Question:
With all Sigmas, especially those for Canon EOS, there is a significant risk that you’ll need the lens re-chipped to work with the next new design of camera body. I’ve just today been reading the (long) list of Sigma lenses that need to be re-chipped to work with the EOS 30.
… I’ll just note for completeness that the EX series from Sigma DO NOT have to be rechipped for the EOS 30/Elan 7. As for the future, I have no idea whether the EX series will be compatible with yet to be introduced models. If history is a judge, they will need rechipping. Bill Jameson
Response:
With all Sigmas, especially those for Canon EOS, there is a significant risk that you’ll need the lens re-chipped to work with the next new design of camera body. I’ve just today been reading the (long) list of Sigma lenses that need to be re-chipped to work with the EOS 30. … I’ll just note for completeness that the EX series from Sigma DO NOT have to be rechipped for the EOS 30/Elan 7. As for the future, I have no idea whether the EX series will be compatible with yet to be introduced models. If history is a judge, they will need rechipping.
Indeed. And if they’ve already been re-chipped once, experience appears to show (I’m relying on conversations with Canon-owning friends) that they sometimes cannot be re-chipped a second time. It’s a pity, because some Sigma lenses have great glass. I’ve had mechanical problems with my Sigmas, but some of them have been great optics. I am particularly thinking of the 24mm f/2.8 and the 70-210mm f/2.8 APO, the predecessor to the current 70-200mm f/2.8 EX. Both are fine lenses when they work. Without re-chipping ever entering the decision making process (because Sigmas for Nikon don’t seem to need re-chipping) I know I will never again buy a Sigma lens. This is because of the mechanical problems I’ve experienced (going back to 1975) and the difficulty I’ve had getting them repaired under warranty, or at a reasonable price, or at all. — Tony Polson, North Yorkshire, UK
Response:
I intend to buy the Tokina 20-35mm f3.5-4.5 for my Canon EOS. How is the performance of this lens. Can any one advise me. Thanks.
I own one of those, and I think it is quite good. I would expect a five times more expensive lens to be better and faster, but not much 
It is possible that I have gotten hold of a especially good one, but Tokina surprised me a little on this one. Mine is the first version (the one that got "famous") and was bought used, so my capital outlay was minimized. The new (nominally) 19-35 Tokina with the plastic barrel is reported as good as well. The one thing I don’t know about is AF speed on a canon, but it works well enough on a old Nikon. Wide angle lenses are not usually critical in regard to AF speed, BTW. — Anders Svensson
Response:
Please note that I do NOT have this lens, I went with the Sigma 17-35 f/2.8-4.0 EX HSM for Canon EOS. Still the review in Pop Photo and some small amount of feedback on the EOS list made me notice it.
With all Sigmas, especially those for Canon EOS, there is a significant risk that you’ll need the lens re-chipped to work with the next new design of camera body. I’ve just today been reading the (long) list of Sigma lenses that need to be re-chipped to work with the EOS 30. — Tony Polson, North Yorkshire, UK
Response:
I intend to buy the Tokina 20-35mm f3.5-4.5 for my Canon EOS. How is the performance of this lens. Can any one advise me. Thanks.
It is very, very good for such an inexpensive lens. I bought one (in Nikon fit) to experiment with wide angles and to find the best fixed focal lengths for my photography. As a result I bought 20mm and 35mm lenses, but I have also kept the zoom. The lens is sharp in the centre throughout the zoom range and sharp at the edges from f/8 (f=20mm) and f/5.6 (f=35mm). It has good contrast at all apertures and focal lengths but is prone to flare and reduced contrast when used at the wide end (f=20-14mm) and wide open (f/5.6 and wider). It suffers from noticeable but not excessive pincushion distortion at the wide end and slight barrel distortion at the 35mm end. This distortion will not bother a landscape photographer but I think it is too obtrusive for architectural photography. Your mileage may vary. Samples will vary so you should do your own tests on any lens you buy before deciding to keep it. Buy from a source that accept returns, and test the lens as soon as you receive it. The 20-35mm f3.5-4.5 is now discontinued in favour of a 19-35mm f3.5-4.5 which appears optically identical (despite the difference in nominal focal length range) but has a polycarbonate barrel. The 20-35 has a metal barrel and a feeling of solidity, but at the expense of greater weight. I chose to buy a used 20-35mm because the better build quality was more important to me than lower weight. Whatever you do, avoid the early Tokina 19-35mm which pre-dated the 20-35mm and should by now only be available used. This is a rebadged Soligor/Vivitar/Cosina optic which is useful only as an expensive paperweight. It does not fit my definition of a photographic lens. — Tony Polson, North Yorkshire, UK
Response:
I intend to buy the Tokina 20-35mm f3.5-4.5 for my Canon EOS. How is the performance of this lens. Can any one advise me. Thanks.
Response:
I intend to buy the Tokina 20-35mm f3.5-4.5 for my Canon EOS. How is the performance of this lens. Can any one advise me. Thanks.
The following new version (replaced the 20-35, I think) had a good review in Popular Photography: The new Tokina Zoom Super Wide Angle 19-35mm f/3.5-4.5 Auto Focus Lens f/Canon EOS Kit Consists of 19-35mm F/3.5-4.5 F/Can-Eos B&H Catalog # TO193535CAFJ Mfg Catalog # AF193C In Stock $199.95 List Price: $229.90 Please note that I do NOT have this lens, I went with the Sigma 17-35 f/2.8-4.0 EX HSM for Canon EOS. Still the review in Pop Photo and some small amount of feedback on the EOS list made me notice it. Bill Jameson
If you like this post and would like to receive updates from this blog, please subscribe our feed.