Tokina AT-X SD 80-200mm f/2.8 Review

2009-08-09
I bought this lens a while ago and my first impressions are so-so as I see quite soft images in wide open aperture in f/2.8 especially in the 200mm end. I wrote about my initial findings in Tokina AT-X 80-200mm SD f/2.8. When stopped down properly the lens is quite good.

1/500 sec, f/8.0, 180mm, iso 100, 0 Ev
test shots with tokina at-x sd 80-200mm f/2.8


I don't have a rating for this lens as I was initially disappointed with its sharpness in f/2.8 aperture. It is a MF lens with A aperture.

And then I put it to the test in two low light shootings: one in a Circus indoor and one in a baseball game at night. Both are challenging in lighting. I found the lens doing quite well at night. When I stopped down to f/4.0, I see little to no sharpness issues. I do test out the lens in f/2.8, it is not the sharpest by any means but reasonable to use along with high ISO to freeze motion when needed.


#1
1/125 sec, f/4.0, 85mm, iso 800, -0.3 Ev
test shots with tokina at-x sd 80-200mm f/2.8


#2
1/200 sec, f/2.8, 75mm, iso 1000, -0.3 Ev
test shots with tokina at-x sd 80-200mm f/2.8


#3
1/160 sec, f/4.0, 85mm, iso 1000, -0.3 Ev
test shots with tokina at-x sd 80-200mm f/2.8


#4
1/500 sec, f/4.0, 180mm, iso 800, 0 Ev
test shots with tokina at-x sd 80-200mm f/2.8


#5
1/400 sec, f/4.0, 180mm, iso 400, 0 Ev
test shots with tokina at-x sd 80-200mm f/2.8


#6
1/500 sec, f/4.0, 180mm, iso 2000, 0 Ev
test shots with tokina at-x sd 80-200mm f/2.8


#7
getting dark towards the 8th inning
1/320 sec, f/2.8, 180mm, iso 2500, O Ev
test shots with tokina at-x sd 80-200mm f/2.8

#8
1/400 sec, f/2.8, 180mm, iso 2500, 0 Ev
test shots with tokina at-x sd 80-200mm f/2.8



Impressions & Notes
  • The zoom does better in the short end than the long end in 200mm.
  • When I use it for long end, I tried to use 180mm instead of pushing it to the full length as I find better sharpness in 180mm, more test is needed.
  • Once stopped down to f/4.0, sharpness is quite good
  • f/2.8 is usable especially when the lighting is challenging as in the circus or the late in the baseball game
  • The lens is a bit heavy for long duration of hand-holding, I used tripod to help in the baseball game, I should re-test the long end with a tripod
  • Focusing ring is top-notch for focusing with precision, the tripod ring is useful and works well with my tripod.
  • Overall, I feel more positive about the zoom after more use and its speed in f/2.8, though not the best in sharpness as I have seen in other lens, is quite capable for the low lighting scenes as captured in the circus indoor and baseball game.

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2 comments:

Anonymous said...

How do you think this lens compares to something like a Pentax-M 80-200mm f4.5?

Hin Man said...

It won't be fair for me to comment as I have not used the Pentax M 80-200mm f/4.5. The Tokina has 'A' aperture and it is likely heavier than the Pentax. Tokina is constant in f/2.8 though not the sharpest that I have seen when wide open. When stopped down to f/4.0 and smaller, quite usable even in low lighting. Sharpness is not the best in the Tokina but it has the 'A' setting that will surely more useful to have in a fast zoom.

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