WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW: Less expensive by far than Nikon’s or Sigma’s 12–24mm, Tokina’s optical quality is unsurpassed. Tokina and Nikon are for small-format digital cameras only; Sigma covers both small format and 24x36mm. Small-format 1.5X 35mm lens factor of all three provides magnification equivalent to 18–36mm.

HANDS ON: Rugged construction with fine satin-crackle finish; handy, oversized, smooth-turning ribbed rubber zoom and manual-focusing rings. Latter ring quickly snaps back and forth between autofocus and manual positions. Easily readable meter and footage scales inset under plastic window. Large white zoom focal-length markings.

IN THE LAB: SQF performance excellent at all focal lengths. Based on DxO Analyzer test results, we found noticeable barrel distortion (1.22%) at 12mm, slight barrel (0.45%) at 18mm, and minimal barrel (0.33%) at 24mm. Light falloff at 12mm was gone by f/8, and by f/5.6 at 18 and 24mm. At the closest-focusing
distance of 11.7 inches, the magnification ratios were 1:16.9 at 12mm, 1:12.1 at 18mm, and 1:9.1 at 24mm, respectively.