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Tokina 28-70 ATX ProII

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Harlod

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Per a previous thread I'm posting some samples my first time out with this lens. All the pics are using the lens, except for the sunsets and train. There are full size crops at f2.8, f4.0, f8.0, f16.0. I might be doing the lens some disservice given that all these were handheld and it was windy, but I'm pleased with the sharpness even wide open.

http://www.pbase.com/harold_s/
 
Indeed Harold I too have had an opportunity to work with this lens as well as the Sigma equivalent. I feel that THIS particular Tokina lens is either going to be or should be the "De Facto" lens choice for those not able to afford the Canon 28-70 2.8L. While it is NO L it is an EXCEPTIONAL value and very capable optically. The color rendition and edge to edge performance (at least with a 1.3 and 1.6x factor on digitals) is to be highy commended. Without a doubt they are better built then ANY competition in their perspective price range, and offer a HIGH level of reliability. Considering your shooting conditions you did a good job.....well done!
 
Lee Rothman said:
Indeed Harold I too have had an opportunity to work with this lens
as well as the Sigma equivalent. I feel that THIS particular Tokina
lens is either going to be or should be the "De Facto" lens choice
for those not able to afford the Canon 28-70 2.8L. While it is NO L
it is an EXCEPTIONAL value and very capable optically. The color
rendition and edge to edge performance (at least with a 1.3 and
1.6x factor on digitals) is to be highy commended. Without a doubt
they are better built then ANY competition in their perspective
price range, and offer a HIGH level of reliability. Considering
your shooting conditions you did a good job.....well done!
Click to expand...
 
Yep, for $350 new I'm very satisfied.
Lee Rothman said:
Indeed Harold I too have had an opportunity to work with this lens
as well as the Sigma equivalent. I feel that THIS particular Tokina
lens is either going to be or should be the "De Facto" lens choice
for those not able to afford the Canon 28-70 2.8L. While it is NO L
it is an EXCEPTIONAL value and very capable optically. The color
rendition and edge to edge performance (at least with a 1.3 and
1.6x factor on digitals) is to be highy commended. Without a doubt
they are better built then ANY competition in their perspective
price range, and offer a HIGH level of reliability. Considering
your shooting conditions you did a good job.....well done!
Click to expand...
 
Can that lens maintain it's 2.8 aperture throughout the zoom range? or is it only 2.8 at the 28mm end?
Harold S said:
Per a previous thread I'm posting some samples my first time out
with this lens. All the pics are using the lens, except for the
sunsets and train. There are full size crops at f2.8, f4.0, f8.0,
f16.0. I might be doing the lens some disservice given that all
these were handheld and it was windy, but I'm pleased with the
sharpness even wide open.

http://www.pbase.com/harold_s/
Click to expand...
 
Its actually a f2.6-f2.8 but I haven't been able to get the aperature down to f2.6 on the D60 using Av mode at any range in the zoom. So on the D60 it seems to function as 2.8 throughout.
David Hood said:
Harold S said:
Per a previous thread I'm posting some samples my first time out
with this lens. All the pics are using the lens, except for the
sunsets and train. There are full size crops at f2.8, f4.0, f8.0,
f16.0. I might be doing the lens some disservice given that all
these were handheld and it was windy, but I'm pleased with the
sharpness even wide open.

http://www.pbase.com/harold_s/
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Harold,

95% of my wedding and event shots are with the ProII. I extensively evaluated this lens against Canon's 28-70L 2.8. If the Canon is a 9.5 in color and sharpness, the Tokina is a 9.2, while I found the Sigma 28-70 2.8 EX to be around an 8.5. With the Canon and Tokina being so close, I simply could not justify the $700 price difference.
Harold S said:
Per a previous thread I'm posting some samples my first time out
with this lens. All the pics are using the lens, except for the
sunsets and train. There are full size crops at f2.8, f4.0, f8.0,
f16.0. I might be doing the lens some disservice given that all
these were handheld and it was windy, but I'm pleased with the
sharpness even wide open.

http://www.pbase.com/harold_s/
Click to expand...
 
I have the EF28-135IS lens and the 70-200 F4. I am thinking whether I should trade the 28-135IS for a new 28-70 F2.8 lens. By the switch I gain from 1 stop speed and lose the lovely IS. Is the gain in colour and contrast justify such a switch?

Other lenses I have are:

50/1.8
135/2
100-400 IS (sold as I find it too heavy to get real pleasure on playing)
 
When I inquired about this lens, Tokina gave a late summer/early fall availability estimate. Some interesting enhancements though, which address some of the few negatives about this lens: The new lens is a little lighter, the current one is a bit heavy. The new lens has a shorter minimum focus distance, and a MF/AF selector that is easier to use. If the image quality is equal to the Pro II, I might consider trading in. However, it sounds like it will be awhile before we can tell how the new lens will perform.
Robert Schultz said:
http://www.thkphoto.com/info/pr040102-b.html

thought you might want to know, that a new lens is coming,..
straight 2.8

anybody compared the 28-70mm with the 28-80mm tokina ? just curious.

cheers, Robert Schultz

--
http://www.RobsPhoto.com
Click to expand...
 
I carefully tested this lens at 2.8, 4 and 5.6 against the 50mm Mk I and the EF 85 1.8. Averaging the 3 f stops, the Tokina was sharper than both Canons, their reputations notwithstanding. The Tokina is a very underappreciated lens.
Harold S said:
Per a previous thread I'm posting some samples my first time out
with this lens. All the pics are using the lens, except for the
sunsets and train. There are full size crops at f2.8, f4.0, f8.0,
f16.0. I might be doing the lens some disservice given that all
these were handheld and it was windy, but I'm pleased with the
sharpness even wide open.

http://www.pbase.com/harold_s/
Click to expand...
 
Sharper than the 85 1.8 at 2.8 4 and 5.6????!!!! show me at least one unprocessed example please.
randall w said:
Harold S said:
Per a previous thread I'm posting some samples my first time out
with this lens. All the pics are using the lens, except for the
sunsets and train. There are full size crops at f2.8, f4.0, f8.0,
f16.0. I might be doing the lens some disservice given that all
these were handheld and it was windy, but I'm pleased with the
sharpness even wide open.

http://www.pbase.com/harold_s/
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--
I love the 50/1.8
 
Come on now Mike either get a grip or there are extraneous reasons you feel this way. The L has significantly greater contrast (when comparing shot for shot, which is how I evaluated it). As I'm sure you FEEL that it has the kind of performance you describe, shot for shot it is NOT that close to the L. Besides the L also has less optical issues outside of the center of the lens than the Tokina (or ANY other focal range lens like it for that matter). Now I CAN allow for differences between lenses. In that case I can cut you some slack, but I can certainly say that the Tokina does NOT come as close as you describe to the copy of 28-70L I have, that's all I can say. With that clarification I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the Tokina to anyone shopping for an affordable/high performance lens.....(Toyota's while VERY good are STILL NOT Mercedes).....
Mike Greer said:
Harold,

95% of my wedding and event shots are with the ProII. I extensively
evaluated this lens against Canon's 28-70L 2.8. If the Canon is a
9.5 in color and sharpness, the Tokina is a 9.2, while I found the
Sigma 28-70 2.8 EX to be around an 8.5. With the Canon and Tokina
being so close, I simply could not justify the $700 price
difference.
Click to expand...
 
that for critical applications (weddings, portraiture, landscape etc.) I stick to the sharper, more contrasty and better built 28-70 2.8L. For general family walkaround stuff when I am unsure how much focal range I'll need and can't take a monopod or tripod when I am pretty sure I'll be shooting with slower shutter speeds, I use the 28-135IS. Really that simple for me I guess.
Hugo So said:
I have the EF28-135IS lens and the 70-200 F4. I am thinking
whether I should trade the 28-135IS for a new 28-70 F2.8 lens. By
the switch I gain from 1 stop speed and lose the lovely IS. Is the
gain in colour and contrast justify such a switch?

Other lenses I have are:

50/1.8
135/2
100-400 IS (sold as I find it too heavy to get real pleasure on
playing)
Click to expand...
 
Toyota quality ranks higher than Mercedes.
Lee Rothman said:
Mike Greer said:
Harold,

95% of my wedding and event shots are with the ProII. I extensively
evaluated this lens against Canon's 28-70L 2.8. If the Canon is a
9.5 in color and sharpness, the Tokina is a 9.2, while I found the
Sigma 28-70 2.8 EX to be around an 8.5. With the Canon and Tokina
being so close, I simply could not justify the $700 price
difference.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--
Sincerely,
Y. Chachad
Shoot The World
http://www.pbase.com/eastrace
http://www.pbase.com/chachads
 
than you too can easily be caught DEAD in one in a tough car crash as they (Toyotas) fold like a tin can. I have a friend in the body shop business and he urged me to NOT even consider one as he said "he actually likes me" LOL.
Yatin Chachad said:
Lee Rothman said:
Mike Greer said:
Harold,

95% of my wedding and event shots are with the ProII. I extensively
evaluated this lens against Canon's 28-70L 2.8. If the Canon is a
9.5 in color and sharpness, the Tokina is a 9.2, while I found the
Sigma 28-70 2.8 EX to be around an 8.5. With the Canon and Tokina
being so close, I simply could not justify the $700 price
difference.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--
Sincerely,
Y. Chachad
Shoot The World
http://www.pbase.com/eastrace
http://www.pbase.com/chachads
Click to expand...
 
Lee Rothman said:
than you too can easily be caught DEAD in one in a tough car crash
as they (Toyotas) fold like a tin can. I have a friend in the body
shop business and he urged me to NOT even consider one as he said
"he actually likes me" LOL.
Click to expand...
Many cars are specifically designed to "fold up like a tin can". The energy of a crash is dissipated by the bending metal and not absorbed by the people in the car. How safe a car is should not be judged by how the car looks after a crash but rather the health of the occupants of the car after the crash.
 
Diana died in a Mercedes. All I said was Toyota as in Toyota in Japan, and Lexus In USA beats Mercedes in quality. AS a matter of fact, Toyota quality exceeds that of ANY SINGLE manufacturer in the world.
Dr. Y. Chachad
Lee Rothman said:
Yatin Chachad said:
Lee Rothman said:
Mike Greer said:
Harold,

95% of my wedding and event shots are with the ProII. I extensively
evaluated this lens against Canon's 28-70L 2.8. If the Canon is a
9.5 in color and sharpness, the Tokina is a 9.2, while I found the
Sigma 28-70 2.8 EX to be around an 8.5. With the Canon and Tokina
being so close, I simply could not justify the $700 price
difference.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--
Sincerely,
Y. Chachad
Shoot The World
http://www.pbase.com/eastrace
http://www.pbase.com/chachads
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--
Sincerely,
Y. Chachad
Shoot The World
http://www.pbase.com/eastrace
http://www.pbase.com/chachads
 
No Lee, YOU get a grip. I'm giving my reports on MY evaluation. I looked VERY hard at the Canon, Sigma, and Tokina. I results are that the Canon was the best, the Tokina second, and the Sigma last. But the Tokina was closer to the Canon than the Sigma. That's what the numbers are trying to show. In most aspects that I was concerned about. Namely, image quality and build quality. These were subjective evaluations BY me FOR me. Just who do you think you are to question my subjective evaluation? You don't know me. You have no idea what my requirements are nor what I'm satisfied by. For my applications, the Tokina was the best opyion taking price and performance into consideration than the L. Given a choice with money as no object, I'd choose the L!. But when I'm spending my money, the L doesn't justify the extra $700 for me. I have no stock in Tokina nor do I care whether people buy the Canon or the Tokina. I'm just giving my opinion and others have followed my opinion and have been thoroughly satisfied. Just say you disagree. Don't tell me to "get a grip". That's insulting and unnecessary.

You say it doesn't come as close as I describe. Just what did I describe? I wrote if the L was a 9.5, the Tokina is a 9.2, and the Sigma was an 8.5. You say it's not that close. But to say that, you'd have to know exactly how my rating system works. So Lee, just what is a 9.5? A 9.2? An 8.5? You cannot not possibly know because I didn't explain it! So how can you say it's not that close? I used numbers because the point I was trying to get across was that in MY tests the Tokina wasn't as good, but it was close. Those words describe a subjective OPINION, not an absolute fact. Speaking of "close", what's "close" anyway? Close to me might not me close to you or visa versa. Your comments to me suggest an agreed upon scale, which there is not.

Lastly, I don't need you to cut me any slack as I didn't ask for your critique of my opinion. All I know is what I did to evaluate and how my Tokina has performed since I bought it.

Anybody reading this thread, all I can say is to evaluate for yourself. All shots taken with the Tokina 28-70 2.8 ATX Pro II.

http://www.greeraa.com/albums/maloian
http://www.greeraa.com/albums/rudolph
Lee Rothman said:
Mike Greer said:
Harold,

95% of my wedding and event shots are with the ProII. I extensively
evaluated this lens against Canon's 28-70L 2.8. If the Canon is a
9.5 in color and sharpness, the Tokina is a 9.2, while I found the
Sigma 28-70 2.8 EX to be around an 8.5. With the Canon and Tokina
being so close, I simply could not justify the $700 price
difference.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
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