The
Tokina AT-X M100AF Macro lens
by J. Ramón Palacios
tell
a friend about this article
|
SOME
CONCLUSIONS ....
The
lens performs well and it seems and feels very well constructed,
promising durability.
.
 |
|
The
Tokina AT-X M100AF 100mm f/2.8 Macro at work with Nikon
5T
|
SPECIFICATIONS
| Lens
construction |
|
11
elements in 10 groups |
| Diagonal
angle of view |
|
24°30' |
| Closest
focusing distance |
|
1.1
ft (0.35m) |
| Magnification
ratio |
|
1:2 |
| Aperture
range |
|
f/2.8~f/32 |
| Filter
size |
|
55mm |
| External
diameter |
|
2.7"
(69mm) |
| Length |
|
3.2"
(97.5mm) |
| Weight |
|
550g
(19.2oz) |
| Tokina
hood |
|
SH554 |
| Street
Price, new |
|
~US$300 |
| Nikkor
105mm f/2.8D AF Micro |
|
~US$650 |
It
seems a sweet lens for both portrait and macro photography. Internal
focusing and floating element systems provide very high resolution
and contrast, from infinity to its minimum focus distance (1/2
life size), as in the picture above.
Its
internal focus system does not cause the lens to extend while
focusing, thus it should work well on SLR cameras with built-in
flash. Also, since the front element does not rotate when focusing,
polarizing filters are easily accommodated.
Despite
of not using a tripod, images were very sharp. Film speed was
not that high on all the samples here (ISO 200). Sorry, no record
of f/stop but depth of field was as expected for a macro lens:
rather shallow. Auto Focusing was very fast on my F5 when prefocused
and I felt no need to make final adjustments manually. When
the image was a bit crowded I simply locked the focus and moved
back and forth, just a little, to get the exact plane I wanted.
I
have yet to fully try it for portraits with lights and at the
backdrop, of course with a Nikon soft 1 filter to avoid excess
detail, but I expect it to behave very well. I now have purchased
an inexpensive step-up ring to screw on any of my 62mm filters
on this 55mm lens.
Being
about half the price of the 105mm f/2.8D Micro Nikkor, I could
not expect it to have the same magnification ratio, 1:2 as against
1:1.
However,
with the aid of a the Nikon 5T/6T diopter lenses you can
get it, like in the case of the 70-180mm f/4.5-5.6D ED AF
Zoom Micro Nikkor.
At
right, coupled with a 5T Nikon close-up attachment lens,
an almost life-size handheld shot of coins. |
.. |
|
If
you like this alternate Tokina lens, the trick is to find it,
since it has been recently discontinued, but the search will be
worthwhile. And for sure you will locate one for a lot less than
I did. In the meantime .......
Have
a great time 
|
