Tokina 28-70 AT-X f2.8 - DPChallenge Forums

06/11/2012 04:00:19 PM · #1

I am looking to buy this Tokina lens. I am looking for information from anyone that has had experience with this lens. This is the original 28-70 2.8 AT-X, not the pro or pro 2 or sv. I am going to use it on my Nikon D90. Any suggestions on picture quality or problems? Thanks.

Message edited by author 2012-06-11 20:35:26.

06/11/2012 06:15:44 PM · #2

I have heard of good things about the original pro, the Angenieux iteration, which is a 2.6 or 2.8 depending. There's one for sale currently over at Adorama, as well. I'm pretty sure all the versions have the Tokina clutch mechanism for AF/MF switching, so be ready for that. Never used it myself, but some have complained about it.

A similar lens is the Tamron 28-70 which is optically excellent (on DX, hear it falls apart a bit FX), but has slow AF and build isn't as good as I'd like. It's still an exceptional deal and very lightweight, so if I don't think I'll be shooting fast moving subjects, I'll take the Tamron backpacking/climbing. The Tamron is inherently inferior to the Nikon 28-70 but weighs half as much, is way smaller, and costs 1/3 to 1/2 the price.

So, that was a bit of a fringe answer, but might be of use to you. Here are some other reviews, as well.
Dyxum reviews

Basta

Nikon D4

06/11/2012 07:52:40 PM · #3

dont use it wide open and you should be happy.

06/12/2012 09:25:49 AM · #4

Why not use it wide open?

06/12/2012 09:28:39 AM · #5

Thanks for the link, but that is not the same lens I am talking about. That is a later lens.

Originally posted by spiritualspatula:

Basta

Nikon D4

06/12/2012 10:00:59 AM · #6

if you like crisp images (looking at your profile you do) you will notice that anything wider then f5.6 , you can push it to f4, will be soft....only way to fix this is to get 24 70 Nikon, but price is not the same

and all Tokina's 28-70, 28 -80 f2.8 ( 28-80 2.8 has the best focus clutch ) are more less the same except the "SV" version , stay away from that one.

Message edited by author 2012-06-12 14:07:44.

06/12/2012 04:17:27 PM · #7

Originally posted by rugman1969:

Thanks for the link, but that is not the same lens I am talking about. That is a later lens.

Yes, but the reviews in that section discuss a comparison of the two together as well as against several others. Further, there were more reviews on that site for the specific lens you spoke of...

Dyxum

When considering a lens I consider it first in relation to its competition, not absolutely.

06/14/2012 03:35:42 PM · #8

Originally posted by spiritualspatula:

Originally posted by rugman1969:
Thanks for the link, but that is not the same lens I am talking about. That is a later lens.

Yes, but the reviews in that section discuss a comparison of the two together as well as against several others. Further, there were more reviews on that site for the specific lens you spoke of...

Dyxum

When considering a lens I consider it first in relation to its competition, not absolutely.

Yes, the link in this post is for the correct lens. Sorry, the first link was for the atx-270, but this one is for the specified lens. I thank you for the link. I did not see these reviews on that site when I looked at it the first time. Thanks again.

06/14/2012 04:38:56 PM · #9

No worries-
I feel for ya, I was in the same battle when I researched my 80-200, since there are/were so many versions of it made. As a result, I had to do lots and lots of comparative reviewing, which often occurred by looking at the reviews for other versions available.

Best of luck!

06/14/2012 06:12:28 PM · #10

Originally posted by spiritualspatula:

Thanks. Did you decide on the 80-200? I loved the newest version, but wasn't willing to spin that kind of money on a lens, so I ended up with the Nikon 80-200 2.8 af-d push-pull zoom. works so nice, pic so good.