Tokina AT-X 340 AF 100-300mm f/4 SD (IF) Reviews

Rating
Reviewed by: Marin
(Intermediate)

Review Date
February 23, 2009

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.50 of 5,
2 votes

Review 1 of 15

Price Paid: $350.00 from ebay

Summary:

Excellent lens, it's built very tough and machining is nothing short of perfect.
The only (minor) downside is the scew on hood and the fact it's pretty heavy (~1.6kg), but screw on hood behaves like an integral part of the lens and it's not like you're putting it on and off too often.

Optically, it's fantastic, at F4 it is bit darker than on other apertures, but the sharpness is surprisingly good.

AF can hunt sometimes in darker areas, but mainly it's very accurate and fast considering the focal range.

This lens can be found very cheap and it's en par with much more expensive lenses from Canon/Nikon.

Strengths:

Great optical quality
Built to last
Excellent finish (All metal)
Standard 77mm filter size
Excellent integrated tripod collar
Looks intimidating, especially with the hood on :)

Weaknesses:

Can't use lens cap with the hood on
Bit on the heavy side (but well balanced and these kind of lenses aren't any lighter)

Similar Products Used:

Canon 55-200
Canon 100-400 f4.5-5.6 L
Sony 70-300

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Rating
Reviewed by: Albert S.
(Intermediate)

Review Date
December 29, 2008

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5,
1 votes

Review 2 of 15

Price Paid: $470.00 from KEH

Summary:

This is a very sharp lens. I had a chance to use it for the first time today at Jungle Island in Miami. I have no complaints about the sharpness what so ever. It's a great range to bring to a zoo, or outdoor photography. In the low light areas at f4 the images came out tack sharp. I can count the feathers on the parrots I photographed. I highly recommend this lens to anyone who has been thinking about getting one.

Strengths:

Sharpness , Built very well.

Weaknesses:

Somewhat heavy

Similar Products Used:

Sigma 50-500, Nikon 70-300

Customer Service:

none so far

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Rating
Reviewed by:

Ken Matcham
( Intermediate)

Review Date
July 25, 2008

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
2.00 of 5,
1 votes

Review 3 of 15

Price Paid: $280.00 from Ebay

Summary:

I wanted a 300mm lens for my sports photography and this lens came up on ebay and after using it i have found it to be brilliant. My photos are really sharp and i even tested it at a low evening light and the results have been very good.

Strengths:

Just a very good lens and very well built

Weaknesses:

None

Similar Products Used:

Sigma and Nikon lens

Customer Service:

Not used

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Rating
Reviewed by:

Chris Haake
( Intermediate)

Review Date
October 28, 2004

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.00 of 5,
4 votes

Review 4 of 15

Price Paid: $225.00 from KEH.com

Summary:

A gem among gems! This lens is built like a tank and is optically fantastic at all lengths and virtually all apertures (though, I admit, I rarely use it stopped way down). Most of my photos with this lens are portraits at 100-135 f/4 or 300 f/4, and the 11x14's I've had made from these photographs are nothing short of stunning. I notice not color shift, but I do notice that one reviewer here records a cool cast while another reports a warm (magenta) one, so I conclude that may have something to do with their other equipment. If you have a chance to acquire one of these babies, snap it up!!

Strengths:

-Optical quality (sharpness, resolution, contrast, and color fidelity) -Built better than a German tank

Weaknesses:

Are you kidding?

Similar Products Used:

Sigma 100-300 f/4 (briefly)

Customer Service:

Speedy and courteous (questions only)

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Rating
Reviewed by: Armando Rodriguez
(Intermediate)

Review Date
March 26, 2003

Overall Rating
3 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5,
2 votes

Review 5 of 15

Price Paid: $450.00 from keh.com

Summary:

I was very excited about this lens at first. The consturction is grade "A". This lens dose lack quite a bit of sharpness. 5x7 prints look great, 8x12 do not. Optics are good, but not great! The lens weight is not to bad, compared to my Sigma 50-500mm. Auto focus is slow so forget about good action shots.

Strengths:

F 4 constuction weight is okay for the lens type

Weaknesses:

optics slow auto focus

Similar Products Used:

sigma 50-500mm canon 300mm usm f4 L

Customer Service:

after about a week and over 120 shot using fuji NPH 400 and Reala 200, I decided to return it. KEH.COM took it back with little hassel.

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