Tokina AT-X 24-40mm/2.8 and AT-X 28-85/3.5-4.5?

[Dante_Stella]

So in the usual messing around on Evilbay late at night, I grabbed a couple of Tokinas.

The AT-X 28-85/3.5-4.5 supposedly was going to be the Hexanon AR 28-85 until Konica cancelled it. Looks a lot like the Tokina-made 35-70/3.5-4.5 (the plastic one), right down to the controls, but made of metal.

The AT-X 24-40/2.8 - well, this is so heavily constructed that when it arrived from Germany, the packaging had been beaten up so badly that it may as well just have been a bubble mailer. The lens was unharmed. Incredible. The weird thing about this lens is how it has an orange ring that matches the lettering on the Konica FT-1 and looks for all the world as if it might be a distant ancestor to the 21-35 Hexanon Dual (which I understood may have also been made by Tokina).

So before I develop all the film I have already shot with these, any suggestions on where I should set my expectations? 🙂

Dante

 

[Beemermark]

I have a couple of the Tokina AT-X "normal" zooms and while I'm too lazy this late at night (with a dirty martini in hand) to go see which ones, I've always been impressed with them. I think I have the 28-85. They go for a song and are very decent lenses. I've never seen the 24-40 /2.8 and now have to go look for one. Thanks (heavy sarcasm here)

 

[ellisson]

I've have not used those two AT-X zooms, but I've enjoyed the Tokina ATX 28-70 lens, the first version with orange ring, mainly for digital use with Minolta/Sony A-mount cameras. Also built like a tank!

This image was taken on a Minolta Maxxum 5D, my first digital camera, with the Minolta/Sony A-mount version of the AT-X 28-70 2.8. Settings were: 70mm focal length, f2.8, 1/160, iso 160

I've was temped to get one of the wider AT-X zooms, either the 24-40 2.8 or the 20-35 2.8.

 

[vytasn]

I have the AT-X Pro 28-70mm f2.8, also big, heavy and tank like, but a very good performer on K-1 digital (AF is fast but a little noisy). Oddly for a zoom it is better on the longer rather than the wider end. Compares favourably with my Pentax 35 and 50 primes. Apparently the Tokina 20-35mm 3.5-4.5 is also very nice, better than the F2.8 version.

 

[Rob-F]

Dante, when you have had a chance to check it out, please give us your impressions of the AT-X 24-40, OK? And I'd like to know about the 21-35, if anyone has experience with it.

 

[johannielscom]

Mine were the Tokina 20-35mm 3.5-4.5 AF, the Tokina AT-X 28-70mm 2.6-2.8 AF and the Tokina AT-X 80-200mm 2.8 AF.

All built like tanks, much metal and very nice glass.

The 28-70mm 2.6-2.8 is something special. It was designed by Angenieux and Tokina built them. They were also sold under the Tokina brand.
The model to look for is the type I, with the screw-in 77mm hood. That's the Angenieux model. The type II and III were Tokinas own incarnations of the design but there were corners cut to save on production costs. The later models have a bayonet hood.

I used mine on Nikons D700 and D600 and their cool colors were a perfect countermeasure to the Nikons red-saturated sensors.

 

[ChrisPlatt]

I just bought the Tokina AT-X 35-70mm f/2.8 lens in Nikon AI mount.

Chris

 

[farlymac]

I've got the 28-85 in OM mount. I was pleased with it.


Mount Tabor Road by P F McFarland, on Flickr

See more at https://flic.kr/s/aHsjU66o5P

My only complaint is it is not very flare resistant.

PF