Tokina atx-m 11-18mm f/2.8 X

Summary

The Tokina atx-m 11-18mm f/2.8 X is a solid optical performer — a ultra-wide zoom (17mm equivalent) with f/2.8 maximum aperture. The lens is priced at approximately ~$750 USD. Please check the official product page for sample images, manuals, and firmware updates.

Genre Suitability

  • Excellent for: Travel, Sport, Wildlife
  • Adequate for: Nightscape, Landscape, Architecture, Street, Portrait
  • Avoid for: Macro

Strengths

  • Well-controlled aberrations

Weaknesses

  • Heavy vignetting wide open (2+ stops in corners)
  • Low macro capability (0.11x magnification)

Specifications 19/20

Optical construction 13 elements in 11 groups (2 aspherical, 2 SD)
Coating Multi-coating
Focal length11-18mm
Max aperturef/2.8
Sweet spot f/8
Aperture blades 9 (circular)
Sunstar points 18 (soft — circular blades)
Max magnification 0.11x
Min focus distance190mm
AF motorSTM
OISNo
Weather sealedNo
Aperture ringNo
Clickless aperture—
Focus ringYes
Focus by wireYes
Distance scaleNo
Rotating frontNo
Tripod mountNo
Weight320g
Diameter74mm
Length75mm
Filter thread67mm
Year2022

MTF Charts

f/2.8 @ 11mm 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 C 1.4 2.8 4.2 5.6 7 8.4 9.8 11.2 12.6 14 Image height (mm)
10 lp/mm S 10 lp/mm M 30 lp/mm S 30 lp/mm M
Position 10S 10M 30S 30M
Center — — 0.99 —
1.4mm — 0.96 0.98 —
2.8mm — 0.90 0.94 —
4.2mm — 0.89 0.88 —
5.6mm 1.00 0.89 0.84 —
7mm 1.00 0.97 0.83 —
8.4mm 1.00 0.95 0.85 —
9.8mm 1.00 0.92 0.84 0.59
11.2mm 0.98 0.91 0.76 0.54
12.6mm 0.93 0.88 0.60 0.48
14mm 0.82 0.86 0.43 0.39
f/2.8 @ 18mm 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 C 1.4 2.8 4.2 5.6 7 8.4 9.8 11.2 12.6 14 Image height (mm)
10 lp/mm S 10 lp/mm M 30 lp/mm S 30 lp/mm M
Position 10S 10M 30S 30M
Center — — 0.93 —
1.4mm — — 0.91 —
2.8mm — 1.00 0.88 0.82
4.2mm 1.00 0.99 0.83 0.79
5.6mm 1.00 0.99 0.79 0.78
7mm 0.99 0.98 0.74 —
8.4mm 0.98 0.96 0.66 —
9.8mm 0.95 0.93 0.55 —
11.2mm 0.91 0.90 0.49 —
12.6mm 0.83 0.88 0.48 —
14mm 0.74 — 0.43 —

Source: Official manufacturer specifications

Optical Quality 13/14

Center (wide open)
1.5
Corner (wide open)
1.0
Center (stopped)
1.5
Corner (stopped)
1.0
Coma
1.5
Astigmatism
1.0
Longitudinal CA
1.5
Lateral CA
2.0
Distortion
1.0
Vignetting (wide open)
0.0
Vignetting (stopped)
1.0
Bokeh
1.0
Flare resistance
1.0

Sharpness

  • Good center sharpness wide open
  • Acceptable corner sharpness wide open
  • Good center resolution stopped down
  • Acceptable corner sharpness stopped down

Aberrations

  • Well-controlled longitudinal CA
  • Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
  • Well-controlled coma
  • Moderate astigmatism

Rendering

  • Acceptable bokeh rendering
  • Heavy vignetting wide open (2+ stops in corners)
  • Moderate residual vignetting stopped down
  • Acceptable flare resistance with modern coatings

Distortion

  • Moderate distortion, handled by camera profiles

All optical scores are based on lab measurements and field tests from trusted review sources. For details on how we score lenses, see our scoring methodology.

Genre Fit

~ Nightscape Adequate ~ Landscape Adequate ~ Architecture Adequate ~ Street Adequate ✓ Travel Good ~ Portrait Adequate ✓ Sport Good ✓ Wildlife Good ✗ Macro Avoid

~ Nightscape Photography 3/5

Nightscape Photography prioritizes coma control, astigmatism correction, and a fast aperture for short star exposures.

Primary
  • Well-controlled coma
  • Moderate astigmatism
  • Slow f/2.8 aperture
Secondary
  • Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
  • Good center sharpness wide open
  • Acceptable corner sharpness wide open
  • Well-controlled longitudinal CA
  • Heavy vignetting wide open (2+ stops in corners)

~ Landscape Photography 3/5

Landscape Photography prioritizes corner-to-corner sharpness at stopped-down apertures and good flare resistance.

Primary
  • Acceptable corner sharpness stopped down
  • Good center resolution stopped down
Secondary
  • Moderate distortion, handled by camera profiles
  • Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
  • Well-controlled longitudinal CA
  • Moderate residual vignetting stopped down
  • Acceptable flare resistance with modern coatings
  • Moderate astigmatism
  • Well-controlled coma

~ Architecture Photography 3/5

Architecture Photography prioritizes geometric precision with minimal distortion and even corner sharpness.

Primary
  • Acceptable corner sharpness stopped down
  • Good center resolution stopped down
  • Moderate distortion, handled by camera profiles
Secondary
  • Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
  • Moderate residual vignetting stopped down
  • Acceptable flare resistance with modern coatings

~ Street Photography 3/5

Street Photography prioritizes sharp stopped-down performance and a fast enough aperture for low light.

Primary
  • Good center resolution stopped down
  • Slow f/2.8 aperture
Secondary
  • Good center sharpness wide open
  • Acceptable flare resistance with modern coatings
  • Well-controlled longitudinal CA
  • Well-controlled coma

✓ Travel Photography 4/5

Travel Photography prioritizes balanced image quality in a lightweight package.

Primary
  • Good center resolution stopped down
  • Lightweight at 320g
Secondary
  • Slow f/2.8 aperture
  • Acceptable flare resistance with modern coatings
  • Well-controlled longitudinal CA

~ Portrait Photography 3/5

Portrait Photography prioritizes smooth bokeh and critical center sharpness wide open for subject isolation.

Primary
  • Acceptable bokeh rendering
  • Good center sharpness wide open
Secondary
  • Well-controlled longitudinal CA
  • Heavy vignetting wide open (2+ stops in corners)

✓ Sport Photography 4/5

Sport Photography prioritizes sharp wide-open center performance to freeze action at fast shutter speeds.

Primary
  • Good center sharpness wide open
Secondary
  • Slow f/2.8 aperture
  • Well-controlled longitudinal CA
  • Negligible lateral chromatic aberration

✓ Wildlife Photography 4/5

Wildlife Photography prioritizes center sharpness across apertures for distant subjects.

Primary
  • Good center sharpness wide open
  • Good center resolution stopped down
Secondary
  • Slow f/2.8 aperture
  • Well-controlled longitudinal CA
  • Negligible lateral chromatic aberration

✗ Macro Photography 1/5

Macro Photography prioritizes stopped-down center sharpness and high magnification for close-up detail.

Primary
  • Good center resolution stopped down
  • Low magnification (0.11x)
Secondary
  • Moderate distortion, handled by camera profiles
  • Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
  • Well-controlled longitudinal CA
  • Acceptable bokeh rendering

Reviews

Dustin Abbott

Alternatives

Fujifilm XF 8-16mm f/2.8 R LM WR Sigma 17-40mm f/1.8 DC Art Fujifilm XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR II Sigma 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN C Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 Di III-A RXD Fujifilm XF 14mm f/2.8 R Samyang 14mm f/2.8 ED AS IF UMC Viltrox AF 13mm f/1.4 STM
Back to Lens Explorer