Wide angle lenses for digital SLRs have changed since the days of film, in part because the APS-C sensors used on the sub-$2,000 SLRs crop the image by a factor of 1.6. This means that a 10mm wide angle lens on an APS-C sized DSLR is equivalent to a 16mm wide angle. That is one reason that many camera companies started releasing wide-angle zoom lenses. Third party lens manufacturers like Tokina followed suit. For Canon EF-S mount cameras, photographers looking for a wide-angle zoom can choose from the Canon 10-22 and the Tokina 11-16.
EF-S Mount
Unlike Nikon, Canon uses a different mounting system on its APS-C sensor cameras like the 50D, XSi, and T1i. The "S" in EF-S stands for short-back focus and means the lens is designed to work better with APS-C cameras. An EF-S lens will not mount on an EF mount camera like the 5D or 1Ds Mark III. The Canon 10-22 and the Tokina 11-16 are both EF-S mount lenses.
Focal Length/Angle of View
The focal length of the Canon 10-22 is equivalent to a 16-35mm zoom. The Tokina 11-16 is equivalent to a 17.6-25.6mm zoom. The angle of view on the Tokina is 104 degrees to 82 degrees, while the angle of view on the Canon lens is 107 degrees at 30 feet to 63 degrees at 30 feet.
Aperture
The maximum aperture size of the Canon 10-22 is f3.5-4.5, depending on the focal length. If the aperture is set manually in the camera, it will vary between f3.5-4.5, and stay at its set point from f4.5-f22. The Tokina lens is a fixed aperture lens with a maximum aperture size of f2.8, making it a better lens in low light than the Canon. The minimum aperture of the Tokina is f22.
Lens Elements
The Canon lens has 13 lens elements in 10 groups, while the Tokina has 13 elements in 11 groups. Both lenses have an internal motor for focusing. The Canon has a switch on the lens to change from autofocus to manual focus. On the Tokina, the photographer can change to autofocus by shifting the focusing ring forward and to manual by shifting it backward.
Minimum Focus Distance
The minimum focus distance of the Canon 10-22 is .24 meters (.79 feet). On the Tokina, the minimum focus distance is .3 meters (.98 feet).
Size
The Canon measures 3.3 inches long, weighs 13.6 ounces and has a filter size of 77mm. The Tokina lens measures 3.5 inches long, weighs 19.75 ounces and has a filter size of 77mm.
Tags: Canon 10-22, Tokina 11-16, 10-22 Tokina, 10-22 Tokina 11-16, 77mm Tokina, angle view