Solid lens, that produces sharp photos at all lengths. Works fine with my EOS 3, and 1N RS (except max apit. is only 2.8 ~ who cares). I've used the Sigma pro ex and sold it. This is a lens with hight quality optics and good sharpnes, and color rend. On sunny days use the hood.

Really none, other than it's a tad noisey. The clutch to manual is a problem for some, but I like it. When I want softness I'll use a Zeiss filter

A really nice lens that's CHEAP. The optics are great and it comes with a 5 year warranty. Sigma and canon only have a 1 yr. If you can only get 1 lens for "wide to normal" than I recommed this. If you like to use auto focus, and then "tinker" with the focus manually ~ don't get it. For me it's the oposite, I hate the manual overrides on the Canon~my big fingers keep messing up the focus. I've read that some have a problem with the EOS 3, but I've not had that problem. Thank God


Bottom line,It's a great all around lens. Not as good as the Nikon, but most won't be able to tell and it's a lot, lot less

Customer Service

Never usd them yet

Similar Products Used:

Sigma Pro EX
Canon "L" version
Nikon AF "D" version

Build quality.
Optical quality. Excellent when stopped down to 4.0 throught the whole frame.

A little soft at 2.8 at the corners.
Some ghosting in direct sunlight.
Relatively heavy.

This is a response to the person who trashed down this lens obviously without having used it - this is unfair and stupid! This is a great lens and an excellent value for the money. The build quality is excellent. The AF is relatively fast, may be not as fast as the USM but definitely good and decisive. There is certainly a small amount of distortion but not much (much less that the Canon 28-105). Color and contrast are very good. This is an excellent choice. I switched to it with no regrets. I will still give 5 stars despite of the weaknesses since none of them are important to me (for example how often on slides taken in dim light you examine corner sharpness?)

Customer Service

NA

Similar Products Used:

Canon 28-105 3.5-4.5 USM

price
f stop

it's loud
af is slow
ring's hard to change

if you dont want to buy a big bucks canon lense this is what you get but im not that happy

Similar Products Used:

canon 17-35 2.8
canon 28-70 2.8
canon 70-200 2.8

- exceptional build quality at this price
- very sharp
- quicker and quiter AF than the first ATX-PRO 270 version

- IMO, the build quality of the first ATX-PRO looks better

I was switching between primes before I got the discontinued variable aperture Nikon 35-70mm; it sucked so bad I sold it after less than a month (no wonder it was discontinued).

I had the chance to try out my friend's ATX-PRO 270 (ver. I). I thought it performed very well--beyond my expectations as a matter of fact; I never thought that this Tokina zoom is this good despite the cheap price tag (well, cheap compared to the 35-70 and 28-70 AFS Nikons). I never bought one right away because I was lusting for the Nikon AFS and was hoping the price would go down.

Well, reality check came in so I decided it's between the 35-70 f2.8 Nikon or the 28-70 Tokina II. Hmm...I remembered that with the variable aperture 35-70 I thought the zoom range was too limited because 35mm isn't wide enough in most cases. And I especially didn't like the push-pull zoom; I had (sold it; it sucked) the variable aperture 70-210 which is also push-pull and it's annoying (for me, at least) to operate.

I was amazed that the lens performs really well for such a cheap price tag. BUT I found the colors of the Tokina not warm enough...compared to my Nikons (unfair/biased comparison?)--especially evident on slide films. I'm quite sure using an 81a filter might help, though.

Anyway, my recommendation is: if you use print film most of the time, it's a no brainer--get this one. But if you use slide film a lot, check if the colors it produces is warm enough for you (it's a matter of personal preference and definitely not a weakness)...

Customer Service

Still waiting for that rebate check after 2 months...

Similar Products Used:

ATX-PRO 270 I
Nikon 35-70 (variable aperture)
Nikon primes 24mm f2.8, 50mm f1.4

PRICE! Warrantee, Construction, Sharp @ 35mm to 70mm.

Noise, Rotating barrel in AF, Dark Glass [aprox 1/3f stop differential], nth soft on full open.

The lens is a coup for the industry! No matter whether youre a Pro, Sudent or regular Joe Blow, then your haven is here, for those who cant afford -or cant justify the prices of Canon's- [if your using Nikon then I suggest you choose This Tokina instead - both on glass & £$],this is brillaint. I have used this lens professionally in the past & its very relaible, however, the glass is a tiny bit dark, and I didnt feel that the speed of the auto focus was acceptable enough for my kind of demands. The construction is second to none - literally I cant think of another manufacturer making AF lenses at this focal lenght that is built to withstand Bosnia, even the canon, is only partially clad in alloy. Focusing is fast enough & acurate [no hunting around and jump shifting here], & is exceptional for the price. If canon's 28-70f2.8 is 100%, then Tokina & Nikon is 75%, with Sigma left back in the 20%'s. Manual focusing is really a treat here, I think its the added bonus of this lens, silky smooth, I will gripe about the focus grip turning whilst in AF, if your ina tight situation &/or have big hands, this will prove to be difficult, also it defeats any posibility of resting the lens on something wilst focusing [believe me I have been in some very akward situations]. IT is essential with all lenses to utilise the hood, if it bothers you, you can either pop it on backwards whilst not shooting, or just dont buy the lens, hoods are supplied for a reason -so use them. Ive read some of the other comments and generally thers a worry about its weight, I can see both sides, yes its a pain to carry a hevy item around, but if you are using a Pro [Eos1 etc] or Semi-pro[Eos3, A2/5 etc] body the weight comes int its own. The extra body size of a semi or pro body or with a booster makes the balance of this camera/lens configuration beautiful in the hand, more weight in lens means more stability for the shot. The lens is a Two handed design, like the longer pro lenses, whereas a, say 50mm you can easily get away with one handed operation [whilst tapping the Keyboard with the other...].
All in its exeedingly good value, and highly recomended as a versatile & luxury "business class" tool, thats built like a tank. Im critical of most gear thats available on the market especially the pro gear as we are expected to fork out 10x the price as consumers for a piece of kit, but this lens is really worth it.

Customer Service

n/a

Similar Products Used:

17-35usm, 28-35usm, 35-350usm, 70-200usm, 50mm1.8 mkII, Tokina 20-35f3.5-4.5.

Build Quality
Overall optical quality

Color balance

I tried this lens as a possible replacement for my Nikon 24-50/3.3-4.5, since the Tokina has a good reputation and is faster and longer. The Tokina is extremely well made, certainly much sturdier than the consumer Nikon zooms. The smoothness of the aperture and manual focusing rings is fantastic, better even than any Nikon AF lens including the 80-200/2.8 EDIF!
Sharpness is very good: some softness at 2.8 in general (I'm being very picky here), and some corner softness and light fallof at 28mm and f/2.8 - clears up by f/5.6. Distortion was acceptable to me. I did not check for ghosting/glare. I judge it to be slightly sharper overall than the Nikon 24-50.
However I am sending this lens back and keeping my Nikon 24-50. The reason is the color balance. When compared to the Nikon on Ektachrome Elite 100, the Tokina has a slightly more yellow cast. This surprised me given that other reviewers say the lens has a cooler color balance compared to similar Canon/Nikon lenses. The difference was easily seen in my slides on a light table even without a loupe. The color may not bother many people but is enough to make the difference for me. I knew about the supposed cooler color balance in advance, and thought I could correct it with a skylight or 81a filter, but I'm less confident of being able to correct this yellow cast.

Customer Service

n/a

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 24-50/3.3-4.5
Nikon 80-200/2.8 EDIF
Various Nikon primes

Almost no flare. Built like a tank. Takes incredibly sharp and contrasty pictures. Fast AF with clutch mechanism.

The lens shade seems like it could be much bigger (longer) and it is a real joy to put on. Its way too tight, but it has started to loosen over time.

This lens, in my opinion, is the answer to not being able to afford a name brand lens in this category. The focal length, aperature, and build quality definitely make it a PRO lens, and its cost is half of Canon or Nikon's alternative. Unfortunately there are no third party lenses (Sigma) who make this category lens in an HSM version yet, so Tokina's focus clutch makes for the fastest AF. Until an affordable HSM version comes out, this is the best deal for a 28-70 f/2.8 lens.

Customer Service

none needed (because the new version already works with my EOS 3, so I didn't need it to be re-chipped)

Similar Products Used:

Canon 28-80 f/3.5-5.6
Tamron 28-105 f/2.8

Build quality
Tack sharp images
Ease of use
Highest speed aperture for lenses of its kind

None

Fantastic lens! Results are always tack sharp. On my Pentax PZ-1P this lens is easy to use and gives more quality than lenses costing three times the price! Sure it's being outdated by the new 28-80, but I don't think it will ever be beat!! From beginner to seasoned pro this lens should find a home on your camera.

Customer Service

Never needed

Similar Products Used:

Tamron 28-80

Sharp. Build quality. Manual feel is smooth.

Lens hood seems cheap and ineffective. Switching from AF to MF is a chore.

Great lens and best in its price range. Light falloff seems more than average. Center to corner sharpness is excellent. Contrast is nice. I don't mind it's size.(it's smaller than AF-S and AT-X Pro 280)

Customer Service

No Experience

Similar Products Used:

Tokina AT-X Pro 280 f/2.8
Nikkor 28-105 f/3.5-4.5

Solidly built
Well-damped controls
Sharp
Non-rotating front element
Overall length does not change when you focus or zoom
Reasonably priced for a fast zoom

Large and expensive 77mm filters but this is normal for fast lenses in this category

An excellent lens. Pictures are razor sharp and the speed allows for low-light photography. I've looked at the Nikkor 28-70 AF-S zoom and that is a phenomonal lens. However, at more than 3 times the price, I looked at alternatives and this Tokina fit the bill. It does what I want it to do and comes through with flying colors.

Customer Service

None

Similar Products Used:

Nikkor 28-70 AF-S