With the economy still terrible, it is only natural that people need to cut back on their hobbies, especially expensive ones like photography. However, that doesn't always mean that doesn't always mean cutting back on the quality, though.
Enter the Tokina 28-70 f2.6-2.8 ATX PRO lens.
Es, just by looking at the focal range of the lens, or Tokina's current lineup, one will immediately recognize that this is yesterday's glass. No, this lens doesn't have sonic drive technology, weather sealing (none did at the time), and that fancy, anti-flare coating. Still, despite not having many of the frills found on today's lenses, the old Tokina still has a lot to offer.
Pros:
Tank-like build quality with solid metal construction
Good mechanics
Fast, accurate AF (especially considering it's micromotor/mechanical drive design)
Tokina's clutch focus switch mechanism means no spinning focus ring during AF
Good to excellent wide-open sharpness at wide end of zoom
35mm on, low sharpness falloff in corners
Lens is as good as it gets at a still wide f4
Generally good flare resistance
Minimal distortion for this class of lens
Rock bottom pricing, typically in $300s
Overall, a very useful walk-around lens
Cons:
Soft corners at 28mm
Obvious vignetting wide open (disappears by f4)
No full time manual focus
Hard to come by on used market (because it's good and people know it!)
Needless to say, this lens is highly recommended, just look at the pros vs. cons list lengths! These are just, in essence, talking points of my in-depth review (which includes pictures), that can be found at my personal website. So check it out.
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Mark Madere, Neighborhood Photography Examiner
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