>>Is anyone out there using this lens? >>Sharpness seems to be good according to photodo but I want to hear from >>"real" users :) >> >>I'm curious about it's quality - mainly because we (i.e. Toronto canucks) >>can't seem to get it locally. > >Tokina has just introduced a 28-80/2.8 so the old 28-70/2.6-2.8 is no longer >available anywhere. It was manufactured for many years so there ought to be >quite a few on the second hand market. I've got one and it is very nice.
First, a link: http://www.photographyreview.com/pscLenses/35mm,Zoom/Tokina,AF28-70mm,f-2.6 -2.8,AT-X,PRO,HLD,Glass/PRD_83628_3128crx.aspx I'm a big fan. Got two of the buggers. One in EOS and one in K mount. Terrific lens - built like a tank and very good optically with a fine maximum aperture for a zoom. It's my standard lens of choice and even though auto-focus, will work just as well on anything from a K-1000 up ;-) The manual focus action is really nice and even spins the same way as Pentax glass. Not a lightweight, and any zoom in this range comes with a lenshood that's a bit of a compromise. I use it without any filter on the front (67mm d.) and do not generally have any flare problems. The auto/manual focus change is via a push/pull of the focus ring. The slightly fiddly bit that you may hear about on the AT-X PRO II 2.6/2.8 is that when you push the focus ring forward into auto, when you want to go back into manual, you pull the ring back, but it has to plop back in where it effectively 'came out' instead of plopping back in anywhere like, say the Sigma EXs. In practice this means twisting the focus ring while pulling back and it slips back easily. It is no problem at all and as any user of this lens will tell you, is soon done in a flash. I believe the 28-80 and the new 28-70 (!) have a focus ring that plops back anywhere. In fact I was thinking of offering the K mount version I have, for sale. It sits in a flight case with a load of other bits and bobs, quietly staying in it's exc++ condition with caps, soft case, original box etc. I just don't use it anymore, instead flogging it's twin EOS sister to death :-) Oh yeah, it had a full overhaul and CLA about 2 months ago costing a hundred squid. If you're desperately looking for one of these, I might just be persuaded..... Cheers, Cotty ____________________________________ Free UK Macintosh Classified Ads at http://www.macads.co.uk/ ____________________________________ Oh, swipe me! He paints with light! http://www.macads.co.uk/snaps/ ____________________________________
