Lost in the headlines surrounding the CP+ photo trade show that dealt mainly with the mass of new cameras that were announced by just about every manufacturer on the market, there were also lenses. One of these lenses that draw the attention of many was the Tokina 12-28 f4. Unfortunately, at the time, there were no specifics on the lens, just news that it would be coming down the pipeline in the fut
Well, the future has arrived.
Yesterday, Tokina announced the pricing and availability of the new optic. The AT-X 12-24 f4 PRO DX, as it will officially be known, will hit the United States market in Nikon mount in April and in Canon mount until June. The price: 90,000 Japanese Yen, or about $945.
For Tokina, the 12-28 f4 replaces the immensely popular 12-24 f4 II, which replaced a “I” version of the same lens. While not as wide at the wide end and having a shorter zoom range than other ultrawide sub-frame optics, the Tokinas were widely regarded as having the best build quality (manufacturer or third party) in class and among the best all-around optics, too. The same holds true for Tokina's FF/35mm film ultrawides, which means that, in all probability, the 12-28 f4 will be a gem, too.
So, want one yet?
For anyone looking to buy a Tokina 12-28 f4 in the Cleveland area? Well, there's Cleveland-based Dodd Camera, with its downtown superstore. In addition, Dodd has many smaller Cleveland metro area chain stores in the Cuyahoga County as well. Dodd carries Tokina products.
As a final note on price: MSRPs can differ in different markets so, while the plain currency conversion says that the Tokina 12-28 will sell for around $950, look for it to be lower as both 12-24s hit stores for around $500 at announcement. Personally, I look for the 12-28 to retail for about the same price, certainly no more than $600 at most. .
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