Tokina AF 100mm F/2.8 Macro AT-X 100AF PRO D - Nikon

After renting the Nikkor 105 VR and testing the Tamron 90mm, I realized that each of these lenses can make superb close up images. The Nikon was just overpriced, frankly, and its VR doesn't come into play with really close work. The Tamron is quite similar in function and form to the Tokina but was fifty bucks more. After buying the Tokina I just laugh at the notion that more money gets you anything qualitatively and functionally better. Why? Because AF can only get you in the neighborhood for most close up work and you'll need to manually refine your focal plane anyways. At this point you might as well invest more $$ in lighting and other gadgets to improve your output rather than follow a name brand. If you are in the market for a sharp macro lens, get the Tokina and you'll see what I mean.

This is the second Tokina Lens I've bought (the first being the 11-16). I have to say, what a fantastic lens, at around half the price of the competition.

Tokinas have a few quirks, the most unusual being the focus clutch. I still don't like it. It works, but it's too awkward, especially for this lens. The push-pull action requires so much force that you'll loose the shot every time, even on the tripod. Nikon's over-ride system is so much nicer, and you get so used to it that Tokina's attempt is just so damn clunky (and believe me, it comes with a noise too). I keep forgetting when I have a Tokina on, and keep trying to over-ride the focus. I can't get used to it, and am not sure I want to.

The build quality is first rate. Seriously, this is build quality you'd expect on a lens for 3 times the price. it's heavy, and heavy is good. the Optics are also first rate, it's incredibly sharp. Without spending hours taking photos of charts, I don't see any chromatic aberrations, and sharpness is very good. The Bokeh is nice, and when you have a look at the diaphragm blades you'll see why. They are an engineering masterpiece. This is a beautiful lens, and at a damn good price.

The front element is recessed a hell of a long way, why I don't know. This is an external focusing lens (meaning it gets longer as you focus - pretty much doubling it's length) so maybe it's to accommodate the focus rail. what ever the reason, you don't want to get this thing dirty, it's too deep to clean properly, so buy a filter. It comes with a lens hood, but with the recessed front element you'll wonder why - buy a filter, and you'll use it.

This isn't a 'G' lens, so it has an aperture ring. this really pissed me off until I found the lock, which locks it into the auto position. I kept getting error messages when I set the aperture on the camera, as the ring had to be in the right position, and it moves every time you mount it on the camera. I'm so far past aperture rings, that I never checked it. This is more operator error than a fault, and those of you using older bodies need the aperture ring (who reads the instructions anyway right?)

Speaking of bodies, it's a full frame prime lens, at 100mm, so on a crop frame Nikon you get 150mm. it's great for Macro, as you get some distance from your subject, but as a portrait lens, be prepared to walk........ a long way (if your studio/conditions allow!)

Focus is slow, but when you see how far it moves, you'll allow it this fault. Setting up hand held macro shots can be hard to get an initial focus to work with, and doing it all on manual is frustrating. I guess I'll get better as I get used to the focus range. I almost gave a hermit crab a heart attack one day as I constantly re-positioned him as I just couldn't get the initial focus right. again, operator error rather than a fault, but I've never had as much of an issue as with this lens. (The little fella just gave up walking away after a while and I got some great shots). There's no image stabilization either, not a big issue for macro, but for normal shots, 150mm is long with out VR.

You could spend all you money on name brand lenses, and only have one or two. Or you could buy a couple of Tokinas (as I have) and have a more diverse kit. And if you read some of the technical reviews, you see several of the Tokinas blow away the name brand lenses anyway.

buy it. The more I use it, the more i like it (I just hate the damn focus clutch)

A great investment, and I recommend to all

I researched several macro lens for some time before purchasing the Tokina. It was very evident that a minumum of a 100mm lens was a must. I was initially very interested in the Nikon and then came across information that the Tokina macro was designed by developers from Nikon. Plus the cost of the Nikon put me off. I've been so pleased with the Tokina macro so far. Filming orchids yesterday and the images were exceptional - even in low light. I then turned the lens on my wife, they are not kidding macro lens are great for portrait photograhy. I highly recommend this lens. This is my third Tokina lens, I own the 80-400mm and the 12-24mm wide angle. Tokina keeps surprising me with the excellent sharpnest, ease of use and rugged body. I love Nikon but Tokina is moving up in the ranks. A quality lens for those with a small budget.