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](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tLk83kM67r2WKnqN51DDQnpzI4POJcEhe7WEpdYVebyzPnTTjM6n_b4abi93FszjyaRJv914hv_TZRZ24yD_9RC2Pk9ovdPWpIBnGwcmnYxkKyLavYB_Wv0bkxjKCLOg=s0-d)
#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](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sax0T4AcC8FEsoU_XbxiocrUmdzWl5__eKsRxCRfN6-QQET6VEe8jREHzn0uO3lMvOYAKdyEcAwwRbzzAWt8eQdQZ-1TZ_0LltOJQFYZnuBBUP5ik7JDANppHJS0zXfhM=s0-d)
#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](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_v05Z7EVl2b2IC-abQik33rbnj6nz8wKYfvbsLKPOm5sjj9gHlaMzFsE3sWIjeyZksGpY6EDN1R4tDyOM1ee6INl18gShIZo2JOpGm8Ul-uFcsTO0LMEBHECYHFJhwCoFo=s0-d)
#4
1/500 sec, f/4.0, 180mm, iso 800, 0 Ev
![test shots with tokina at-x sd 80-200mm f/2.8](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_s_CuYNc-31HB0JzdVfpacnkORAgKxrLuA4KeFcJMgi89c1x-7B1zLbiq_FHq4--x0UAEWUpcIxiCGzS5ckz3QACVL5SdaaNY3oGloEpltRzqj3LPE_xuIll_q-F7WGpQ=s0-d)
#5
1/400 sec, f/4.0, 180mm, iso 400, 0 Ev
![test shots with tokina at-x sd 80-200mm f/2.8](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uhVyx5o0-pum9WV_FTSmTSpyW1WJLB0UIcSYCrIwTZfYwcJf6ARg9YH3hvLFK9TuQWe5otwSTzgDUTQS5sgp_6kXaSVzC9tAN1H3c1b_UJtDrXBBTcnJREmGthuY_ILg=s0-d)
#6
1/500 sec, f/4.0, 180mm, iso 2000, 0 Ev
![test shots with tokina at-x sd 80-200mm f/2.8](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_s0TADdzX8HA71MARU3w6NFEG2GUAx0iW0h81hrqjMTnIoa_jNVZ6fxELngs1aeGwm9QNZgr1UlZ3SX7GNvSH9FDWVHyoGIujkJQNZasmODrYyO_zK4Z942j0mRQn3srJs=s0-d)
#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](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_ugJSyHAv_Cz4jbWTaf4jIc1FmOBgdMSoHbEPm4c44ibmjzemf6wx_I18HasMH_m4RyOJV4Uq0V44d02dlhbWpMWGLxRhaAR9rx6wRdDWMnQSwsEbMv5quStG3-FgH4rg=s0-d)
#8
1/400 sec, f/2.8, 180mm, iso 2500, 0 Ev
![test shots with tokina at-x sd 80-200mm f/2.8](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sGoqqbXDjwE0_xdS1709m2P-M-wqpsyzlAWe2k58ar_JPNqNDEIgP_ImUpogHFMnirSP3YJ0AY1-slldha-_Y7HG5hVpK5Gx6HG3P7TdI15eUQV37HK8Q8DoSThl5tONY=s0-d)
Impressions & Notes
Related:
1/125 sec, f/4.0, 85mm, iso 800, -0.3 Ev
#2
1/200 sec, f/2.8, 75mm, iso 1000, -0.3 Ev
#3
1/160 sec, f/4.0, 85mm, iso 1000, -0.3 Ev
#4
1/500 sec, f/4.0, 180mm, iso 800, 0 Ev
#5
1/400 sec, f/4.0, 180mm, iso 400, 0 Ev
#6
1/500 sec, f/4.0, 180mm, iso 2000, 0 Ev
#7
getting dark towards the 8th inning
1/320 sec, f/2.8, 180mm, iso 2500, O Ev
#8
1/400 sec, f/2.8, 180mm, iso 2500, 0 Ev
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.
Related:
- Initial Test Shots with Tokina AT-X SD 80-200mm f/2.8
- Y! Music Event with Kate Earl
- Tamron SP 70-210mm f/3.5 adaptall (19AH)
- Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm first three versions
- Kiron 70-150mm f/3.8 with doubler
- Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8
- Hin's Camera Gear
2 comments:
How do you think this lens compares to something like a Pentax-M 80-200mm f4.5?
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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