Tokina USA announces A-mount version of its 11-16mm f/2.8 lens

 

 

Tokina USA has today announced that its AT-X 11-16mm f/2.8 type-II wide angle zoom lens for cameras with an APS-C sensor will soon be available in A-mount for Sony Alpha DSLRs. Announced recently in Japan, where it has already been available for a week, the A-mount version of the lens will be available stateside from January 2014, according to the press release. So far, the lens has only been available for Canon E-mount and Nikon F-mount DSLRs in the US market.

On cameras with an APS-C sensor, the angle of view of the AT-X 11-16mm f/2.8 lens is equivalent to that of a 16-24mm lens on 35mm full-frame, making it a proper super-wide angle zoom. Its optical construction consists of 13 lens elements in 11 groups, two of which sport aspherical surfaces and another two that are made of super-low dispersion glass.

A special feature of the AT-X 11-16mm f/2.8 lens is the focusing ring, which can be pulled backward to activate the manual focusing mode, and pushed forward again to reactivate the autofocusing mode. This is quite similar to what Olympus did with its M.Zuiko 17mm f/1.8 lens, and Fujifilm recently introduced the same feature with its XF 23mm f/1.4 lens. Are we possibly seeing a new trend here?

Below are the lens' full specifications according to the press release:

• Mount Availability: Canon EOS, Nikon-D, SONY α
• Focal Length: 11mm – 16mm
• Maximum Aperture: F/2.8
• Minimum Aperture: F/22
• Optical Construction: 13 Elements / 11 Groups
• SD Glass: 2 Element
• Coatings: Multi-layer coatings
• Angle of View: 104 to 82 degrees
• Minimum Focus Distance: 11.81 in. (30.0cm)
• Reproduction Ratio: 1:11.6
• Zooming System: Rotary Type
• Number of Diaphragm Blades: 9
• Filter Size: 77mm
• Maximum Outer Diameter: 3.31in. (84mm)
• Dimensions: 3.31in. (84mm) x L3.85 in. (98mm)
• Weight: 19.12oz. (542g)
• Lens Hood: BH-77B