Similar in optical construction to the Pentax 10-17mm lens, this offering from Tokina is well built and feels like it will last. As there is little weight penalty, it is a useful lens for those interested in panographic photography and those with a creative bent.

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  Good construction and neat finish, Compact, Wide coverage of 180-100° on APS-C

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  Restricted usefulness, Inability to attach filters, No manual over-ride of AF

A unique fisheye zoom lens for Canon and Nikon APS-C SLRs that gives a 180 degree field of view corner to corner at 10mm.

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  Unique lens, Compact size, Good flare and ghosting performance, Build Quality

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  Chromatic Aberrations at 10mm, Focus ring rotates during AF, No built-in focus motor on Nikon version.

Fisheye lenses are special effect items so the sheer optical quality is not really a primary aspect. However, the Tokina does generally a very good job. It sharp enough for its purpose and the high degree of barrel distortion is naturally a feature to enjoy and not a bug.

What could we write in the summery? If someone needs an ultra wide-angle zoom, fish-eye type and wants to use it on a small APS-C/DX detector, then there is no other choice than the Tokina. In this situation only a huge test failure would convince clients not to buy it.

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  interesting focal lengths range,, great quality and sturdy build, good picture quality in the center of the frame for 14-17 mm focal length,, reasonably small coma,, fairly small vignetting, great at sharp light correction, good autofocus

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  very poor picture quality for 10 mm, large chromatic aberration especially for the widest angle, visible astigmatism for 10 mm focal length

Gary Wolstenholme takes a wider look at the world with the Tokina 10-17mm semi fish-eye lens. Fisheye lenses are curious beings. Unlike normal rectilinear lenses, their design produces wild distortions, allowing and extremely wide field of view to be captured.

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  Unique lens, Compact size, Good flare and ghosting performance, Build Quality

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  Chromatic Aberrations at 10mm, Focus ring rotates during AF, No built-in focus motor on Nikon version.

If you're of the mind to produce creative images, the concept of vertical and horizontal lines sometimes has to go out the window. The Tokina lens does just that. I wanted something that gave 180 degrees of view, but was wider that my Sigma 16mm f2.8.

If you have never had a fisheye lens, it is a fun treat to bend trees and people around the lens and create dramatic scenes with the subject in the center of a canopy. But this is not something you might want to do everyday.

I use this lens primarily for surf photography and it kills it! Crisp photos and fast focus. For the price it's an epic buy. I definitely tell my friends to acquire one.