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Posts Tagged ‘Tokina’s’

Tokina’s new 400mm F8 mirror lens for full-frame, APS-C mounts will ship in August

20 Jul

Tokina has announced the upcoming release of its new SZX Super Tele 400mm F8 Reflex MF, a mirror (or reflex) lens for select full-frame and APS-C camera systems.

The 400mm F8 lens manages to pack an impressive focal length into a relatively compact frame thanks to its catadioptric design. Usually reserved for telescopes, this design choice makes the smaller design possible, but at the cost of having the signature ‘donut’ bokeh, the lack of autofocus and having a fixed aperture.

The lens is constructed of six elements in five groups, offers a 1:2.5 magnification ratio and measures in at just 355g (11.82oz). It’s 74mm (2.91”) diameter and 77mm (3.03”) in length.

To make the lens as versatile as possible, the SZX Super Tele 400mm F8 Reflex MF has a 0.75mm pitch and 42mm thread mount that can be used with adapters to work with nearly any camera system. In addition to offering the base lens without an adapter, Tokina is also selling versions with included adapters for Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony E, Fujifilm X and Micro Four Thirds camera systems.

Below are a few sample photos taken with the lens, provided by Tokina:

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Tokina says the lens is set to launch on August 7, but no pricing information has been given at this time. You can find out more about the lens and its design philosophy on Tokina’s product page.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Photokina 2018: Hands-on with Tokina’s Opera 50mm F1.4 premium full-frame lens

30 Sep

Hands-on with the Tokina Opera 50mm F1.4

We first saw a prototype of Tokina’s new 50mm F1.4 Opera lens at the CP+ show in Japan earlier this year. After waiting all summer, we finally gotten hands-on time with a working model at this year’s Photokina in Germany. The Opera series is Tokina’s high-end lens lineup – the equivalent to Sigma’s Art line – and the 50mm F1.4 is the first lens in the series to come into production.

Available in both Nikon and Canon full-frame DSLR mount, the lens is specifically meant to be paired with high-resolution cameras like the Nikon D850 and Canon EOS 5DS R. Set to ship around the end of October, it is priced at $ 950.

Hands-on with the Tokina Opera 50mm F1.4

The build quality of this Opera lens is superb. Weighing 33.5oz / 950g it’s about 4.8oz / 135g heavier than the Sigma 50mm F1.4 Art, but handles well on a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV. It doesn’t feel front heavy.

The large rubberized focus ring matches the directional turn of the mount it’s meant for – turning the ring to the right achieves minimum focus on a Canon and infinity on a Nikon. And the ring continues to turn beyond its minimum and infinity point.

Hands-on with the Tokina Opera 50mm F1.4

The Opera 50mm F1.4 is made of 15 elements arranged in 9 groups. 3 of those elements are super low dispersion elements to compact chromatic aberration – there’s also one aspherical element in the rear focus group. To deal with flaring, the lens is coated with Tokina’s Extremely Low Reflection coating. The front element has a 72mm filter size, smaller than the 77mm filter size of the Sigma’s front element.

Minimum focus distance for this lens is 0.4m / 1.3ft, the same as the Sigma.

Hands-on with the Tokina Opera 50mm F1.4

Autofocus is achieved using an ultrasonic ring-shaped AF motor which is very quiet in operation. There’s also a manual focus decouple switch on the side of the lens barrel.

The lens has 9 rounded aperture blades which we hope will result in very nice bokeh. And this is the first Tokina lens ever to include an electronic diaphragm (specifically for the Nikon version).

Hands-on with the Tokina Opera 50mm F1.4

There are a total of 8 weather sealing points in the construction of the Opera, which should keep water and grime out of the internal construction. There is also a rubber gasket around the lens mount to keep nastiness out of your camera body.

Hands-on with the Tokina Opera 50mm F1.4

Overall we’re excited to get Tokina’s first Opera series lens in and start shooting with it. It’s priced exactly the same as the Sigma Art version and seems to be built to a similar level of physical and optical excellence. Seeing as Sigma’s version is one of our favorite 50mm F1.4s out there, we have high hopes for the Tokina Opera 50mm F1.4. Stay tuned for a sample gallery.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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CP+ 2018: Hands-on with Tokina’s 50mm F1.4 and 20mm F2

03 Mar

CP+ 2018: Hands-on with Tokina’s 50mm F1.4 and 20mm F2

Tokina released two lenses in advance of the CP+ 2018 show in Yokohama, and we had a chance to stop by their booth and get a closer look. First up is a premium 50mm F1.4 prime, the first in a new series of ‘Opera’ lenses designed for high performance on DSLR cameras.

CP+ 2018: Hands-on with Tokina’s 50mm F1.4 and 20mm F2

As you can see, the 50mm F1.4 is fairly large. The build quality is extremely solid, fit and finish is excellent and the focus ring is nicely damped.

CP+ 2018: Hands-on with Tokina’s 50mm F1.4 and 20mm F2

This new lens is just a prototype, and we unfortunately weren’t given any information on the lens’ optical construction or pricing. But the press release does state that the new lens lineup’s name, ‘Opera,’ was chosen because the company hopes to help photographers create photographic works of art.

CP+ 2018: Hands-on with Tokina’s 50mm F1.4 and 20mm F2

The 50mm F1.4 Opera features a degree of weather-sealing, including a gasket around the lens mount to help prevent dust and moisture incursion. It’s slated to be available in European and Asian markets in the summer of 2018.

CP+ 2018: Hands-on with Tokina’s 50mm F1.4 and 20mm F2

The E-Mount FíRIN 20mm F2 FE AF is a different beast altogether. Designed for mirrorless cameras, the 20mm F2 AF is a followup to Tokina’s existing manual focus lens of the same specification.

CP+ 2018: Hands-on with Tokina’s 50mm F1.4 and 20mm F2

Those specifications include 13 lens elements in 11 groups; three of those elements are Super-low Dispersion, and two are aspherical. Despite this, the FíRIN remains compact and lightweight, with a heft of 464 grams. Unfortunately for those that enjoy manual focus, there is no distance scale.

CP+ 2018: Hands-on with Tokina’s 50mm F1.4 and 20mm F2

The front of the lens accommodates a bayonet-style hood and 62mm filters. The 20mm F2 AF has a nine-bladed aperture diaphragm, and the closest focus distance is 0.28m or 0.9 feet.

CP+ 2018: Hands-on with Tokina’s 50mm F1.4 and 20mm F2

It’s best to take care when using this lens in inclement weather, as there is no rear gasket nor claims of weather or moisture sealing. Despite this, the FíRIN 20mm F2 looks very promising.

The lens will tentatively be available in Japan by the end of April and the rest of the world in May. Pricing information has yet to be announced.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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