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Tokina AF235 II 20-35mm f/3.5-4.5 35mm Zoom

4.28/5 (18 Reviews)

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Reviews 1 - 5 (18 Reviews Total) | Next 15

User Reviews

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by beatsme a Intermediate

Date Reviewed: May 4, 2005

Strengths:    Built like a tank
Tack sharp (in the center)
Cheap

Weaknesses:    a tad soft in the corners (but for that price ...)
A bit heavy

Bottom Line:   
Beutifull results from this lens. Very contrasty (with lenshood!).
Fast focus. Distortions give interesting effects at close ups.

Gives a better quality as the newer 19-35 (seems to be symptomatic with Tokina lately).

If you find one, buy it!

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Duration Product Used:   21+ years

Price Paid:    $200.00

Purchased At:   Netherlands

Similar Products Used:   Tokina 19-35

Type of photography:   Outdoor

Overall Rating:2
Value Rating:2
Submitted by Doralin a Expert from The Netherlands

Date Reviewed: September 11, 2003

Strengths:    I have tried this lens on a Nikon D1, I do moustpy party pictures but I am going to sell it fast. It's a good one for ones with not too high expectations:) I was happy I could find it so cheap and so solid build, I loved the feeling, sharp center, cheap. Good lens for entry-level but I allways want better and better:) Focusing is oke only in center and enough fast. Good for a vacation and for small prints. Japan Made! Nice one:)

Weaknesses:    Too big contrast on low tones-skin (people at parties, shows, dancing in crowd), not sharp around and far from center even at f8, I had to get a 18-35D IF ED and there are lots of better colours, as I did I guess you'll want (very soon) something better:) once more a rule is true, what you get is what you pay for. Focusing is not accurate, especially at refocussing at a differnt distance less that 0,3m, better you'l try far away and then come back to your new subject. I'll give only 2 start due to it's lack of sharpness and poor low tones reproduction.

Bottom Line:   
Consummer / begginer level lens, GOOD landscapes, however not best for arhitech. en people phototgraphy

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Duration Product Used:   11-20 years

Price Paid:    $175.00

Similar Products Used:   18-35, 20, 24, 50, 85, all D lenses of Nikon.

Type of photography:   People

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by Colin VL a Intermediate from Stamford, CT, USA

Date Reviewed: May 9, 2003

Strengths:    well built and solid construction; very good contrast and quite sharp (but you have to stop it down to f:8.0)

Weaknesses:    distortion

Bottom Line:   
I have the Nikkor 20mm but when I needed a wide angle zoom for a trip and could not see myself spending too much, I decided to take a risk with this lens that I bought used. It turned out that results from this relatively inexpensive zoom were pleasant surprises. While I do take good care of my equipment, the fact that this 20-35 Tokina is also quite well built gives me ease of mind when I drag it around as it seems to take travel abuse quite well. Optically, you can good contrast and good sharpness with this lens. The main weakness is its amount of distortion, especially when compared to my 20mm Nikkor prime (which I consider as the absolute performer in its class) - so this is not a fair comparison

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Duration Product Used:   21+ years

Price Paid:    $175.00

Similar Products Used:   Nikkor 20mm F:2.8 AF-D (the best 20mm); Nikkor 28-105mm (the best all purpose zoom under $300)

Type of photography:   Outdoor

Overall Rating:4
Value Rating:5
Submitted by minolta man a Expert from lansing MIchigan

Date Reviewed: March 5, 2003

Strengths:    sharp center.Excellent build - would last for ever ( metal construction)

Weaknesses:    Very distorted corners.

Bottom Line:   
Have used lens primarly indoors. Studio.
-overall happy for this range.Use studio lights or natuar light.

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Duration Product Used:   6-10 years

Price Paid:    $150.00

Purchased At:   cord camera on line

Similar Products Used:   19-35 same maker

Type of photography:   Fine Art

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by Henry Westland a Professional

Date Reviewed: August 25, 2002

Strengths:    Very good image quality especially stop down to f8. Very little flare. Color saturation is also good. Metalic body built like as a tank.

Weaknesses:    I don't like the AF/MF switch method of Tokina. AF speed is not as fast as my Canon USM lens but still acceptable. Corner sharpness is not as good as center but what you want at this price level?

Bottom Line:   
I bought this lens used for 2 years. Although it's not an ATX lens it's build quility is very solid. There is a little bit of distortion at the edge but is still better than most consumer lens. I find that it's image quility is very near to Canon EF 20-35 f/3.5-4.5 but is at least 40% cheaper at the used market. I used it a lot at landscape photo taking. Enlarge Velvia to 16X20 still get a very reasonable sharpness. Stop it down to F8 and you can see very little difference between this lens and it's bigger brother ATX 20-35 f/2.8. Just make sure that you get the one that has an orange ring because there is an later version without the orange ring that doesn't has the equivalent quality, what a shame of Tokina to get rid of such a good lens, maybe they want to make a bigger gap better it's consumer lens and much more expansive ATX lens!

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Duration Product Used:   11-20 years

Similar Products Used:   Tokina ATX 20-35 F2.8, Canon EF 20-35 f/3.5-4.5

Type of photography:   Outdoor


Reviews 1 - 5 (18 Reviews Total) | Next 15

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  • Release Date10/13/2005


 

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