Tokina AT-X DX 10-17mm F3.5-4.5 Fisheye Review

General information

This is a zoom lens manufactured by Tokina and the lens was released 2007.
The lens belongs to the category wide angle zoom lenses, a wide angle lens where you have the possibility to zoom in and out.
Worth thinking about is that the lens has a Fisheye-character which give the images an extreme wide but curved 'barrel' look which may require some post processing in your image editing software. Though, the lens offers you as a photographer the widest of wide angle views..

Product description from Tokina

At launch 2007 Tokina wrote this regarding Tokina AT-X DX 10-17mm F3.5-4.5 Fisheye:

"The new Tokina AT-X 107 DX is a full-frame fish-eye lens that gives the photographer a 180&Mac176; field of view with dramatic curvature of field or “fish-eye” effect. With this lens an entire view or vista can be captured, wider than the human eye can see. The AT-X 107 opens an entirely new dimension of photography.

The front element of the AT-X 107 DX has a newly formulated WR or “Water Repellent” optical coating on the glass. This new coating makes marks such as spots left by water or finger-prints much easier to clean than standard multi-coating.**

The rear optical group of the lens contains 1 SD (Super-Low Dispersion) glass element to reduce the number of elements (pieces of glass) in the optical design in order to make the lens more compact, light-weight and faster focusing. "


Compatibility, autofocus and focal length

The lens is available for both Canon and Nikon cameras, but there are two different versions of this lens (one for each brand and mount) so it is important that you ask for and choose the right version when bying the lens.

This lens is designed and meant for Canon and Nikon cameras with a smaller sensor (often referred to as 'APS-C') which means that the lens does not fit all camera models. By clicking on the link below you can make sure that the lens works with your camera model and you should do an additional check with your local dealer as well, before you buy the lens just to be sure.

Here it is the only Canon version of the lens that has a built-in autofocus (AF) motor. The possibility to use autofocus (AF) is available for Nikon cameras but only if the camera itself has a built-in autofocus (AF) motor. Some cheaper and budget camera models from Nikon lacks a built-in autofocus motor, and we at Lensora appreciate autofocus, so in the list of compatible cameras we have chosen to display only the cameras that you can get autofocus with.

The lens has a focal length of 10-17 mm. Since the lens is designed to be used on a camera with smaller sensor ('APS-C') the focal length will be equivalent to 16-27 mm if you have a Canon camera or 15-26 mm if you have a Niko camera.

Lens brightness and image stabilizer

The lens brightness and aperture value is f/3,5-4,5.

This lens is not considered to have a good aperture value and brightness. It is something to consider before you purchase the lens. To compensate for this you might, while photographing in less favorable light conditions, be forced to either use higher ISO settings (which generates more noise in the image), slower shutter speeds (which may give some motion blur) or flash lightning. Read more at the link below what lens brightness means to you as a photographer.

One thing to consider is that the lens has a variable brightness, which means that depending on how much you are zooming the lens will have a different maximum aperture value. At 10 mm the lens brightness is f/3,5 and at 17 mm the brightness is f/4,5. Through the link below you can read more about what this could mean for you as a photographer.

The lens lacks image stabilization, which otherwise os good for avoiding the blur that can occur when using slow shutter speeds. 

Filter and Lens Hood

This lens does not support the use of filters which is slightly negative. To have the option to use filters, for their optic purpose or as protection, would have been nice but no.

Most lenses have the lens hood as an accessory, something that you mount on the lens seperately, but this lens has a lens hood as a fixed part of the lens.

Images of Tokina AT-X DX 10-17mm F3.5-4.5 Fisheye

In order to see larger product images of the lens, click the link below.

Things to consider before buying

Below you will find some summarized points and facts that can be considered as the 'pros and cons' of this lens. These are based entirely on the facts and values that are accessible through the lens specification, so we highly recommend that you also read the reported reviews available (see tab 'Reviews'); this in order to get a more complete view of the lens and its capabilities. Reviewer opinions reflect the lens, its use and its optical performance in a more accurate way, but any way - here a few different points to consider before buying this lens.

  • A lens hood is included (solid construction)
  • Light weight (350 gr)
  • No built-in autofocus motor (the Nikon version)
  • Works only on cameras with APS-C sensor
  • Might have a limited use
  • Poor aperture value with its f/4,5
  • A variable lens brightness at different focal lengths
  • Not possible to use filters
  • The lens is not sealed against moisture and dust

Our Review Ratings

Time to grade Tokina AT-X DX 10-17mm F3.5-4.5 Fisheye.

Build Quality     
Image Quality     
Autofocus     
Sharpness     
Versatility     
Value     
Overall rating 3 of 5

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