stabilization , no weather resistant ?

Feb 23, 2019permalink

Stu 5

What do you want for $699... blood?

Feb 23, 2019permalink

sirhawkeye64

IS is partially what drives up a lens's price. You can't have everything in a budget-friendly lens. Something has to be left out to keep the price reasonable. If you want IS and WR, there are certainly other options out there, but you're going to pay more.

Or if you really must have those and need an ultra-wide, look at the Tamron 15-30 G1 or G2.

Feb 23, 2019*permalink

Kurgo

I hope they finally managed to better their absolutely disastrous work against bright lights, since it really was the one thing that could stop someone from buying the previous iteration, for the price.

Feb 23, 2019permalink

Arthur Stanley Jefferson

If this is the same old lens in a new plastic shell and tiny tweaks for a massive price hike then that sounds like a rehash to me.
On the tokina website it says it has a new GMR magnetic sensor! To increase af speed and accuracy and optics so good that a polarizer is not needed!...who writes this stuff?

Feb 23, 2019*permalink

Arthur Stanley Jefferson

Has this been redesigned at all of just got a new outer shell ? Seems to be same weight and formula as old one, any new motors, coatings?

Feb 23, 2019permalink

Revenant

The press release is new.

Feb 23, 2019permalink

Ergo607

Now here's a lens I would certainly like to see in Pentax K-mount. Sure there is the 15-30 with exceptional reputation, but this one wouldn't break the bank and is also a little smaller and less hefty.
(for the naysayers, come on and comment on how Pentax is doomed and lets them make their lenses by third parties.)

Feb 23, 2019permalink

FantasticMrFox

As you asked for it: I'm a Pentax user and think that Pentax is doomed long-term. Their development and release speed has slowed to snail's pace, and rather than catching up on their weaknesses (e.g. AF, flash, video) they are falling further and further behind.

While everyone is developing like crazy, Pentax has brought nothing new to the table since pixel-shift resolution and astrotracing, both rather gimmicks.

Feb 23, 2019permalink

Revenant

To be fair, the entire camera industry has been slowing down, in sales as well as development. Just compare the number of new releases from the last couple of years with how it used to look. But Ricoh/Pentax and Olympus seem to have slowed down the most, if we don't count Samsung and Casio, that stopped altogether.

Feb 23, 2019*permalink

FantasticMrFox

I see plenty of announcements from other manufacturers and third-parties, and hardly anything from Pentax. They re-announced their 11-18 f/2.8 recently (something that they had already announced in 2017 and that had been on the roadmap for 7 or so years by then), and they announced an optical facelift and new coatings to an otherwise unchanged lens from 1999 (still with screw-drive AF, something unheard of from other manufacturers for many years now).

That's all. And third-party manufacturers have almost completely ceased supporting Pentax.

Feb 23, 2019permalink

mxx

It sure does not take much to fire up the Pentax bashers.

Feb 23, 2019permalink

paulfulper

Too much $700 for this lens , too heavy and large just for a wide angle lens . What's the purpose ?
I know now the trolls will attack me...

Feb 23, 2019permalink

davev8

F2.8 FF zooms are big its physics ...the tamron 15-30 is heavier....me i like very fast glass ...except i don't seam to use fast F stops at UWA.....but that may change as i may get interested in astro

Feb 23, 2019permalink

noshea

$700 is really, really cheap for an f2.8 zoom, especially a super-wide. I have the older version, and although sluggish to autofocus, the image quality is really good, and I used to have the Nikon 14-24 f2.8.

Feb 23, 2019permalink

Ilia Snopchenko

I thought the old one retailed for more at start, and of course it became cheaper with time.

Feb 23, 2019permalink

noshea

Could well be. It was a few years after release that I bought it. If you only need superwide occasionally but want the results to be very good, it's a sensible choice.

Feb 23, 2019permalink

bluevellet

If IQ is good, 700 bucks is a good price.

Feb 23, 2019permalink

Dima_467

it will be interesting to see some tests of course. But in general, for 700 bucks - It's just a gift.

Feb 23, 2019permalink

endofoto

We are all discussing about mirrorless, yet best innovative lenses are still produced for DSLR. Lens companies will decide whether DSLR will be exterminated or not. At this price it will sell and DSLR will survive.

Feb 23, 2019permalink

Kazzaz

If the Nikon and canon couldn't release a full line up of their own Mirrorless lenses how will the 3rd parties ?

I think these lenses are results of maybe years of development which they have to release anyway, I have no doubt that they will jump to the mirrorless in the future.

Feb 23, 2019permalink

endofoto

Mirror comes from the film era and not necessary. But sensors are not ready to eliminate the mirror yet at least for mass production, after organic sensors hit the market mirrors wont be needed anymore.

Feb 23, 2019permalink

CaMeRa QuEsT

This lens is not innovative, it's just a refresh of a lens that is almost a decade old. Same optical formula, same basic AF drive technology. It's cheap for a reason, and the old version can now be found even cheaper. This lens is probably the starting point of a Tokina push to "update" all of their other old zoom lenses to their new "Opera" exterior look, not a good sign at all.

Feb 23, 2019*permalink

DavidKennard

You do realise DSLR lenses can be used on mirrorless cameras? It could be argued that lenses such as this one are actually more useful on mirrorless than they are on SLR bodies (due to being able to use the lens with mount adapters that allow tilt or shift or filters).

Feb 23, 2019permalink

jnd

It's really shame because especially such wide angles lenses can be made much smaller and lighter with short flange distance.

Feb 23, 2019permalink

Critical Thinker

Didnt they get the memo that DSLR is dead?

Feb 23, 2019permalink

SteveAnderson

Trolling or just dumb?

Feb 23, 2019permalink

Photo_AK

Just dumb.

Feb 23, 2019permalink

mick232

No. A valid question, although poorly phrased. The DSLR market is declining, the mirrorless market is growing. It is not clear why Tokina chose the former.

Feb 23, 2019permalink

davev8

i believe this is a refresh of an old lens from 2010

Feb 23, 2019permalink

Karroly

mick232,
It is clear for me : the DSLR market, although declining, is still bigger than the MILC market and this lens can be used on MILCs with an adapter. This lens can target both markets...

Feb 23, 2019*permalink

PeterOlsen

To the repliers to Critical Thinker's comment; I am pretty sure Critical Thinker was being sarcastic/ironic :D

Feb 23, 2019permalink

SteveAnderson

mick232, If you count all the cameras being used by people as we speak, the vast majority of them are DSLR.

And as Karroly mentioned, they work on mirrorless with the adapter those people already own as well.

Feb 23, 2019permalink

mick232

Steve, of course that is correct. But DSLR users are more likely to have a complete lens lineup already and they know that future cameras will likely be mirrorless, so why invest in legacy glass now?

Feb 23, 2019permalink

SteveAnderson

mick232, I think they could have made it for either really. There is probably a reason we arnt considering.

Feb 23, 2019*permalink

Revenant

"so why invest in legacy glass now?"

Maybe because they don't think of their equipment as an investment for the future, but rather think of it as tools that they can use right now, in the present?

Feb 23, 2019*permalink

ArthurS

Uh, you could use this lens on a Nikon "Z" series EVF camera (I refuse to call them "mirrorless") with the F to Z mount adapter, or use it on a Canon EVF with the appropriate EF mount adapter as well . So to say that this lens totally misses the point because it's not for "mirrorless" isn't a valid observation.

Feb 23, 2019permalink

Mortal Lion

@PeterOlsen Sarcasm, isn't that Greek for trolling? :P

Feb 23, 2019permalink

davev8

Arthurs...........what do you call say a canon M6 ????...you cannot call it a "EVF" as it ant got one

Feb 24, 2019permalink

SteveAnderson

I would call it a badly designed camera if you have to put it to arms length to take photos because of no viewfinder but accepts large lenses.

I own Canon so i am mocking the M6 not all of them.

Feb 24, 2019*permalink

davev8

yes i have to have a VF ......but calling the M6 " badly designed camera " not rely roll of the tongue ..also i can think of other cams that would fit that moniker but have a EVF

Feb 24, 2019permalink

dansclic

Karroly, not for long : the curves show that dslr are going down and mirrorrless sales up. Sooner or later, mirrorrless will sell better than dslr because people always choose the smallest solution, one of the reasons why smartphones are selling better than small compact cameras

Feb 25, 2019permalink

Karroly

dansclic,
I know... But Tokina has a lens to sell now.

Feb 25, 2019permalink

PWPhotography

Really that heavy at 940 g and cannot accept filters? My Sony FE 16-35/2.8 GM is longer in FL range, constant F2.8 and only weighted 1.50 lb / 680 g, tack sharp end to end and still can accept regular filters.

Samples in full size from FE 16-35 GM at both sides @F2.8 wide open.
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/62318088

Feb 23, 2019*permalink

leonche64

That Sony is not going to help folks using Canon and Nikon cameras. And it cost $2,200 vs $700 for the Tokina. Do you really think that is the same class for a comparison?

Feb 23, 2019permalink

nandbytes

DSLR UWA are always going to be huge and bulbous. It's one area where mirrorless gain a lot of size and weight savings.

Feb 23, 2019permalink

pulsar123

As other noted, wrong comparison. Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM is also pretty nice - just a bit heavier than Sony (790g), accepts filters, but costs $2k.

Feb 23, 2019permalink

cosinaphile

correct ....the closer flange distance in mirrorless offers enormous benefit in designing W A lenses ,...err....not to be enormous

Feb 23, 2019permalink

PWPhotography

Now let's wait and see the new Tamron FE 17-28/2.8. It appears will be significantly lighter and smaller than even FE 16-35 GM, with 67mm filter size. Do Tamron also have DSLR version of 17-28/2.8 and 17-35/2.8-4.0 lenses? BTW, I only paid $1980 via Greentoe on FE 16-35 GM 10 in March last year.

Feb 23, 2019*permalink

jnd

Why degrade image quality with filters? At these focal lengths light are already quite angled and putting flat piece of glass in front of bulbous element doesn't help, it's backwards. Filters should be in the back where rays are more parallel. But with today's sensors you don't really need filters beyond polarizer.

Feb 23, 2019permalink

PWPhotography

A UWA lens such as 16-35 or 17-28 is widely used in landscape. You need filters for various purposes such as slow down water with a ND filter or polarizer to get rid of reflection or a GND for preserve sky with sufficient exposure on dark front...Good quality filters should not deteriorate IQ much. I bought 82mm 6-stop Breakthrough x4 ND filter for FE 16-[35 GM that is excellent without much color shift, much needed for waterfall etc. I still could mount Kase K8's 82-86mm magnetic master adapter on top of the ND filter to use its magnetic CPL, and further mount K8 slim 100x100 filter system to use other filters such as a 150x100 GND.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/55485085@N04/31793289177/in/album-72157662042216928/

Feb 23, 2019*permalink

darrinlingle

not impressed. my sony/zeiss a-mount 16-35 f/2.8 can take filters and has excellent optics.

Darrin Lingle, Colorado

Feb 23, 2019permalink

leonche64

That lens cost $2,250. This one is $700. And how do you fit an A-mount lens on a Canon or Nikon DSLR?

Feb 23, 2019permalink

Anadrol

It was indeed very important to sign your message with "Darrin Lingle, Colorado"

Feb 23, 2019*permalink

Lees Channel

How else would we know that darrinlingle was Darrin Lingle?

Feb 23, 2019*permalink

David Mantripp

Really? Just yours? You must be very special.

Feb 23, 2019permalink

pulsar123

Canon's EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM also has excellent optics and takes filters, at $2k though...

Feb 23, 2019permalink

weisman

Hmmm I'm leaning towards the Tamron 15-30mm G2; wider range and VC.

Feb 23, 2019permalink

eugene1979

Tamron 15-30/2.8 G2 is way better. Go to https://lens-db.com/tokina-opera-16-28mm-f28-ff-2019/ and click "Compare" in the "Alternatives" section.

Feb 23, 2019permalink

eugene1979

Just a cosmetic refresh of older 16-28/2.8 AT-X Pro. Absolutely the same optically. Also uses DC motor (and not the Ultrasonic drive, despite the "Silent Drive module" words).

Feb 23, 2019permalink

sportyaccordy

They must have passed the point of no return well before the FF MILCs were announced.

Feb 23, 2019permalink

davev8

its a refresh of a 2010 lens

Feb 23, 2019permalink

Satyaa

While it's a very good lens at a great price, there are two potential issues...

The other two major third party brands offer a USB interface for AFFT. I haven't seen that with modern Tokina lenses. They should release a similar gadget soon.

Two, all these lenses need to be tested well for compatibility on RF/Z adapters, with most buyers thinking of an eventual move to ML FF bodies.

Other than that, I hope that Tokina upgrades their 24-70 and 70-200/2.8 zooms to the Opera line.

Feb 23, 2019permalink

dansclic

Thé new Nikon 15-35 Z lens will beat them all....

Feb 25, 2019permalink

Lotari

If performance matches the weight and Opera name, this one's a steal for $700.

Feb 23, 2019permalink

Absolutic

Was thinking about this lens for my Z6.... then noticed a weight of 940grams..... will look elsewhere...

Feb 23, 2019permalink

Mika Y.

Is 940 grams really that much? The only time I've genuinely felt the weight of a lens was using a Canon 100-400 mk II for a couple of hours with almost no time to stop and rest my arms, and that weights 1570 grams.

Feb 23, 2019permalink

mxx

Some of us are just too wimpy to lift a kilogram.

Feb 23, 2019permalink

sportyaccordy

I lift weights for fun... still don't want to lug around a 1.5-2kg kit if I don't have to.

Feb 24, 2019permalink

dansclic

Mika, yes it is that much. That is the difference between taking the lens and having fun with it or leaving it at home because too heavy. Why do you think are Fuji and other mirrorrless so successful ?

Feb 25, 2019permalink

Mika Y.

I was admittedly a bit too blunt; I know different people have quite different thresholds for what they're comfortable with and are usually expressing just a personal opinion.

Feb 25, 2019permalink

EXkurogane

Used to own the older version, rainbow flare fest of a lens. Why are they still using the push pull clutch mechanism...

Feb 23, 2019permalink

lumenite

Contrary to its huge size and weight, it is cheaper than Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Sigma.

Feb 23, 2019permalink

DotCom Editor

While price certainly is a consideration, it's results on the wall that matter most to me — within reason.

Feb 23, 2019permalink

Stanchung

cheaper than Tamron 15-30 as well.

Feb 24, 2019permalink

dansclic

Cheaper does not mean better.
If you want a good lens take a fixed focal one, like a 18 or 20mm.

Feb 25, 2019permalink

Jonathan F/2

The Tamron 17-28mm 2.8 for Sony E mount looks more interesting.

Feb 23, 2019permalink

Wildabobalore

Thank you for this incredibly insightful comment.

Feb 23, 2019permalink

Jonathan F/2

@Wildabobalore - So insightful you just had to comment! You know because one is a brand new lens built from the ground up with a fixed barrel and common 67mm filter thread optimized for mirrorless cameras and the other is just a rehash of a previous design dressed up and repackaged. So yeah, the Tamron lens is more interesting!

Feb 23, 2019*permalink

lacikuss

The Sony costs 3x more

Feb 23, 2019permalink

Karroly

This lens is for DSLRs. How could a DSLR owner find the Tamron 17-28mm 2.8 for Sony E more interesting ?

Feb 23, 2019permalink

JakeB

Jonathan can't imagine much beyond his own narrow interests.

Feb 24, 2019permalink

FuhTeng

Sorry guys, I'd be more interested if it could take filters like the fabulous Canon 16-35 f/2.8.

Feb 23, 2019permalink

io_bg

Not a bad trade-off considering the Canon costs 3 times more.

Feb 23, 2019permalink

FuhTeng

I just don't know why that's the trade. 11, 12, 14, 15 mm lenses, sure, need the bulbous element (except for the new Z-mount 14-30) but I have less sympathy for 16 with the bulbous element. Maybe less vignette or aberrations? I don't know.

Feb 23, 2019permalink

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CP+ 2019: Hands-on with Tokina Opera 16-28mm F2.8 FF Mar 3, 2019	Sigma announces 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary for L and E mounts Feb 24, 2021	Venus Optics launches Laowa 11mm F4.5 lens for Canon RF mount, 65mm F2.8 2X Macro lens for Nikon Z mount Feb 22, 2021	Leica introduces APO-Summicron-SL 28mm F2 L-mount lens Feb 18, 2021


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Tokina releases 16-28mm wide zoom with constant F2.8 aperture

New Tokina opera 16-28mm F2.8 FF

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