Great lens - optical quality is superb, great contrast,light weight, easy to handhold

A bit loud AF motor, AF is not as fast as Canon USM, but at 1/4 of a price - can't beat that.

This is a very good lens, I'd recomment it anytime. Light enough to handhold, great quality, small enough to take it with you even on long travel. You can still find one for about $430, but also secondhand. It's a bit loud during AF and not as fast as USM Canon lenses, but it can hold it's own. I would recommend it in a sec. I even tried it next to Canon 300L IS - and contarst on Tokina seemed to be better. Sharpness about the same. Too bad Tokina is discontinued this one - maybe they will make a new version of it, with their new clutch AF switch, like on 28-80/2.8 - which is also a great lens.

Customer Service

none needed

Similar Products Used:

Canon 300/4 IS and non IS

Non

every thing

I tried 3 of the same after each whent mechanically wild. I China it jammed in the middle of a session. In Khazakhstan the same although I had a new repacement. And in Malaysia the same. It so slow for my Dynax 9 and the view is dark,noisy and difficult to focus. It pays to spend on comparative lens but then Minolta has not produce good lense to match its top of the line Maxxum 9.

Customer Service

elusive uncoperative

Similar Products Used:

CarlZeiss Sonnar

- internal focus
- compact
- not expensive

- NOT SHARP!!!!
- focus ring turns when AF
- focus ring does not have resistance when MF
- noisy
- slow focusing (Canon EOS mount)

I take mainly portrait pictures, so I usually use my Canon 85mm and 135mm, but thought I may need a 300mm lens for taking pictures with different perspective. Since 300mm will not be my most frequently used lens, I thought that I did not need an expensive Canon EF 300mm F4, so turned to this cheaper Tokina instead.
But this lens really let me down, I can live with all other (mechanical) weakness of this lens, but I can have no compromise on optical quality. After taking 5 rolls of films (tripod used, with different apertures), there is no one I can call it sharp.
OK, after 1 month of use, I will sell it as soon as I can

Customer Service

- haven't needed to try yet

Similar Products Used:

- Canon EF lens