i abuse a tokina 116 (11-16mm f/2.8) just about every day.

in fact, it took a fall and busted the AF about 6 months ago. i switched to MF because i can't bear to send it back in for repair. yet.

I don't think anyone dislikes tokina here. Not sure on the hoya connection (I know it's there I just don't know in what direction or what it means). I also think they're part of pentax as well?

Anyway, tokina makes AWESOME lenses, it's just that some of them aren't the best FLs -vs- the other guys options. If any third party lens company should have a bad wrap from what you read online it should be sigma with their QC (lenses that almost always miss focus from the factory but can be adjusted) and finish (paint peels). Tokina's 11-16mm is AMAZING. IQ and build are just wicked, especially at that price point. But siggy's 10-20 is wider so a lot of people go with it for landscaping. Tokina also seems to not make as many options in the mid or long ranges but maybe I'm not familiar with their line. The other issue is until the 11-16mm came out, their widest crop lens was a 12-24mm and it was f/4. F/4 isn't a deal breaker, but the difference between 10 and 12 on crop is pretty massive.

I wouldn't tout being connected with Hoya as a good thing.

But I've heard nothing but great things about Tokina lenses.

Originally Posted by nukaidee

anyone have experiences with a longer lens? 70-200?

They now make a 50-135, that is the equivelent of the Pentax SMC-DA* 50-135. (Same lens, not sure who makes it either Tokina or Pentax). The 50-135 from Pentax reputably one of the best zooms that Pentax has ever made from a IQ standpoint. They also have a 16-135, a 16-50 which I use the equivelant Pentax lens of, and they also have a 80-400 that was made for Pentax for a bit, then they competely stopped and shifted it's production for Canon and Nikon only. Lets just say that when the 80-400 lens shows up on ebay for a Pentax mount people go ape for it. It is rare, and also high IQ. Also when it was being made, it wasn't as expensive as other long tele zooms, so it was affordable but rare for Pentax. So when it shows up now, it kind of drives the price up, but it is still cheaper than comaprable zooms in price. There are tons of 80-400's in Canon and Nikon mount on ebay at anytime though. And I will say this, if I rocked Canon or Nikon cropper, I would have almost nothing but Tokina lenses.

-Andy

The other thing I really can't believe from Tokina is that they don't offer the Pentax SMC-FA 50mm f/1.4 for Nikon and Canon, branded as Tokina. It is a full framer, and a great 50mm option if they offered it. It is about the only lens they are really missing to have a comprehensive line-up for Canon/Nikon from their company.

And they could benefit from a 80-200 2.8 in their current lineup also, which they used to make. So if you save a search on ebay, one should turn up sooner or later. It is also another have to have lens for people when it comes up, so don't expect it to go cheap, but it is worth it if you can afford it, and are looking for that option for a focal length.

In fact, here is one right here for Nikon:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Tokina-Nikon-AF-...item1c107bdd81

Originally Posted by nukaidee

Ben (jacobsen1 - that is ur name right? lol) what do you mean by "FLs"

focal lengths, sorry. And yes it's Ben. I'm just saying as a wide guy, 12-24mm -vs- 10-20mm, the 10-20mm wins every time (which is a sigma). When they made the 11-16mm, they added 2.8 to the mix so you were trading a bit of width for the speed making it a very hard choice. That said, on a cropper, I'd go 11-16mm personally I think, but the siggy 10-20 is not a bad lens, that's for sure. I wish we had 2 choices that good on FF honestly that weren't 1st part priced.

I just picked up the 11-16 canon mount a month ago, I can say that it's really solidly built and the optics are top notch.

Originally Posted by jacobsen1

focal lengths, sorry. And yes it's Ben. I'm just saying as a wide guy, 12-24mm -vs- 10-20mm, the 10-20mm wins every time (which is a sigma). When they made the 11-16mm, they added 2.8 to the mix so you were trading a bit of width for the speed making it a very hard choice. That said, on a cropper, I'd go 11-16mm personally I think, but the siggy 10-20 is not a bad lens, that's for sure. I wish we had 2 choices that good on FF honestly that weren't 1st part priced.

Yeah no kidding Canon and Nikon people what a dilemma to have to work through....The 11-16, or the 10-20. I can get the 10-20. 11-16 not so much.

I have the Tokina 80-200mm f/2.8 and this thing is friggin awesome.

Tokina is awesome. My 11-16 is great, and I'll likely get their 100mm macro. I don't understand why they don't continue offering the 80-200 other than trying to push the "equivilant on crop" 50-135 which I don't think people want. I looked on fredmiranda, and the last time a tokina 80-200 sold there was 6 months ago.

Originally Posted by ppower

Tokina is awesome. My 11-16 is great, and I'll likely get their 100mm macro. I don't understand why they don't continue offering the 80-200 other than trying to push the "equivilant on crop" 50-135 which I don't think people want. I looked on fredmiranda, and the last time a tokina 80-200 sold there was 6 months ago.

Yeah but like I said, they show up on fleabay often enough. You just have to know how to bid.

Originally Posted by nukaidee

so if we do end up buying one on flea bay.. .can't really do anything about it right just hope for the best? I can't find a single tokina 80-200 afd anywhere..

As far as what winning the auction? If it says buy it now, just do it. Or check the Ebay Stores. Otherwise, yeah, you have to bid and win.

Check KEH and B&H used stuff too.

Here were the auctions I saw for Nikon:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Tokina-AT-X-828-...item23059f031d
http://cgi.ebay.com/Tokina-Nikon-AF-...item1c107bdd81

Originally Posted by nukaidee

what is keh?

I'm probably gonna blow your mind with this.

www.keh.com

Used photo gear heaven
Not cause the prices are so much better. They are competitive, but they usually have good gear, good ratings on the stuff they sell, and sales sometimes.

-Andy

they are coming out with a 16-28 2.8 for FF....

On the 80-200, what's the difference between the AT-X and AT-X PRO? I'm guessing that the "regular" has the red ring but is stil AF, and the PRO has the gold ring. The nice PRO model with leather case, tripod mount, and hood is getting pricey now that the auction is about over (currently $455).

KEH has a Nikon mount for $350 but doesn't seem to have the hood, tripod mount, or case. Hood can be bought for $19 though. Then looking up the PRO model, there is a Sony/Minolta mount with a buy it now of $598. hmmm