quality build,

focus ring lock, image quality

The focus ring unlocking is a pain in the &^@*(I. I had dificulty at times with the focus on a F5. Overall I really wanted to like the lens but I got to many blurred shots and to many under exposed pic. I think this is a hit or miss proposition. If you hit you'll love it if not you will be very dissatisfied

Customer Service

never used

Similar Products Used:

nikon 28-70 afs
nikon 35-70
nikon 50 1.4

Very sharp lens
sturdy design
MF-AF switch - convenient
little distortion at 28mm and 80mm

At 80mm with f2.8 - DOF is too narrow for portraiture (but seems to be OK)
Focusing problem with my Elan 7E

This lens is very sharp and contrasty, although the color trend is a little bit too warm.
I've got focusing problem with my Canon Elan 7E camera. At 28mm, with non-central focusing points, this lens does not focus correctly. Somebody else already posted same problem with this lens and this camera on www.photozone.de (1/14/01). I also posted this problem on that site in detail. I returned my lens for refund, and I am disapponted because I really liked the optical quality of this lens. I hope Tokina will fix this problem soon.

Similar Products Used:

None

Well build,sharp when stopped down to F4,
easy focus switch
zoomrange.
3 year warranty is OK
Close focus range

distortion on each end of the focusrange.
For architecture this lens is a real killer in the negative way of speaking.
About the focus- problem... I have it too on my 801 s (8008s) On both of them so it is a lensproblem!
I need it so often I didn't return it yet so I use manual focus a lot.

When my focus problem is solved I'm a happy user

Customer Service

Not used yet

Similar Products Used:

Before buying this lens I tested the Sigma 28-70/2.8 EX
Nikon 2.8/35-70
Nikon 2.8/28-70
and I found the quality allright compared to the price of the Nikons
I doubted a long time between the Sigma and Tokina cause the optical quality is allmost simular.
The strength and the focus range of the Tokina, made me decide to go for it

Precision engineered,SD-
Super low dispersion glass, Aspherical,Very sharp, Sturdy, 3yr warrenty.

None as of yet

This lens is great and a dam good value and half the price of a canon lens. The lens in AF mode is not that loud and not to far off from sigmas HSM
lens units, I do not need canon's inflated price tag for ultra sonic for the price you wont miss it. This lens is very sharp form 28mm to 80mm my unit is flawless in this area. I use a canon EOS
A2 and it works well no problems in AF mode, as some one reported with the elan 7 units. The 3 Yr warrenty is also a big plus. Canon nor Sigma offers a 3 yr warrenty. The lens is top shelf, and is a great value it also has a nice finish and has the same lens groupings as the canon 28-80 lens and all most the same performance to.
Canon 100% Tonkina 98% for a small 2% which I can not tell I take the Tonkina. I think I may buy one more of thes and use it for my second A2 stand by unit. Price,Value,performance and a pro-qualty unit. If you buy this lens you will like it
no love it.

Customer Service

not used as yet

Similar Products Used:

Canon 28-70 usm
Canon 28-105 usm
canon 85 1.8 usm

wel build.
Good focus speed
Sharp optics! Pro design.
5 years warranty

Distortion on each end of the focusrange, straight lines are a problem For architecture this lens is a real killer in the negative way of speaking.

For architecture pictures the lens has to much distortion.
The build quiality is very good.
The optics are very good.
I hope tokina make soon a 28-80 ATX PRO II with less distortion.

Customer Service

no used

Similar Products Used:

None

Build quality
Optical quality
AF speed
Constant 2.8 aperture

Size and weight (but this is not unexpected given that it is a 2.8 "pro" lens)

I am very happy with the lens, I bought it after reading lots of good reviews and I couldn't justify paying $1000 more for the Nikkor AF-S 28-70. The lens has not disappointed me so far. I wanted a midrange zoom to replace my "consumer-grade" Nikkor 28-105. The Tokina is bigger, heavier and more expensive than the former but the optical quality, build quality and general feel is vastly superior. I have not experienced the focusing or softness problems that some people complain about. Sure the lens is a tad softer at 2.8 than at 5.6 but not more so than you would expect. The AF-MF switch (by pulling/pushing the focusing ring) took some getting used to, at first I got into MF unintentionally sometimes, but once I got used to it it is a very quick and slick system. I think the lens presents very good value for money and I have a hard time seeing that anyone would want to spend another thousand bucks on the Nikkor. AF is very fast and quiet with my F5 and F100.
If you need a midrange zoom and you don't mind the weight and size, go get it.

Customer Service

Not needed

Similar Products Used:

Nikkor AF 28-105 (own)
Nikkor AF-S 28-70 (tried in store)

Build quality
Ease of use
Image quality
Constant f2.8 speed
Appearance

Lens hood could be better made.
Lens is heavy and long enough that it could benefit from a tripod collar - sometimes awkward on a smaller SLR like Nikon N70.

This lens really impressed me when I took it to the Strategic Air Command museum in Mahoney State Park, Nebraska. The aircraft collection is housed in large, dimly lit hangers with overhead lighting. The lighting is a challenge, which often requires graduated filters. The inside walls of the hangers are a dull grey, which is similar to the aluminum color of the aircraft. I shot this lens hand held with ISO 400 film, and the results were fantastic. Surface detail on the aircraft was crisp. Rivet lines were straight and each rivet head was clean, corner to corner. Subtle wrinkles in a fuselage or wing skin showed well. The color saturation was better that I expected. I have never been unhappy with the optics in this lens. As an amatuer who shoots mostly print film, this lens has more than enough optical quality for me. The focusing on my lens is trouble free. It has no trouble locking into focus using only the focus assist pattern from my SB-28, even in the darkness of a bomber's open bomb bay. The lens does not hunt for focus unless pointed at a bank ceiling or the sky. The "focus clutch" system used on this lens is unique from all of the other Tokina AT-X Pro lenses and can be operated in any position. There is no need to line anything up before engaging manual focus from auto focus. This may be a lesser substitute for an HSM, but it works effectively just as well. This is a professionally featured lens that should satisfy any but the most demanding professional. Unless you plan to make big enlargements for commercial use, look no further.

Customer Service

Not required. Lens focuses quickly and conistently.

Similar Products Used:

Considered Sigma 28-70 2.8 EX, Tamron 28-105 2.8 and Nikon 35-70 2.8

Very well built
Fast and quite AF on a Canon EOS

Very soft at f/2.8 and f/4 at 80mm (unacceptable!!)

Very good built but soft images when wide open.
Here is a test between the Tokina and the Sigma at f/2.8 and f/5.6:
http://www.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1019&message=853988


Unfotunatly I returned it after a few days.

Customer Service

Don't know

Similar Products Used:

Canon 28-70L
Sigma 28-70EX
CAnon 28-135IS

Built like a tank - you could use it to defend yourself if attacked while shooting pictures. One step switching from manual/auto with focus clutch. Same filter diameter as other lenses in ATX-Pro series. Tack sharp pictures at a good range of apertures.

Of possible concern to the slighty built person - weight. This is one heavy lens. If you are unaccustomed to the focus clutch methods of switching from AF to MF, there may be a learning curve.

I have gotten gorgeous, contrasty and sharp images both handheld and tripod mounted with this lens. The focus speed is respectable but not blazingly fast and the images I have gotten on Fuji Velvia and Provia with this lens (primarily architectural and landscape) have been razor sharp. Infinitely better than any Canon lens in its price range.

Similar Products Used:

Canon 28-135 IS zoom, Tokina ATX-Pro 28-70, Canon 28-80 Ultrasonic

Build Quality
Speed (f/2,8)

Poor Autofocus Speed
Poor "PRO" optics

I tried using this lens on three camera bodies - EOS 10s, Elan IIe, and a borrowed D30. The focusing speed was just barely acceptable on the two film cameras and unacceptable on the digital camera.

Using the digital camera it was soft at f/2.8 and unacceptable. I didn't shoot any film.

One plus, it is built like a take.

The only other thing I liked about it was its push/pull focusing ring. Still Canon's full-time manual focusing works better.

If are on a tight budget and need to spend $150 for a lens buy the Tamron or Tokina consumer grade lens.

If you are on a medium budget don't buy this lens, buy the consumer grade lens from Canon, Nikon, etc. You may not have the speed (f/2,8) but you will gain better optics and autofocusing.

If you need or want a real "PRO" lens spend the money for the Canon L series or Nikon Silent Wave lenses. There are no shortcuts, you get what you pay for.

I returned mine and bought the Canon 28-70mm/2.8 L. I wasted B&H Photo time and my money on this lens!

Similar Products Used:

Canon 28-70mm/2.8 L