Allen Huang Photography Journal

Well, I was quite skeptical about this lens at first, especially after reading the MTF graphs.
They stated that this lens was softer at all apertures (that were comparable) than my beloved Tank Beast Tokina 28-70/2.8

When I received it, I was in utter frustration as I had thought the seller didn't include the lens hood which he said he would. After looking around the box, I found it rapped in paper! (Lol)

It was a well cared for lens, I would not be surprised if he said it was new! No marks, scratches, signs of use Whatsoever!

When I attached it to my a200 with vertical grip, it looked very strange (very small). I wasn't used to small zooms anymore, and anything that wasn't bigger than 72mm (filter diameter) looked strange. But I got over it after I started using it. (I don't think I'll use my Tokina again, other than for portraits).

So I heard this lens performs really well on FF, lets see on APS-C.

These tests were performed on a tripod, SSS-off, Autometer, Apeture Priority and 0EV compensation
Sony DSLR-a200

Minolta 3.5


Tokina 3.5







Minolta 5


Tokina 5







Minolta 6.3


Tokina 6.3







Minolta 8


Tokina 8







Minolta 16


Tokina 16



What is evident is that the Minolta outperforms Tokina from f3.5 to about f5.6, the image for f5 seems to be a bit blurred, will check up on that.

The Tokina then takes over from f6.3 onwards.
Minolta shows steady maintaining of quality up to f8.

This is evident that Minolta is a better lens wide-open, while Tokina owns afterwards.
If only it were vice-versa, I'd resell the Minolta.

(these were both set at 28mm, it may be a weak spot for Tokina)

The brokeh from the Minolta is MUCH better than the Tokina, something that I've always liked about Minolta lenses.


Hope this has helped you decide, if you EVER come across these 2 (quite unlikely nowadays).
Enjoy.
A.

My Tokina Lens seemed to become loose and whenever I zoomed, because it is an internal focusing lens, it would scratch inside the barrel of the housing. A screw must've gotten loose or something.

So therefore,
I started my mission.

This is a product shot of my Tokina
This lens is very solidly built and I have been using it for just more than a year, I've been quite satisfied with it as the quality and sharpness is exceptional especially after f4.5. This lens is designed for wide-aperture but at f4 and lower, this lens is quite disappointing. It's very soft even at the center. Rendering it nearly unusable.

Despite it's shortcomings, it has been a faithful lens, especially to my Sony a100. Definitely a very good (nearly excellent) replacement with my kit. It suffers on the wide end (on APS-C sensors) and doesn't offer much on the longer end. I recently discovered the the alignment seems to be different from Minolta's alignment standards, as the 28mm is not as wide as my Minolta 28-105/3.5-4.5's 28mm. So thus I shall say that it does have a slight advantage on the longer end.
The sharpness is weakest at around about 60mm, But it's not noticeable. There is hardly any barrel distortion on the APS-C sensor since this is a FF lens.


Recently, due to the problem, I was quite annoyed with the lens. I had bought a plastic petal screw on lens hood for it and I had to physically BREAK my Hoya UV filter as it got stuck to the hood. I found that the UV filter's thickness was nearly 3mm! I tried to smash it with a hammer and it didn't want to smash! So i just pryed the metal apart, and stuck the glass into the front of the hood's cavity (it had a small ridge just big enough for the glass!).

Here we go with the disassemble.
I took the photos AFTER I had disassembled it, so These pictures are actually Assembly photos.

The mount and rear optic


After I removed the mount and rear optic as well as the mount alignment collar


The Mount and rear optic inside rear lens cap


The mount alignment collar with all the screws so far


After the mount standoff is removed


Standoff 'Washers'


Removing the Screw AF gear


View of everything


I had found the screw and replaced it into the right place.
Now the lens works as if I had just got it!

:]

I hope you guys enjoyed this as much as I enjoyed disassembling and reassembling my lens!

Love,
A