Tokina RMC 17 f3.5 or Tamron SP 17 3.5 ?

StyxD · Joined: 18 Nov 2014 Posts: 79 Location: Italia

Hi, I definitely need a wide lens before summer for all that clichés pictures on the seaside Wink

But jokes apart I really need one of these as my widest lens is a 28.

I'm going to use that lens on a Sony A6000 + Lens Turbo mkII to achieve a 18mm effective lens, but since I'm planning to switch over FF at the end of 2015 I discarded the praised Samyang 12mm.

So the question is: being able to get one or the other lens at the same price, which one would you choose ? Especially if you wanted to use it on both APS-C and FF. I haven't been able to distinguish a lot of differences from flickr pictures, so my guess is now that they are either very similar in performance or there are pros/cons that only owners and users may recall.

So, what would be your choice ?

TrueLoveOne · Expire: 2013-12-24

I never used the Tamron, but i do have the RMC Tokina, which i think is a great perfomer at a very reasonable price. At this time i use it on my 5D, which is full-frame and the results are very pleasing!
Can't tell how it works with the lens turbo, but after seeing some results which kinda dissappointed me i'm going to save up my money for the A7 and sell my A3000.

Full frame sample on Kodak film:

Kuiperspoort Middelburg by René Maly, on Flickr

Full frame sample on Canon 5D:

Drama in the air by René Maly, on Flickr

calvin83 · Joined: 12 Apr 2009 Posts: 7581 Location: Hong Kong

I don't find the Tokina RMC 17/3.5 works good on my Lens Turbo v1. In general, you need a more flat field lens to get best result with the lens turbo.

Oldhand · Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2015 7:52 am Post subject:

I'm not sure that either of them is going to be up to the standard of the Samyang 12mm that you have/had.
You might need to look at other alternatives perhaps
OH

dnf_spedition · Joined: 18 Apr 2009 Posts: 64 Location: The Netherlands

I have the Tokina RMC 1:3.5/17 mm. It has the Olympus OM mount and therefore used on OM bodies only. Quite satisfied with mine but I think as some members already mention you may need to invest in modern glas like the Samyang. Here are two examples made with Olympus OM2n. Regards Cliff.

Floating balls by Cliff-SP3, on Flickr

Hoftoren The Hague by Cliff-SP3, on Flickr