Tokina 400mm SZX Reflex Lens Review
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- Опубліковано 5 сер 2024
- The Tokina 400mm SZX f/8 Reflex MF lens is a lightweight, compact, super telephoto reflex lens. In this review, I'm using the lens with my Nikon Z7 to capture some landscape photography images and explaining how this unusual lens can pack so much reach into such a small and light body.
#photography #landscapephotography #tokina400mm #reflexlens #peakdistrict #peakdistrictnationalpark
Interesting review Robert. The Tokina looks a good bit smaller than the cheaper Opteka 50mm F6.3mm lens I reviewed a few years ago. My Opteka is affectionally referred to as 'the dustbin' for it's size, they are fun to use but as you found the image quality of reflex or mirror lenses is slightly lacking. The Tokina is certainly the best of the bunch. currently available I do think with the latest mirrorless cameras will make better use of them with the higher ISOs and in body IS than my old DSLR can. The results you got certainly did looks pretty good on screen and as you say with modern post processing techniques you can make a silk purse from anything these days.
Yeah, seems like mirrorless bodies have given a new lease of life to these lenses. Definitely not perfect, but the benefits are really appealing. Not sure I've seen your review - I'll have to dig it out. Cheers for watching. 😊
For the price, who can really argue, for landscape photography anyways.....and perhaps a bit of astro too? The Hubble telescope seem to get some decent images from a reflex lens so they can't be all bad! And I completely agree about the mount adaptor, great innovation. On an aside, I went up Millstone Edge (and surrounding area) for the first time last week, bloody lovely, earmarked for a sunset trip pretty soon.
That's very true Dave, although I think the Hubble telescope costs a bit more than this lens. 😂 Was it your APS-C DoF vid that was up on Millstones?
Thanks. I've had a Soligor 500mm F10 for years. It produces the perfect image size on my crop sensor of the Sun/Moon/eclipses. The sliding lens hood is built in and accomodates the cap when retracted. The donut bokeh actually helps focusing on points of light like stars.
It's not a lens I'm familiar with - looks like you can pick them up for pretty cheap though, so may have to give it a go. Thanks for watching. 😊
Interesting lens and a good review on it Robert. Personally i dont think it is something i would ever use. Seems like quite a bit of work to get the image quality you are looking for, and a lot of other cons as well. But for that price I can see where it would appeal to some people who dont mind its limitations. Having said that, a couple really nice images in this one mate. Always a great watch as well. Hope you are doing well, have a great week!
Yeah, I think it would be much less appealing if it cost any more. Fun for the price though. Generally I would stick with my 300mm PF and the 1.4 teleconverter, but I might use this again for occasions when I need to travel super light. Thanks for watching mate. Have you got any vids in the pipeline?
@@Robert-Bishop just finished filming one this morning. Turns out it was more of a hiking video with JoAnna. Probably release it next week!
Once again very informative video Robert, good explanation of a reflex lens but not for me personally. Looks well made and very light weight for travelling. Keep up the good work, nice to see a quick image of Otis. 🐕
I think they've always been divisive John, but I do think they're much better these days, particularly when paired with a mirrorless body. Looking forward to getting Otis back in some videos soon - the sunset ones aren't ideal though, because it's usually a race against time to get the shots and video, and trying to pay attention to a dog at the same time is difficult! Cheers for watching. 😊
Great review! I wish there was a bit more contrast. Definitely going to check if you have any more mirror lens reviews. I actually love the donut bokeh for some things.
Also, Go E-A-G-L-E-S!!!
The contrast is certainly an issue when shooting into the far distance - I think this is due, at least in part, to atmospheric haze. Results are much better when focusing on nearer subjects (say up to 100 meters away). Shooting in RAW and adjusting afterwards can fix a lot of the contrast issues though.
I get a lot of comments on the hat (particularly when I was in America last year). I've got to be honest though, I mainly just liked the design and colours! But still, Go Eagles! 😁
I had the 300mm Micro 4/3 version and it was quite good. The nice thing with the 300 is that it had the electronic contacts to communicate with the camera. I also had a Tamron Adaptall 500MM and it was the best Mirror lens I have tested to date. With Adaptall , you can buy the mount that matches your camera. I have found mounts for Micro Four Thirds even though the mount predates the lens. With these lenses, you have to manage expectations. Not every lens or focal length provides the quality of a shorter, wide aperture prime lens and in some cases, it's a matter of using these lenses or not capturing the image at all (unless you have the budget and muscles to get long primes).
Thanks for your review. I just purchased this lens with the 2x extender so it should be fun when it turns up at my door. Just one thing.....You seemd to have a bit of trouble focusing. Has your camera got Focus Magnifier? It is a fantastic tool. I have mine set on 1:1 for a 2 second preview. You can really latch on to perfect focus in the viewfinder. Liked and subscribed.👍
I haven't tried the extender, I'd be interested too know how much it affects the performance and image quality. Regarding focussing, the only method I'm aware of involving magnification on the Z7 is the one I showed in the video. It works well when using a tripod - a bit more hit and miss handheld. Many thanks for watching and subscribing. 😊
Can you focus past infinity?
Just a touch, yeah. I think it's common with catadioptric lenses. Thanks for watching. 😊
Do this lens have teleconvertor?
Hi David, yes a 2x extender is available. Thanks for watching. 😊
Is tgere not a 30.5mm filter in the back?
Seems so, yes! I had to go check because it's not mentioned by Tokina, but it does look like there's a thread there.
@@Robert-Bishop its hard to find a definitive answer to if its a required part of the optical path. Ive tried with and without the clear filter and cant tell
@@jesuschrist2284 I think if you can't tell, that's the answer! 😊
@@Robert-Bishop maybe, more likely im not good enough at focusing this blancmange as it wobbles well enough to be able to judge.
Buddy doesn’t show the lense in the beginning💀💀💀
Definitely not for me. The cons outweigh the pros. I'm sure there is a market for this lens though. Tokina do make some decent affordable lenses. I use the 100mm 2.8 for Macro and get some good results with it.
Yeah, everyone will have their own opinion, but for me the pros outweigh the cons. The results aren't amazing, but definitely usable and it's easily one of the smallest and lightest super telephoto lenses you can get. The 100mm macro is great too - I keep meaning to do a video with that on the Z7 body actually. Thanks for watching. 😊
Why do they always include aperture. In the case of a MIRROR lens (not "reflex") it's just an academic value. "f stop" doesn't exist. There's no such thing as diafragm. At best: you may call it an equivelant to f8, and even that is incorrect. It doesn't even have a "fixed" aperture, the barrel itself IS the aperture.
"there is some softness." Lol there isn't a single sharp area in the photos/