Tokina 400mm 5.6 Prime

[eric1]

Hi guys
I need a long tele. I was in the local shop yesterday,
and found one of these on the back shelf collecting
dust. I know it's no longer made. It's of the APO SD
variety. I can't justify spending the jack for a
100-400L IS. I had an EF 75-300, but didn't like it.
They also had a used 170-500 Sigma. Both were
around $400USD. I have a 300D. Any help would
be appreciated. I'm not looking for spectacular,
just a decent tele. (better than EF 75-300)

thanks,
eric1

[jgbryan021900]

I used a Tokina 400 F5.6 awhile back when I had a EOS 10s and it worked great. Very sharp photos.

[eric1]

any idea how old it is? when did they stop making it?
is it worth 400 dollars? it's new,still in the box.

thanks,
eric

[kissel]

Just bought this lens online, expecting in two days. Paid only 200$ for supposedly mint item. Will post some samples soon :)

[Tom Reichner]

$400 sounds like it's far too much - especially for an obsolete lens. Then again, local camera shops tend to charge a fortune for used equipment. I'll be the shop only gave the previous owner about $75 trade-in for that lens.

[kissel]

$400 sounds like it's far too much - especially for an obsolete lens.
Actually, I bumped up a 7 (!!!) years old thread :lol: I suppose at that time 400 was a fair price, 1$ per 1mm, hehe :cool:
But seriously - i watched this lens on "evilbay", and it sells for over 300$. :eek:

[kissel]

First shots with the new lens
http://kissel.fotoplenka.users.photofile.ru/photo/kissel.fotoplenka/150034146/xlarge/159246465.jpg

[jblaschke]

Nice sharpness, but not much contrast. What kind of conditions were you shooting under?

[kissel]

Nice sharpness, but not much contrast. What kind of conditions were you shooting under?

Aperture: f/6.3
Shutter speed: 1/250
ISO: 200

[District_History_Fan]

Nice sharpness, but not much contrast. What kind of conditions were you shooting under?

The good news is its easy to fix low contrast. I bet a simple level adjustment would do wonders for the posted image.

[kissel]

That's right! I just posted the in-camera jpeg sample to show how the lens works by default

[kissel]

Few more shots taken today

http://kissel.fotoplenka.users.photofile.ru/photo/kissel.fotoplenka/150034146/xlarge/159531182.jpg

http://kissel.fotoplenka.users.photofile.ru/photo/kissel.fotoplenka/150035838/xlarge/159531220.jpg

[nightcat]

nice shots!

[Deep Pocket]

Why do aged threads keep coming back :S

[kissel]

Why do aged threads keep coming back :S

Should I have rather started a new one under the same name? :lol:

[kissel]

nice shots!

Thanks :)

[Tom Reichner]

Why do aged threads keep coming back :S

I love that the old threads resurface from time to time. In fact, whenever I search the old threads, I think it's a shame that people haven't spent more of their time searching the older threads and bumping them up.

[kissel]

In fact, whenever I search the old threads, I think it's a shame that people haven't spent more of their time searching the older threads and bumping them up.
I feel the same way - and i know it helps so much when there is one place where you can find all the needed information about a certain lens - instead of collecting bits and pieces from a number of different threads.

As for Tokina 400AF - it's a great lens, that exceeds every expectations (if you are aware of the price tag ;))

http://kissel.fotoplenka.users.photofile.ru/photo/kissel.fotoplenka/150017837/xlarge/159502955.jpg
Handheld, f/5.6, 1/250sec, ISO 100. Just a little bit of PP (crop, curves, noise reduction)

[kissel]

And - some more pictures (I take this lens with me wherever i go :))
http://photofile.com.ua/photo/kissel.fotoplenka/150427589/large/159850589.jpg (http://photofile.com.ua/users/kissel.fotoplenka/150427589/159850589/)

http://photofile.com.ua/photo/kissel.fotoplenka/150427589/large/159850091.jpg (http://photofile.com.ua/users/kissel.fotoplenka/150427589/159850091/)

http://photofile.com.ua/photo/kissel.fotoplenka/150427589/large/159850580.jpg (http://photofile.com.ua/users/kissel.fotoplenka/150427589/159850580/)

[wordsworth03]

Why do aged threads keep coming back :S

isn't this kind of a good thing? people are always complaining that people don't search

[kissel]

Upgraded to EOS 1D Mk II - and my good ole Tokina is a new lens now! I couldn't believe how fast AF works on a new camera body! On my previous 30D it was much faster in MF, rather than in AF mode, but not any more :) In AI Servo it's almost flawless, once it manages to grab a focus in the first place.
Also, I was able to fix the low contrast problem - apparently, there was some haze on one of the inner lenses. I didn't have to take the whole thing apart, only removed a rare group, which wasn't hard (though it took me some time to figure out the way to do it, and find a proper tool). Haze was removed simply with a microfiber cloth. A friend of mine, who helped me do it, was very much surprised with the build quality of Tokina. He says that 24-70/2.8L, 70-200/4 and few other Ls are noticeably inferior in this respect. After coping with my lens he got himself a famous ATX-pro 28-80/2.8, and says that even after 24-70L it's a great lens!

[V-Wiz]

Intresting. This over the mirror lens 500

[kissel]

Intresting. This over the mirror lens 500
I didn't consider the mirror lenses when I was looking for a long-tele prime, since they are constant aperture and MF. For astronomy, of course, it's all the same, but for action and wildlife photography AF really matters. I have seen the samples from Samyang mirror lenses (also sold as Vivitar, Rokinon, Bowers etc.), and wasn't impressed at all. I have not tried the Tokina with the TC yet, but seems like it will outperform the mirror lenses.

Oh, almost forgot - moving from 1.6 to 1.3 crop factor made the f=400mm much shorter :(

[KenjiS]

Very cool lens, i remember i was going to buy one at one time before i got the 100-400 ;)

This and the Sigma 400 are two fantastic long lenses often overlooked due to their age..the only sad thing is both have compatability issues :(

[kissel]

This and the Sigma 400 are two fantastic long lenses often overlooked due to their age..the only sad thing is both have compatability issues :(

What are those issues, I wonder? This Tokina works flawlessly with 30D, 50D and 1D mk2. I can try it with 450D (XSi), but I don't think there will be surprises. As for old Sigmas, most do have compatibility issues (wide open only on 10D and all the newer bodies).

Before I bought this lens, I read as much as I could find about it's rivals, and seems like Sigma 400/5.6 APO is slightly inferiour in IQ.

[V-Wiz]

Hmm, so where can I get one, can someone provide a link, do they make these anymore?

[kissel]

Try ebay. This lens is pre-digital, it was while ago replaced with 80-400 zoom, which is still produced by Tokina.

[JEmerson]

Kissel could you send me a RAW of the 1DII file (I use a II too & I'd like to judge the performance of the lens from RAW)?

If so that would be a real help... I've PM'd you my email.

Thanks,
Josh

[mhazlett]

I have the 170-500mm Sigma Lens, and have had great experiences with it. I love the extra reach it has with the 500mm, and versatility of zoom lens. The IQ is not up to par with any L series but very similar to that of the 50-500mm Sigma ("Bigma"). If you want some sample pictures taken with the sigma lens, my flickr is in my sig, and there any many examples there. Hope you have great success with your new purchase!

[TweakMDS]

I have the tokina 80-400, which is also really good for the price. No IS of course, which would be nice at 400mm, but I've been able to squeeze out some very sharp shots with it wide open.
(like this one: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdstoop/4702215579/)

[kissel]

Kissel could you send me a RAW of the 1DII file (I use a II too & I'd like to judge the performance of the lens from RAW)?

If so that would be a real help... I've PM'd you my email.

Thanks,
Josh

Just sent a PM to you

[kissel]

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4117/4736305580_056506c1b8_b.jpg

[kissel]

K-I-S-S-I-N-G
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4078/4753760641_545fe24a88_b.jpg

Love symmetry
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4096/4754397922_bb1fd5609e_b.jpg

[cdreemz17]

Before I bought this lens, I read as much as I could find about it's rivals, and seems like Sigma 400/5.6 APO is slightly inferiour in IQ.
Not the Sigma 400/5.6 APO HSM Macro 77mm filter version!! And wide open only at that! BUT, you do have a very nice lens, one I also considered, but couldn't find when I wanted to make a purchase.

Hey, let's have an unofficial shootout to test IQ:D, NOT photographic skill...

Nice shots btw, love the BW pigeons.

[dengar]

I think someone is selling the 80-400 here on POTN

[dengar]

Here it is

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=896744&highlight=80-400

[KenjiS]

Here it is

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=896744&highlight=80-400

Not a bad lens from what i recall, its only negatives is the lack of IS and the lack of a HSM motor...but it is relatively sharp stopped down a little...

And for the price, Well you're not going to do better :)