Tokina 80-400 f4-5.6 ATX-Pro?

[dogbert]

<p>I would be interested in opinions on this lens and how it performs on EOS digital bodies.</p>

<p>There is a lot about it that appeals to me. Its price is good as it is only $500. It seems very small for a zoom with 400 mm f5.6 capability. It has a rear focus design. Its black.</p>

<p>Lack of IS worries me a bit as I prefer not to use a tripod, but I do tend to shoot in good daylight light and if it is sharp enough wide open I would probably have plenty of shutter speed. I can live without L tele quality, but if optically it was worse than say the Canon 28-135 to use an example I would probably pass.</p>

<p>So what say you about its handling, IQ and focuss accuracy. I use both a 450D and 5D, but would probably use this with the 450D most often.</p>

<p>Ps I don't care for the build quality of the Canon 70-300 f4-5.6 IS, particularly the lack of rear focuss, non ring USM and rotating focus ring (why Canon?, why?) and the Canon 100-400 L is way beyond what I am prepared to pay.</p>

[a._n.k.]

<p>Geoff,</p>

<p>Looks like an interesting lens. I never knew about this lens before. I'd be interested to see the response from others. The only types of reviews I could find are from B&H:</p>

<p>http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/429082-REG/Tokina_ATX840AFDC_AF_D_80_400mm_f_4_5_5_6_Lens.html#reviews</p>

<p> </p>

[craig_meddaugh]

<p>If you can deal with shooting at f/8 and 1/400+, it should be a great lens out to about 380 or 390mm or so. Wide open will be a bit softer but still quite useable (though I don't know if it will be any sharper than the 28-135). Seems to focus a bit slower than the 70-300IS but I've only played with one so I'll leave it there. </p>

<p> </p>

[richard_martin10]

<p>If you are going to shoot anything moving this is not a good lens. My buddy has one and I experimented with it extensively. It is a very appealing focal length, the build quality is good, its actually on the heavy side. IQ is good if you shoot at F/8 and up, but for fast moving objects the AF just doesn't cut it. For auto racing it is useless, out of approx 200 shots I got 3 keepers on my 40D with the Tokina. With my 70-200 and 400 Canon lenses the keeper ratio is about 80%. If you are using it for things like zoo photos, landscapes, or still wildlife it is probably a good lens. </p>

[kasperhettinga]

<p>I've had one for quite some time. It feels very nice, IQ is quite good up till approx. 380mm. I've written a review in Dutch here:<br>

http://zoom.nl/forum/viewtopic.php?t=22214<br>

Center crops:<br>

<img src="http://foto.clanmackay.nl/lenstest/Center_crops.jpg" alt="" width="936" height="1872" /></p>

<p>Border crops:<br>

<img src="http://foto.clanmackay.nl/lenstest/Border_crops.jpg" alt="" width="936" height="1872" /></p>

<p>Reason for sale was that I often didn't take it with me because of it's size & weight (I'm not using telelenses often anyway).</p>

[alan_green4]

i wouldn't want to shoot hand held at 400mm w/o IS at f 5.6.