Tokina Fans/Users

[SabaDen]

Hi, any Tokina fans here? Share some of your Tokina stories here please.

I first came across this brand when I bot the 20-35 f2.8 and I simply love the feel ... it's built like a tank. :thumbsup: IQ wise, slightly more than exceptable ... except when wide open. Pretty soft wide open.

Gonna get the 100 f2.8 Macro .... hopefully by next week. Anyone using this? Stories & pics to share?

Really yearned for the 28-70 f2.6-f2.8 ... really hard to find a good copy at a reasonable price though. Read it on Bro La Fontaine's thread started here.

TIA

ps. Dunno whether this had been started or appropriate. :embrass: a PM wud be appreciated

 

[SK1968]

I got my first Tokina lens about 12 years ago. It was the beginning of my progressive effort to replace all my Minolta mount kit lens (Minolta, Sigma, Cosina, etc) to Minolta or third party f2.8 lens. The first was the AT-X Pro 80-200mm f2.8. It was very sharp for my camera then, the 800si. This was followed by AT-X Pro 28-70mm f2.6-2.8 and then AT-X 20-35 f2.8 that you have. They have all been with me for more than 10 years now. Been very useful and reliable (performed flawlessly even when I was at Arctic Circle). The only downside is that they are really built like a tank, ie, heavy like hell ...but then that's probably the limitation of technology for such lens back then. They are still going strong after all these years with the 2 shorter ones accompanying me to China recently (work fine with my DSLR). I left the big one at home as firstly it is really too heavy and secondly, it was 'recuperating' from a 'minor surgery'..... had it cleaned for fungus (its first 'MC' since birth)....nah, the former was the real reason... However, I am quite sad that Tokina don't make lens for Sony mounts anymore Otherwise I would have bought their AT-X 100 AF Pro D....too bad, so bought the Tamron SP 90 instead.

 

[SabaDen]

Thanks Bro SK1968 ... the heavy like hell portion is a compromise that we have to make to have lenses built like that. Haha! It's the built & feel that I liked ... IQ wise, once u get there, it can be very good.

Guess not many fans or users ya ... 41 views as of now but only u post

 

[fibredrive]

well, i'm a user. new one at that! just started out in photog and got the toki 28-80mm f2.8 on BnS for a steal. am very happy with my purchase and am gunning for the 12-24mm in time to come. well impressed with its IQ even wide open. samples on fontaine's thread.

and yes, as i mentioned in Fontaine's thread, weight is killer for walkabout. but results are worth it.

cheers

 

[SK1968]

Thanks Bro SK1968 ... the heavy like hell portion is a compromise that we have to make to have lenses built like that. Haha! It's the built & feel that I liked ... IQ wise, once u get there, it can be very good.

Guess not many fans or users ya ... 41 views as of now but only u post

Perhaps not too many of these lens are around anymore due to their age. Anyway, don't be disheartened by the lack of posts and views. Personally, I think it is ok even if views are high while posts are low, ...better than lots of posts simply for the fun of it with no relevant contents...and the focus eventually got diluted.

 

[NE clicks clicks]

Yes, I too like to use Tokina lenses when 3rd party lenses are concern.
As many has said, they feels like a tank and are buillt to last. The only trade off being very heavy when compared to similar products by other makers.
So far my experience with Tokina have all been pleasant .....very unlike Sigma(loads of bad experience).
Currently owns the 20-35 as well as 10-17 FE. both I am pretty please with.
Looking forward to the arrival in Singapore of the 16.5-135mm that has been reported on their web page.;p

 

[pikapig]

u got my support, i love my 12-24mm...f4, i doubt i will sell this lens...

 

[tabako]

I always like the Tokina 100mm macro lens after reading about it, decided to get this over tamron 90mm and canon 100mm is out of budget.

but I asked a few shops, MS Color, OP, CP, John all dun hab stocks. I dunno why they don't have this lens, this is a good lens mah. All ask me get Tamron 90mm. I dun wan leh.

Who knows got stock Tokina 100mm macro?

 

[cichlid]

I always like the Tokina 100mm macro lens after reading about it, decided to get this over tamron 90mm and canon 100mm is out of budget.

but I asked a few shops, MS Color, OP, CP, John all dun hab stocks. I dunno why they don't have this lens, this is a good lens mah. All ask me get Tamron 90mm. I dun wan leh.

Who knows got stock Tokina 100mm macro?

Last time I bought mine at T.K Foto, may be you wana check with them.

 

[plasticlens]

hey another toki user here.. heh heh

 

[tabako]

Last time I bought mine at T.K Foto, may be you wana check with them.

Yup just checked with them, its $665, is it a good price?

 

[HKSfz18]

Tokina 50-135 f2.8 user.

just got this lens 2nd hand last wk hence had only used it once. combine with my D90, the weight ard 1.5kg. my arm was practically aching from lugging it ard for half a day but even though it was heavy, I'm loving it. I did ask CP for the new price but mentioned that this lens is not sold locally?!?

In time to come looking at Tokina 11-16 f2.8 though not really sure should I get a UWA or just take a couple of shots and stitch to panorama cheaper alternative instead.;p

 

[SK1968]

Tokina 50-135 f2.8 user.

just got this lens 2nd hand last wk hence had only used it once. combine with my D90, the weight ard 1.5kg. my arm was practically aching from lugging it ard for half a day but even though it was heavy, I'm loving it. I did ask CP for the new price but mentioned that this lens is not sold locally?!?

In time to come looking at Tokina 11-16 f2.8 though not really sure should I get a UWA or just take a couple of shots and stitch to panorama cheaper alternative instead.;p

I really envy you guys, not so lucky for Sony onwers. I have to look elsewhere for a good UWA then, which may not match Tokina's f2.8

 

[tabako]

I really envy you guys, not so lucky for Sony onwers. I have to look elsewhere for a good UWA then, which may not match Tokina's f2.8

That's why I sold my A300 after only 3 weeks, ha ha ha, cos not enough 3rd party support, not saying Sony is not good, I use to use Minolta film camera too.

 

[SK1968]

That's why I sold my A300 after only 3 weeks, ha ha ha, cos not enough 3rd party support, not saying Sony is not good, I use to use Minolta film camera too.

Wow, sold off in just 3 weeks. Must have lost pretty substantially. That said, I wonder what 3rd party support you found lacking that you so badly needed for your A300 that led you to suffer such lost. hmmm....

 

[tabako]

Wow, sold off in just 3 weeks. Must have lost pretty substantially. That said, I wonder what 3rd party support you found lacking that you so badly needed for your A300 that led you to suffer such lost. hmmm....

Not really, I bought during IT show, so got a lot of freebies, I sold all my freebies separately and in the end lost about $50 only.

Lens, flash, ISO hotshoe products.

 

[SK1968]

Not really, I bought during IT show, so got a lot of freebies, I sold all my freebies separately and in the end lost about $50 only.

Lens, flash, ISO hotshoe products.

So what did you get for yourself after the A300? Any Tokina lens that you had wanted but not available for Alpha mount?

 

[JeffryZ]

I have two Tokinas for my Nikon D80 and love them both- the 11-16mm f/2.8 and the 50- 135mm f/2.8. Some days they are the only ones I take with me. I always bring the 11-16mm.

 

[cichlid]

Yup just checked with them, its $665, is it a good price?

I bought mine in 2007, the price was $545....hmm , so that is an increase of $120 but then prices have risen for all lenses right?

 

[swatkh84]

Hi, anyone has use the Tokina 11-16mm and 12-24mm DXII wide angle lens before? i am more into landscape shooting, so not too sure abt the price for these 2 lens... is there any website to check the price locally? thanks!