New Macro & wide lenses from Tokina

Tokina as just came out with two new lenses, one is a 35mm macro lenses, the other is a 11-16 F:2,8, altought 35mm seem short for a macro lenses, dwellers of cold murky waters will welcome this lenses i'm sure. The 11-16mm... a bit shot on the range for us I feel.

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0711/07111602tokina35macro.asp

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0711/07111601tokina116.asp

They both seem interesting. Although I don't own any of their lenses, Tokina is gaining a good reputation. The 35mm is probably the most intriquing, sort of a digital equivalent of my old 55mm macro on film. Only this one goes 1:1.

The 11-16 has a minimum focus of 30cm which is cutting it kind of close for focusing without a diopter. I probably would look at this as moe of a topside alternative

Both of these lenses look interesting to me.

The 11-16 doesn't offer much range of zoom but will be the only fast rectilinear f2.8 lens I'm aware of wider than 14mm. This will be an interesting alternative to the fisheyes and the host of slower WA zooms. The price is attractive as well comming in at less than the slower Nikon or Canon WA zooms. I hope the quality matches the expectations of a f2.8.

I wouldn't worry too much about the close focus distance. This is about the same as the Nikon which still does well with or without a diopter.

Focusing should be much faster and more reliable than the Nikon based on the larger aperture.

I think going back to the traditional macro FOV would be interesting for larger subjects. This would be a whole new tool in the toolbox.

Unfortunately for me I think I'll pass on these. I already have a pretty full kit and I don't want to invest more in DX lenses hoping that Nikon/Canon competition will force the FX format to filter down to the prosumer line. With the expense I've already gone through to fill out my kit I don't see a good reason to upgrade until that happens.

Over on DPReview.com I found the announcement that Tokina has come out with a couple more lenses that should be interesting to underwater photographers.

One is a new wideangle zoom for Nikon and Canon crop sensor cameras called the AT-X 116 Pro DX. Not to be confused with their 10-17 fisheye Zoom, the AT-116 is a rectilinear zoom like the Nikon and Tokina 12-24 model f/4 wideangle zooms lenses.

While it interesting to note that the focal length of this new 11-16 mm is slightly wider than Tokina’s current 12-24, providing an approximate focal length equivalent to a 17-25 mm on Nikon DX, 18-26 mm with Canon APS-C bodies, Not exactly a big jump in zoom range, the more tantalizing part is that this lens features a constant maximum aperture range of f/2.8. It does make you wonder if the Tokina 12-24 might be on its way out.

The other is a new macro lens for Canon and Nikon crop sensors, called the AT-X M35 PRO DX which features an equivalent focal length of a 53.5mm on Nikon DX bodies and 56mm on Canon APS-C. Like the AT-X 116, it too includes a constant maximum aperture range of f/2.8, while at the same time reviving the 'normal' macro segment with a full 1:1 reproduction range which has been absent from cameras with crop sensors.

It is said that both the lens will be available in Japan December 21st, priced at ¥90,000 (around US $800) for the AT-X 116, with the AT-X M35 at ¥68,000 (approx US $600). Pricing and availability for markets outside Japan are yet to be announced.

Thanks for the pictures Walt, but I think you have just repeated what this thread is about.

I would like to know if TOKINA have developed an equivilent technology to NIKON AP-S (silent wave motor), or CANON USM for the AF drive unit in these lenses, not only should it make the Auto focusing faster,but,and if I am reading other posts in wetpixel correctly this type of focusing drive allows the user to adjust by hand without having to manually switch the lens to its MF mode. In use you could allow the autofocus to get you quickly into the focus "ballpark" then manually fine tune the focuspoint exactly where you want it

The article on DPreview.com says that the lenses use the "focus clutch" mechanism like many other Tokina lenses. If you haven't used this before, then you wouldn't know that it doesn't lend itself to switching underwater.

Cheers

James

This Tokina 35mm macro lens looks interesting.

I've often found a 60mm macro lens a bit too long in murky water and I've been trying to use a mid range zoom to get this kind of focal length for one or two certain subjects.

I can't decide if the 1:1 macro capability on this focal length would be little used as you would be so close to your subject. Presumably it would be difficult to light subjects that close?

I wonder if a lens like the current Nikkor 35mm f2 which focuses which focuses to 25 cm would be just as useful. I've never heard of anyone using one of these though?

I've used both the Nikon and Canon 35mm f/2 lenses underwater and they can be really useful and if a diopter is added close focus can be very good - BUT....

They are relatively limited in their application, so if you are happy to be disciplined into looking for subject matter that fits into their field of view and close focus capabilities they are great.

The new Sigma sounds interesting but would need to be used with the 12mm extension tube for my camera and I suspect that this would be untenable!!!

A macro lens with 1:1 magnification, 5 1/2" close focusing distance, and a 53 mm equivelent focus sounds good for So. Ca. Clutch focus?? That dosen't sound good.

I find the 60mm macro a bit too tight for some larger fish portraits with DX sensor cameras. (Nassau grouper for example when you want a full body shot.) The narrow field of fiew requires too much distance from the subject.

This is where my 35/f2 comes in handy since it has good CF and about the same angle of view as a 60mm mounted on a FF camera.

Michel

Is a flat port the obvious choice for a 35mm lens ? I presume it would fit behind most 60mm ports without any problem.

Paul - can you explain what you would need an extension ring for if you had this Tokina - are you perhaps talking about matching to fit behind one of your Seacam domes?

Trevor

35mm lenses can be used behind either flat or domed ports. I use a P60 flatport on the Seacam for the 35mm f/2 Canon but I've used it with a WidePort to fairly good effect - its useful for crabs, lobsters, small habitats, and so on behind either. I've tried the 35/2 Canon behind a P95 Flatport (takes the 50 macro and 60 macro +12mm) and I seem to remember that it was OK altough I've a supicion that it may have vignetted at close focus.

The new Sigma is designed for smaller sensor cameras - to fit it onto a FF 1DS I'd have to use an extension tube and the shortest is 12mm. If I try the Canon 35/2 with 12mm of extension its MAXIMUM focus is ~100mm and its minimum ~50mm (very approximate) whicis extremely limiting! The Sigma is likely to focus closer but is still unlikely to focus much beyond ~100mm, which is still pretty limiting on FF, and almost certainly will still vignette (although it would be interesting to try as it MAY not). So it would yield a very interesting but very limited lens on FF. If I were using a smaller sensor camera in temerate waters I'd have a very good look at it though.

Paul, Ok - it makes sense now- you were referring to using an extension ring to get this DX lens to work on your full frame camera. You refer to a Sigma, but I think you mean Tokina!

Interesting that you mention pictures of lobsters and large crabs. That is just the kind of size subject that I would envisage shooting with this lens.. Fish are another possibility.

Whilst I'm attracted to this focal length I'm not sure about how useful the 1:1 macro capability is. At 1:1 on a 60mm lens I am about as close to the subject as I want to be.

I think it would be very difficult to light a subject at 1:1 magnification on a 35mm lens. I found it not practical even with a 50mm lens. A 35mm lens was used in an old Nikonos 1:1 framer setup. Those who has seen this, imagine fitting a housing and port between the camera and framer and still get light on the subject. It'll be hard even with a custom port and ring flash.

Consider instead the Sigma 24mm F/1.8 macro. I have one and really like it. It'll focus down to 1:2.7 magnification. I've toyed with the idea of using it with a 1.4x teleconverter behind a flat port. The combination will be the equivalent of a 34mm F/2.5 1:2 lens.

Lighting could definitely be an issue. It does have a close focus distance of 5 1/2" Similar, I believe to the 60 mm micro. I have some occasional problems lighting that lens at it's closest focus. I do think this lens would be great for medium size fish and animal portraits while still giving you excellent macro capacity.

It's working distance should be excellent for macro in crummy water.

Did anyone here use the 60mm Nikkor w/ a film camera? Same concept.

James

All the time. It was my standard lens.

It was my main fish portrait lens with film. incredible sharpness and fast autofocus. It would hunt a lot less than the 105.

Michel

Tokina has introduced this lens. Apparently not a fisheye, but it would be interesting to see how it compares to the 10-17. The fixed f2.8 maximum aperture is nice.

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0711/07111601tokina116.asp