Renato's reviews

  • Tokina 16-50mm f/2.8 AT-X 165 AF PRO DX SD

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    Great build, exellent sharpness & handling. Feels great on Nikon D300
    extending barrel when zooming

    I have seen several negative reviews on this great lens and I beg to disagree. I am a professional photojournalist with many many years of shooting, and I thing this lens is a great tool at a very honest price. It's well built, it IS SHARP and has a beautiful boke`. It is also (as of this writing) the only zoom of this kind (16/18-50mm) with 9 blades diaphragm... The one thing I do not like is the fact that the barrel extends when zooming. It would have been much better if it was an internal zooming, would make it more solid and better balanced.

    reviewed January 1st, 2009 (purchased for $550)

  • Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X 116 PRO DX SD

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    The BEST Lens I have ever used
    none, I wish I had this lens sooner

    You could definitely spend a lot more money on similar lenses from Nikon or Canon, but you would not gain anything at all as far as image quality, sharpness, boke` and even build quality. I do not believe there is, at the moment, a better or smarter lens. and do not forget it's a constant 2.8 and has 9 blades diaphragm... for photojournalists this is a must BUY IT!!!

    reviewed January 1st, 2009 (purchased for $500)

  • Tokina 12-24mm f/4 AT-X 124 AF PRO DX SD

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    Strongly built, constant aperture, 9 blades
    F4 instead than F2.8

    I got this lens almost as soon as it came out, and I took great photos with it, much better than with Nikon 12-24mm (promptly sold), I see that there is a newer version with internal USM/HSM type motor, that should be a welcome improvement. But I have been very happy with this lens. it did prove once again that you do not need big name lenses to make great photos.

    reviewed January 1st, 2009 (purchased for $500)

  • Sigma 150mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM APO Macro

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    Super Super SHARP!!! Great handling
    none

    This lens is a true gem!! Spectacular image quality at most apertures and ALL distances, fast focusing (HSM), well built. tripod collar very useful, perfect size and balance. I could not have been happier, the pictures are amazing!!!

    reviewed January 1st, 2009 (purchased for $700)

  • Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    Well built, Great Boke`, Fast focus, Beautiful picures!!!
    it's not F0.9

    I have always loved fast 50s and had many of those in several brands, so it was natural that this very well made lens would end up (permanently) on one of my Nikons. I love the sharpness and the vivid colors this lens delivers from wide open. the boke` is very natural almost leica like. For the price you just cannot go wrong it truly is a special lens.

    reviewed January 1st, 2009 (purchased for $400)