Tokina 11-16mm lens help

[fenixblue]

Hi all,
I have a Tonkina 11-16mm 2.8 lens that I'm using on a D7000 and I'm not getting the sharpness I was hoping for.
Recently I used the Nikon 14-24mm 2.8 and it was stunning. Whether I was focusing through the view piece or flicking to Live View and focusing, it was always pin sharp. There is an example below...

I don't know if its because I'm comparing images from the Nikon or I'm just doing something wrong, I can't get a very sharp image from the Tonkina.

I usually focus a 1/3 into the scene and have tried the hyper focus technique (which I'm not entirely sure I'm doing it correctly).

Anyone else use this lens?

Cheers!
Lee

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7301/9282163724_035f350495_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lee_roach/9282163724/)
Winter fire - Catherdral - Mt Buffalo sunset (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lee_roach/9282163724/) by Lee Roach - Fenix Blue (http://www.flickr.com/people/lee_roach/), on Flickr

[ricktas]

have you done a focus test? http://www.ausphotography.net.au/forum/showthread.php?109346-Focus-Test-Charts&highlight=focus+test+charts

it could be that the Tamron needs an in-camera micro AF adjustment (check your manual on how to)

[Boo53]

I've been using mine for at least 3 years now and still like it a lot. There is a newer model out but I can't imagine its gone backwards.

[Gonk0]

have you done a focus test? http://www.ausphotography.net.au/forum/showthread.php?109346-Focus-Test-Charts&highlight=focus+test+charts

it could be that the Tamron needs an in-camera micro AF adjustment (check your manual on how to)

Thanks for the link Rick, I will have a look at the charts myself and see what my lenses do with regards to focus.

and the lens in question is a Tokina not a Tamron.

Anyway on with some help.

First off I have the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 and love it.

As I cant see from the photo any exif data, I have no idea of the aperture you used, but I have found f/8 and f/11 to be the two best apertures to use for landscape shots, I do use f/9 as well,
and like you usually focus 1/3 into the shot.

But like Rick has said it might pay to see if the lens is front focusing or back focusing, especially if your using the aperture range of f/8-f/11.

I hope this helps.

[fenixblue]

Thanks for the link Rick, I will have a look at the charts myself and see what my lenses do with regards to focus.

and the lens in question is a Tokina not a Tamron.

Anyway on with some help.

First off I have the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 and love it.

As I cant see from the photo any exif data, I have no idea of the aperture you used, but I have found f/8 and f/11 to be the two best apertures to use for landscape shots, I do use f/9 as well,
and like you usually focus 1/3 into the shot.

But like Rick has said it might pay to see if the lens is front focusing or back focusing, especially if your using the aperture range of f/8-f/11.

I hope this helps.

Ok cool! I'll take a look. I went out into the CBD (Melb) last night and tried f/8 to f/11...I'll let you know how they turned out. Thanks all.

[Plays With Light]

I sold my Tokina 11-16mm only a few weeks ago and never had any problems with it for sharpness. It was a Canon mount though. Not really much help for you sorry. Hope your latest batch of shots were sharp.

[arthurking83]

This lens is sharp all the way down to f/2.8 in the centre of the image. Of course you'll get a fair amount of softness at that aperture setting towards the corners, and shallower DOF .. but as I remember it, landscapes are easily made sharp even at f/4 with that lens(at 11mm).

One question that needs to always be asked .. are you using a filter of any type on the Tokina? .. I suspect that you almost certainly didn't with the Nikon 14-24.

If you do in fact use any filters on the Tokina, have you also checked sharpness without the filter(s)?

Anyhow, post some images with the Tokina, both the full scene, and one(or two) of a 100% crop of the less sharp areas as well.
Make sure to leave all exif info intact on the whole scene image tho.

Hope you sort it out soon, as I remember this lens to be one of the better lenses for Dx.