fritz@hpfclp.UUCP (fritz) (05/28/85)
I recently purchased a Tokina f/3.5-4 35-200 zoom for my Nikon FG, and
thought others on the net might be interested in my impression of it.
The lens is fairly large, about the size of a Vivitar Series 1 28-90
f/2.8: it's about 5" long (at 35mm) and takes 67mm filters. I believe
it weighs about 14oz. It is a one-touch zoom with a macro ring that
takes it down to 1:4. Operation of the zoom/focus ring is smooth and
firm; I (obviously) don't know how it will hold up to use. Cost: $155
mail-order (Labelle of Maine).
My only operational complaint is in the close-focus mode. You can't
focus closer than 1.6m (5.25') without using the macro ring. This isn't
a major problem, but it's annoying. The shift from f/3.5 to f/4 when
zooming from 35 to 200mm might bug you if you don't have TTL metering
and flash. Of course, this is true of almost any zoom.
I shot a series of test shots of the sunlit siding on my house. This
provided an ideal test surface: it was evenly lit, had straight lines
across the field, and had fine detail throughout. Unfortunately I had
print film in the camera at the time, and forgot to shoot any control
shots with my f/1.8E 50mm Nikon lens.
The zoom showed slight vignetting when wide open (both 35 & 200 mm),
but no more than I expected. I don't think you'd notice it in any kind
of natural shot with non-uniform lighting. There was very slight
pincushioning at 200mm; a 5" straight line on the long edge of a print
deviated only about 1/8" in the middle. No barrelling was noticeable
at 35mm. The print was not razor-sharp, but I think this was the fault
of the print film (Kodacolor 100).
I shot a roll of Kodachrome 64 at Yellowstone a few weeks ago, and just
looked at the slides with a industrial-strength Kodak projector from
work. When I blew up the slides to 6'x8' there was noticeable blurring
of the image (surprise!), but I'm not sure how much was due to the
Tokina and how much was due to the zoom lens on the projector. I think
the pictures were more than sharp enough for 8x10's, and would probably
stand up well to larger prints. I guess I'll have to blow up a shot to
find out for sure.
In summary, I'd say the lens is a superb compromise. It's not small,
but it's much more convenient to carry than a set of fixed lenses.
(I don't know about you, but I tend to miss a lot of shots with fixed
lenses because I don't have the right lens with me, or can't change it
in time.) It's not real fast, but there's hardly any depth of field at
f/2 anyway. It's probably not as sharp as fixed lenses, but I believe
it will be good enough for most enlargements I'll make. If I want a
razor-sharp 18x24, I'll get a Micro-Nikkor 55mm.
I'm willing to accept these compromises for the tremendous flexibility
of composition that you gain with the wide range of this lens. I think
it will spend a lot of time on my camera, and I won't need to buy any
new lenses for a while. I'd say it's an excellent deal at $155.
(No, I'm not affiliated with Tokina. I just know I wished for some
first-hand reports when *I* was shopping for a lens!)
Gary Fritz
Hewlett Packard
Ft Collins, CO
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