Issues with Tokina AT-X PRO 11-16mm F2.8 DXII Lens - Canon AF Mount

[Photos001]

I've had this lens since February and use it with my Canon 70D.

Ever since I've had it I've had issues with blurriness and distortion in large areas around the edges. Initially I thought it was the way I was focusing or the combination of the camera and lens.
Now though, the photos I'm taking and enlarging are not up to the standard for printing.

I've attached an example, it's a shot of the milky way - the screenshot is the top third of the image. There is a quite a bit of distortion even though the image is very sharp at the centre. It's not apparent in this image but the areas around the edge are not very sharp too.

Has anyone else had issues with this lens? I wonder if it's too late to return and possibly swap out?

I got it from Amazon - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B007ORXEIW

Thanks

 

[scottishguy]

Did you shoot this wide open at F2.8?
I think you have to step it down a bit to keep the edges clear on this lens.

 

[tijuana taxi]

I nearly bought one of these when I had a 7D, place in sw London was selling them at a bargain price.

Did some research and at the time some people had trouble with them not focusing properly. Can't remember the exact details, but it put me off and I bought a 10-22mm instead.

Have a Google, but there was definitely something like I mentioned above, shame because it's supposed to be a nice lens.

 

[LongLensPhotography]

I've had this lens since February and use it with my Canon 70D.

Ever since I've had it I've had issues with blurriness and distortion in large areas around the edges. Initially I thought it was the way I was focusing or the combination of the camera and lens.
Now though, the photos I'm taking and enlarging are not up to the standard for printing.

I've attached an example, it's a shot of the milky way - the screenshot is the top third of the image. There is a quite a bit of distortion even though the image is very sharp at the centre. It's not apparent in this image but the areas around the edge are not very sharp too.

Has anyone else had issues with this lens? I wonder if it's too late to return and possibly swap out?

I got it from Amazon - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B007ORXEIW

Thanks

You know that the earth rotates and that leads to blurring (streaking) of stars. Exposure times should be the very shortest possible. And that is a wrong test subject.

Auto-Focusing at night is probably not going to get you there. Focus manually.

And best of all find a reasonable test target in daylight.

 

[Photos001]

@scottishguy - Yes this was at f2.8. If I step down it doesn't allow enough light in for the stars which move (30 seconds max for stars normally).

@LongLensPhotography - I know about the stars moving which is why I limit the exposure times to 30 secs. You are correct though, about testing with night shots. I'll do some test day shots and report back

 

[odd jim]

It's most likely because it's softer in the corners wide open, this always looks worse with UWA lenses.

 

[Deleted member 41401]

Yeah, its a bit softer at the edges wide open and it does have a bit of distortion. However, it is much better than the canon 10-22mm that I had before. I would add that 30 seconds is too long anyway. I use this lens for astro photography on my 7d and have found that 23 seconds is my maximum for pin sharp stars. I sometimes push it to 25 seconds though, but no more than that. Even then, I see a slight trailing in the corners through the lens distortion.

 

[odd jim]

Yeah, its a bit softer at the edges wide open and it does have a bit of distortion. However, it is much better than the canon 10-22mm that I had before. I would add that 30 seconds is too long anyway. I use this lens for astro photography on my 7d and have found that 23 seconds is my maximum for pin sharp stars. I sometimes push it to 25 seconds though, but no more than that. Even then, I see a slight trailing in the corners through the lens distortion.

My Canon 10-22 is one of my better UWAs for corner sharpness?