Tokina 28-70

[Motorsports Photo]

I decided I needed a lens of about this focal length with an f stop better than the 5.6 of my old 28-80, and of course not liking Sigma from past experience I decided to try Tokina. My budget couldnt include the similar 2.8 from Canon at this time

To be specific its the Tokina 287 2.8 Pro SV.

Froze my fingers off since this lens is actually made out of metal! (It snowed a lot in Ohio this past weekend)

Other reports I saw said it was built well, and I agree. The focus ring disengages so if you are doing autofocus, you wont change the focus with fumbly fingers when you also change the focal length. It also has an on/off switch in the usual location to turn off the autofocus if you need to.

The only nit-pick I can give it is the zoom ring works in the opposite diraction of the Canon lenses. I kept zooming in when I really wanted to zoom out from force of habit only having Canon lenses since I bought a Canon body back in '95.

Autofocus was good in the dark. (I was testing it for the first time at my darkest indoor motocross) It only "hunted" twice the whole weekend. Image quality seems to be very good too. I havent had the chance to test it out in daylight conditions yet to make a better comparison.

If you're in the market for a lens like this, you can find it for $225 to $275 and Tokina just upped their rebate to $50 from $30.

I'll post a pic or two later.

-Pete
(not an L glass junkie yet)

[benlimt]

Yeah, I have this lens and its good value for the money I paid. Built quality is good and its fairly sharp.

[CyberDyneSystems]

I've been looking at the Tokinas serioulsy,. I keep hearing good things about them. I have had great look with Sigma's telephotos,. but I hear there wide zooms are pants. (I haven't enjoyed the ones I tried)

Tokina seems to have three f/2.8 28-70s? or maybe one is 28-80?

Any idea what the difference between this lens and the "ATX Pro" is?

[Canuck]

Motorsports Photo wrote:
I decided I needed a lens of about this focal length with an f stop better than the 5.6 of my old 28-80, and of course not liking Sigma from past experience I decided to try Tokina. My budget couldnt include the similar 2.8 from Canon at this time

-Pete
(not an L glass junkie yet)



Pete,
I have that 28-80 Sigma lens, and I have to say, other than a few really luck it is really poop! You know what it has been doing since I got the Canon 16-35mm F2.8 L lens? Collecting dust! Truth be told, I really can't complain about a $70-80 lens, especially since the L lens was $1380! I recon you should have another go at Sigma, but ony the EX series. That 120-300 EX I have is freaking unreal. There are others in this forum that have had great experience w/ Sigma EX line. I have heard the wide angle ones aren't so great, but much above the 35mm-ish you can't go wrong. I can only confirm info for the stuff I have, and see signature. That's why it is there, to show you what I have and NOT, I repeat, NOT to brag but give newer people the idea of what I shoot with as well as what I think of said lens/accessory.

As for becoming an L-caholic as we call it, if you have the money it is wild what you can do with awesome glass. Agaion Sigma EX is a lower cost alternative, and is usually great value for money. I went with the 120-300 Sigma as Canon didn't make such a lens. It will make the difference as well as upping your confidence. It has done a world of good for me. Great glass when used to its potential = great pics. Crap glass usually leads to crap pics. I was looking at some of the 35mm pics I've taken over the years (Nov, 2000 in this case) and man are they crap, compared to what I'm doing now. I can't beieve I settled for that. I wished I knew better back then.

>

[CyberDyneSystems]

Well... I don't think I will be looking at Tokina's anyomre...

I think I may have just bought a Canon 28-70mm f/2.8 L used for .. well I'm not telling but less than half price! :)