Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 purchase...

Got mine this morning too and am sure I can expect custom charges within next few weeks.

Can not test it properly until lunch break but it looks to me like i may have a slightly softer left hand side. Need to check properly later.
 
Had a walk around and did the brick wall test as well as everyday type pics. My copy has a pretty soft bottom left corner compared to the right bottom corner and i am generally not feeling very happy about that. Of course it only shows when there is any detail in the corner but it is pretty obvious in my opinion.

The seller does not accept returns... only exchanges for another copy. I think i may email him and see what he has to say. My other option is to see what Kenro might do but since it is brand new they will probably refer me to the seller. Being basically deaf i can not call anyone so i am finding this pretty frustrating at the moment.
 
Don't just take brick wall pictures before making your mind up. If you were not holding the camera dead straight-on, a brick wall will show up the slightest differences in DOF and make it appear to be a focussing issue. Close-up's using any UWA lens will show some detail loss at the edges due to lens curvature.

Try snapping a few buildings or landscapes at different focal ranges to really test how good she is.

As with anything, if you look hard enough for an issue you will find one.
 
Orville said:
Don't just take brick wall pictures before making your mind up. If you were not holding the camera dead straight-on, a brick wall will show up the slightest differences in DOF and make it appear to be a focussing issue. Close-up's using any UWA lens will show some detail loss at the edges due to lens curvature.

Try snapping a few buildings or landscapes at different focal ranges to really test how good she is.

As with anything, if you look hard enough for an issue you will find one.
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I have several building shots but cant really have a good look as am at work. Will try and post some samples later to see what you guys think. I have emailed Kenro to ask if i can send it in. Will test it out properly of course but that bottom left corner looks pretty obvious compared to the right side.
 
I had a Tokina 12-24 with a very soft top right hand side and Kenro gave me a brand new lens :)
 
The ebay seller emailed back to say i can have a replacement or refund so will wait to see what Kenro say as i am not really happy i need to stop down to f6.3 to get a better bottom left corner. Looking at some of my pics of a church there is definatly an issue.
 
Had a good play with it now. Like the build, minimal distortion and the D90 does a fairly good job on the CA.

Wide open the corners are a bit soft as expected but left side is a teeny bit worse than the right. As you stop down they start to even up and once you reach f5.6 they are even and look ok. Of course the centre is pretty sharp even at 2.8! I did notice that I had to dial in -1/3 compensation as i felt the images a bit too bright.

The 2.8 is very useful for dark interiors and the lens had no trouble focussing in dim light.

So I will take the lens to Oxford this weekend and use it as I normally would and if i feel the lens needs adjusting I will send it into Kenro. I will probably get charged customs so makes no sense to send it back to HK. Getting a replacement would mean more customs I assume! Makes more sense to keep this one and see how it goes.
 
So long as the lens is clearly marked "repaired item" or "warranty replacement" before leaving Hong Kong there will be no customs charge.
 
Cool i did not know that. However i will keep mine as planned as the 16mm end is great wide open and it is just the 11mm end. Will send it in for checking out when i know i wont be using it. So pleased i went for this one rather than a grey import without proper warranty :). Offers piece of mind to be sure!
 
Hi mate, just read this thread and am gutted you are not happy with the Tokina. Hopefully it will all be resolved! Do you have any pictures you can post on here so we can have a look?
 
sophos9 said:
Hi mate, just read this thread and am gutted you are not happy with the Tokina. Hopefully it will all be resolved! Do you have any pictures you can post on here so we can have a look?
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The pics i have at the moment are a bit of a mess. However i will take real world pics when i am out and about as well as some test shots of the house exterior this weekend.

I am happy with the lens wide open in all areas except the corners which i expected to be soft evenly and not more so on the left. I do want some input from you guys to give me an idea how your copy compares so i will post some pics and crops showing the corners.

Maybe i am being very fussy i just dont know. The focal length suits me fine and dispite the slightly sofer corner i am becoming very fond of the lens quickly. I think it is a fairly good copy so not prepared to pay postage to send it back to HK for a replacement that might not be any better. The bottom line is i will end up sending the lens into Kenro for a check up at the end of September so once again i gotta say i am thankful for finding this post and getting from a supplier who provides the proper warranty. Until then i can use it based on what i have learnt are it's strengths and weaknesses. The centre sharpness does show how this has potential to be razor sharp all over at smaller apertures. On that note i am curious at what f stop you guys use yours generally?

So pics to follow this weekend at some point and i will be wanting your opinions please :)
 
I want to sell my tamron 17-50 & 28-75mm f/2.8's to get one of these.

Just don't want to get a bad copy and have to send it back
 
I am very much looking to get one of these for landscape shots in Colombia. I am working offshore at the moment (internet in the ocean is great!) and getting a colleague to bring the lens from the UK. As I will not be in the UK to replace the product should it go wrong, would the forum suggest buying from a Kenro dealer as opposed to one of the grey import sites that list a far cheaper site? I am happy to pay the extra £100 for peace of mind!
 
Here is an unexpected update. Ater using the lens today together with a work friend who has a D200 we noticed that at 16mm the lens does not seem to focus correctly at infinity. Also the right side is softer than the left unlike at 11mm where the left is softer.

Kenro did not answer any of my emails in the past few days so i have no interest of sending the lens to them. Some may not agree with me but i have made up my mind. Doubt i will ever order a lens from abroad again as the same thing happened 2 years ago when i got a Tamron 17-50 2.8 from Hong Kong which had severe front focus.

I will pre order from Warehouse Express and try it in store as i know what i can expect now from a bad/good copy.

Hope others are not put off by my experience and get good copies :)
 
I am sorry you have had such a bad example :( I feel a bit guilty for recommending the seller.
Hope you have no issues with returning the lens.
 
I have it and its wonderful...


ok there are some quirks with exposures but got a fair few good shots almost without the need to tweak on the computer (I always shoot under exposed so minor tweaking is almost always done).

purl=http://www.flickr.com/photos/katiauk/sets/72157615622480891/]pics from it on flickr[/url] :)

The ones from amsterdam are really good and for some reason looks better with blue skies.

edit:
Bought from SimplyElectronics
 
j0hnb0y said:
I am very much looking to get one of these for landscape shots in Colombia. I am working offshore at the moment (internet in the ocean is great!) and getting a colleague to bring the lens from the UK. As I will not be in the UK to replace the product should it go wrong, would the forum suggest buying from a Kenro dealer as opposed to one of the grey import sites that list a far cheaper site? I am happy to pay the extra £100 for peace of mind!
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I suggest you do not touch the grey imports as i have had some bad stories about after sales with some of those shops. Entirely up to you though so good luck.
 
jnO said:
I am sorry you have had such a bad example :( I feel a bit guilty for recommending the seller.
Hope you have no issues with returning the lens.
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Dont be daft....hardly your fault or the supplier for that matter.just had bad luck is all. He has agreed to a refund though that is not normally what he does. He usually exchanges for similar product as stated on the ebay page. I asked him to not send the lens onto someone else :suspect: you never know do you
 
ecniv said:
I have it and its wonderful...


ok there are some quirks with exposures but got a fair few good shots almost without the need to tweak on the computer (I always shoot under exposed so minor tweaking is almost always done).

purl=http://www.flickr.com/photos/katiauk/sets/72157615622480891/]pics from it on flickr[/url] :)

The ones from amsterdam are really good and for some reason looks better with blue skies.

edit:
Bought from SimplyElectronics
Click to expand...

Oh yes...i was quite surprised by the fact in some shots i needed to add - comp but not in all. It did seem a bit inconsistent even when i took one shot directly after the other with same lighting etc.
 
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