Tokina 80-200mm F2.8 AT-X PRO AF A-mount lens review by QuietOC
 QuietOC#44044 date: Apr-15-2018 | |
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| sharpness: 3 color: 5 build: 3 distortion: 3 flare control: 3 overall: 3.4 | tested on:
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| ownership: | I have experience with this lens |
| compared to: | Tamron 28-200 RXD Tokina AF 35-200 SD Minolta MD 50-135 F3.5 Sigma 50-150 F2.8 EX DC HSM II Sony DT 55-200 SAM Vivitar 70-150 F3.8 Tamron 70-180 F2.8 VXD Sigma 70-200 F2.8 EX DG OS HSM Sigma 70-200 F2.8 EX DG APO Sony FE 70-200 F4 G OSS Canon EF 70-200 F4 L USM Vivitar S1 70-210 F3.5 I & II Minolta AF 70-210 F4 Minolta AF 70-210 F3.5-4.5 Minolta AF 80-200 F2.8 APO G Vivitar 85-205 F3.8 Minolta AF 100-200 F4.5 Minolta AF 135 F2.8 Canon EF 135 F2.8 Softfocus Canon EF 200 F2.8 L USM Minolta AF 200 F2.8 APO G Minolta AF 200 F2.8 HS APO G |
| price paid: | 240 USD (used) |
| positive: | Smooth, internal zoom Rotatable tripod foot |
| negative: | Size and weight Heavy PF and CA Soft corners (not curvature) Soft at long end Backwards zoom direction High resistance, noisy focus Rotating/extending front focus Limited range |
| comment: | A very clean copy with original screw-on hood and rear cap purchased from a large eBay company. The focusing mechanism and perhaps also the optics on this copy are out of alignment. This Pro version seems to be a minor update to their earlier AF 80-200 F2.8 AT-X which is probably based on their earlier manual zoom. Tokina borrowed the lens ID from the Minolta 80-200 F2.8 APO. "JAPAN" Build is typical low tech, overweight Tokina. The focus mechanism sounds and feels horrible. The focus control ring is visibly misaligned with the lens barrel when pulled back to allow manual focus. The manual focus ring also doesn't fully disengage when pushed forward to the AF setting at the short end of the focus throw. This probably indicates damage or at least faulty assembly. Optically this lens isn't as good as the cheapest Minolta zooms. It is not just field curvature either. Tokina's old manual focus 70-210 F3.5 (as rebranded by Vivitar Series 1) is a much better lens despite its problems. The Sigma F2.8 EX zooms are better, and neither of those are great lenses. The wide end is very close in angle-of-view to the Sony 85 F2.8 SAM. |
rating summary
- total reviews: 26
- sharpness: 4.50
- color: 4.31
- build: 4.88
- distortion: 4.62
- flare control: 4.31
- overall: 4.52