Are you a photographer looking for a wide-angle lens for your APS-C camera? Tokina offers two popular options, the 11-16mm and the 11-20mm.
But which one is right for you? In this blog post, we’ll take a deep dive into the similarities and differences between these two lenses, including their focal length range, aperture, and image quality.
By the end of this article, you’ll have a better understanding of which lens is best suited for your photography needs.
Tokina 11-16mm Vs 11-20mm: Key Differences Overview
Both Tokina lenses are wide angle zoom lenses with manual focus, but the 11-20mm has a longer maximum focal length than the 11-16mm. The 11-20mm also includes digital image stabilization, while the 11-16mm has a one touch focus clutch mechanism.
Quick Comparison
Specifications | Tokina 11-16mm | Tokina 11-20mm |
---|---|---|
Autofocus | Often faces focus delay or inaccuracy | Super fast, accurate autofocus |
Optical image stabilization | No | No |
Angle | 104° to 82° angle of view | an angle of view of 104.34° to 72.42°. |
Sharpness | Soft and moderate bright images | Super brightness |
Aperture Range | f/2.8 to f/22 | f/2.8 to f/22 |
Focal length | 11 to 16mm | 11 to 20 mm |
Closer Shots | Minimum shot distance 0.30m | Minimum shot distance 0.28m |
Maximum Magnification | 0.9x | 0.12x |
Diaphragm blades | Nine | Nine |
Dimensions | 84*91.7mm | 89*92mm |
Weight | 560g | 560gm |
Optical Design | 13 elements and 11 groups | 14 elements in 12 groups |
Price | Reasonable (Check Latest Price Here) | Reasonable (Check Latest Price Here) |
Lens Mount | Canon EF | Nikon F |
Tokina 11-16mm Vs 11-20mm: Differences
Focal Length
Edge: Tokina 11-20mm
Yet both lenses are wide-angle zoom lenses, but Tokina 11-20mm allows a wide range of zooming facilities.
Tokina 11-16mm comes with a focal length of 11 to 20mm, while 11-16mm offers an 11 to 16mm focal length.
So you can capture big-angle scenes and larger individuals with a Tokina 11-20mm lens.
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Zoom
Edge: Tokina 11-20mm
Tokina 11-16mm allows a zoom ratio of 0.9x, while Tokina 11-20 mm offers 0.12x zooming. So you can enjoy ultra-wide zooming with Tokina 11-20mm.
11-20mm helps photographers to do a variety of shooting in different environments.
You don’t need to move your camera to capture a long-distance subject. Even and long zooming ability makes it a top choice for wild photographers.
Focus
Edge: Tokina 11-20mm
Tokina 11-16mm offers autofocus but lacks full-time manual focusing, while Tokina 11-20mm offers faster autofocus and full-time manual focusing.
So Tokina 11-20mm is the best pick for faster and more efficient focusing on complex scenarios.
It is better than Tokina 11-16mm. Sometimes Tokina 11-16mm fails to focus accurately.
Closer Shots
Edge: Tokina 11-20mm
Tokina 11-16mm allows minimum shots at 0.30 m, while Tokina 11-20mm offers a minimum distance of 0.28m.
So Tokina 11-20mm gives you the best performance during macro photography.
You can make superior closest shots with an 11-20mm lens. The image clarity in closer shots of 11-20mm is a bit better than 11-16mm.
Sharpness
Edge: Both
Tokina 11-16mm offers outstanding sharper images, while 11-20mm is also super sharp.
So you can derive a super sharp image under all conditions if you buy Tokina 11-20mm or 11-16mm.
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Design
Edge: Tokina 11-20mm
Both Tokina 11-16mm and 11-20mm introduces premium optical design.
But Tokina 11-16mm provides a slightly shorter zoom range. As a result, it can’t maintain optical quality at a wide aperture.
But 11-20mm gives you impressive optical quality. It comes with 14 elements, 12 groups, three aspherical, three SD, and advanced multilayer coating.
While 11-16mm is equipped with 13 elements, 11 groups, 1SD element, and 2 aspherical elements. So obviously, Tokina 11-20mm provides improved optics design.
Diaphragm Blades
Edge: Both
Tokina 11-16mm provides 9 diaphragm blades, while 11-20mm also offers 9 blades.
So 11-16mm and 11-20mm give you a smoother look to the bokeh.
Angle Of View
Edge: Tokina 11-20mm
Tokina 11-16mm allows an angle of view of 104° to 82°, while Tokina 11-20mm offers 104.34° to 72.42°.
That means both lenses are ultra wide and capable of capturing wide-angle shots. But 11-20mm gives you long coverage than Tokina 11-16mm.
Image Quality
Edge: Both
Overall performance of both Tokina 11-16mm and 11-20mm is excellent. It works great and delivers impressive shots.
Despite the zooming range, 11-16mm is also good for making a clear and perfect shot. Even it is sharp enough.
Conversely, Tokina 11-20mm is the upgrade version of Tokina 11-16mm. So the image quality, brightness, and performance all are above standard.
Even you can enjoy a wide range of zooming with a clear view if you use an 11-20mm lens.
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Compatibility
Edge: Tokina 11-20mm
Tokina 11-16mm is compatible with all Nikon DSLRs, while 11-20mm works fine with full-frame, which means every camera you need.
I use 11-20mm in my Nikon and Canon; everything should work perfectly. So both lenses give a wide range of compatibility.
Cost
Edge: Both
Tokina is an affordable brand. Fortunately, both Tokina 11-16mm and 11-20mm offer reasonable prices.
Compared to their brilliant performance, features, and durability, both lenses are worth buying.
Tokina 11-16mm Vs 11-20mm: What Are The Similarities?
Aperture
Both Tokina 11-16mm and 11-20mm provide the same aperture range. The maximum aperture is F2.8, and the min aperture is F22.
That means both lenses perform excellently in low light situations.
The fast aperture range F2.8 makes these two lenses must have a choice. You can improve your photography with these masterpiece lenses.
Image Stabilizer
Unfortunately, both Tokina 11-16mm and Tokina 11-20mm don’t have a built-in image stabilizer.
Weight
Weight is an important factor when choosing a lens. The photographer needs to move now and then.
It is not possible to carry overweight lenses as they need to carry multiple lenses.
However, Tokina 11-16mm and 11-20 mm is only 560g. So both are compact and portable.
You can easily carry it and switch between lenses according to your Photography needs.
Tokina 11-16mm Vs 11-20mm: Which One Is Best For You?
In terms of edge characteristics, undoubtedly, Tokina 11-20mm is a better choice than 11-16mm.
That means Tokina 11-20mm lens will give you better performance, features, image quality, efficient focusing, and zooming coverage than 11-16mm.
Conversely, Tokina 11-16mm is a masterpiece ultra-wide angle lens with a fast f/2.8 aperture that delivers excellent images.
Despite the shorter zoom range, 11-16mm is also a good choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tokina 11-20mm full frame lens?
Yes, Tokina 11-20mm is a full-frame well-built lens that comes with excellent optical quality.
Should I buy a Tokina 11-20mm or 11-16mm lens?
Both Tokina 11-20mm and 11-16mm gives a similar performance, but 11-20mm is slightly better.
So you should go for Tokina 11-20mm as a professional photographer.
Is it worth buying a Tokina 11-16mm lens?
Tokina 11-16mm is a well-built, ultra-wide, fastest, sharp, versatile lens that delivers top-notch image quality.
So yes, it is worth buying.
Is Tokina 11-20mm lens weather sealed?
Unfortunately, Tokina 1-20mm lens is not weather sealed. But it adds a rubber seal at the lens to prevent water flow.
Is Tokina 11-16 mm lens good for wedding photography?
As 11-16mm is ultra-wide, it is extreme for wedding shots.
You can capture a few creative shots with this wide lens, but it is not suitable for whole wedding shoots.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you can already find the best lens between Tokina 11-16mm vs 11-20mm. Undoubtedly both lenses are masterpieces for versatile photography.
As they offer almost similar features, it is tough to choose the best one.
If you need a zoom lens for landscape, architecture, interior, and astrophotography, then 11-20mm are ideal.
On the other hand, Tokina 11-16mm is a versatile, cost-effective lens that is also suited for landscape, architecture, macro, and crop sensor photography.
So you can see both are good enough in a similar field, so you can pick any lenses according to your preference and budget.