My Tokina is a Sigma??

**.a.t.** · 03-18-2011, 01:36 AM

I took a few shots today with my Tokina SD 400 f/5.6 (manual focus, but with an A setting on the aperture ring). When I was looking at the exif data in PhotoME, I was just a bit surprised to see this: "Lens: SIGMA APO 400mm F5.6 Telephoto Multi-Coated". Huh!?!

I've scanned the Forum reviews for the Tokina and did a brief Google search, too. I didn't see any references to this Tokina being made by Sigma. And if it was made by Sigma, wouldn't Tokina want to hide the fact?

Did Tokina make this same lens for Sigma? Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks,
Tim

axl · 03-18-2011, 02:31 AM

I would think more along the lines that the Tokina is not in PhotoMe's list of lenses and therefore the program is trying to assign "a" lens to the data from your EXIF...

Hypocorism · 03-18-2011, 05:09 AM

Originally posted by all thumbs

...
I was just a bit surprised to see this: "Lens: SIGMA APO 400mm F5.6 Telephoto Multi-Coated". Huh!?!

Did Tokina make this same lens for Sigma? Anyone have any ideas?

1. Misidentification is fairly common for less popular lenses in PhotoMe. It takes a reasonable semi-educated guess, on loose similarities.

2. To the best of my knowledge Sigma Corp., (the privately held camera~lens~ph_equip maker) has never had any mfgring or other affiliation with Kenko Co., Ltd. (mfgr of Tokina lenses).

.R.

**Odinz** · 03-18-2011, 05:52 AM

I find that many programs will make this error from time to time. The EXIF data that is stored in the photos has to be read and compared by the program to a database to get the pertinent text information. Part of the manufacturer ID byte must be similar between Tokina and Sigma because I find that it is a common occurrence. I have even encountered this with Lightroom, which even has problems with some Pentax lenses. Lightroom doesn't even identify the name of the lens used for the D FA 100WR and I believe my DA Ltd 15. The information is in the EXIF but Adobe hasn't updated their database to include the matching text.

**boriscleto** · 03-18-2011, 06:45 AM

Originally posted by axl

I would think more along the lines that the Tokina is not in PhotoMe's list of lenses and therefore the program is trying to assign "a" lens to the data from your EXIF...

A MF lens doesn't have a chip to send identifying information to the camera. All the camera knows is that it's an "A" lens and that you set the shake reduction to 400mm.

Jewelltrail · 03-18-2011, 10:11 AM

Everything everybody said already. BTW, I owned that Tokina--nice, affordable, 400mm tele--miss it.

**.a.t.** · 03-18-2011, 11:34 AM

So, just mistaken identity? That makes sense. Thanks for your help, everyone.

Originally posted by Jewelltrail

Everything everybody said already. BTW, I owned that Tokina--nice, affordable, 400mm tele--miss it.

Indeed. Apart from some purple fringing, the more I use it, the more I like it. I bought it intending to use it for birds. But, so far I haven't had the patience or guile to catch many.

Last edited by .a.t.; 05-29-2011 at 01:01 AM.

Nowhere Matt · 03-18-2011, 11:56 AM

We should start a data base. How many different ways a lens is misidentified in, say, eight different common editing software programs.
I nominate RioRico to begin compiling data. Everyone start sending your email lists to RioRico.

**nater** · 03-18-2011, 02:24 PM

Originally posted by Nowhere Matt

We should start a data base. How many different ways a lens is misidentified in, say, eight different common editing software programs.
I nominate RioRico to begin compiling data. Everyone start sending your email lists to RioRico.

One thing to keep in mind with RAW and EXIF is that lens identification codes, when they are present, are at best hex data, not a nice english string of letters describing the lens. Some lens makers occasionally re-use the hex ID code in more than one lens, which makes it problematic even when it is present. And it's always up to computer software to have a lookup table of lens hex codes so they can provide english language descriptions of the lens for the user (and update it when new lenses come out). Therefore, the task of identifying all the ways this could go wrong would be quite the undertaking.

I just wish the software makers would make it clearer to the end-user what the software is doing (i.e. when it's guessing, let the user know it's guessing).

Wheatfield · 03-18-2011, 04:40 PM

Since your lens doesn't transmit lens identification information, what you are seeing is a random hex number generated by the camera being misinterpreted by PhotoMe.

03-18-2011, 01:36 AM	#1
.a.t. Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: yesterday Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,261	My Tokina is a Sigma?? I took a few shots today with my Tokina SD 400 f/5.6 (manual focus, but with an A setting on the aperture ring). When I was looking at the exif data in PhotoME, I was just a bit surprised to see this: "Lens: SIGMA APO 400mm F5.6 Telephoto Multi-Coated". Huh!?! I've scanned the Forum reviews for the Tokina and did a brief Google search, too. I didn't see any references to this Tokina being made by Sigma. And if it was made by Sigma, wouldn't Tokina want to hide the fact? Did Tokina make this same lens for Sigma? Anyone have any ideas? Thanks, Tim

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03-18-2011, 02:31 AM	#2
axl Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,183	I would think more along the lines that the Tokina is not in PhotoMe's list of lenses and therefore the program is trying to assign "a" lens to the data from your EXIF...

03-18-2011, 05:09 AM	#3
Hypocorism Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Melbourne .au Posts: 623	Originally posted by all thumbs ... I was just a bit surprised to see this: "Lens: SIGMA APO 400mm F5.6 Telephoto Multi-Coated". Huh!?! Did Tokina make this same lens for Sigma? Anyone have any ideas? 1. Misidentification is fairly common for less popular lenses in PhotoMe. It takes a reasonable semi-educated guess, on loose similarities. 2. To the best of my knowledge Sigma Corp., (the privately held camera~lens~ph_equip maker) has never had any mfgring or other affiliation with Kenko Co., Ltd. (mfgr of Tokina lenses). .R.

03-18-2011, 05:52 AM	#4
Odinz Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Virginia, USA Photos: Albums Posts: 259	I find that many programs will make this error from time to time. The EXIF data that is stored in the photos has to be read and compared by the program to a database to get the pertinent text information. Part of the manufacturer ID byte must be similar between Tokina and Sigma because I find that it is a common occurrence. I have even encountered this with Lightroom, which even has problems with some Pentax lenses. Lightroom doesn't even identify the name of the lens used for the D FA 100WR and I believe my DA Ltd 15. The information is in the EXIF but Adobe hasn't updated their database to include the matching text.

03-18-2011, 06:45 AM	#5
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Originally posted by axl I would think more along the lines that the Tokina is not in PhotoMe's list of lenses and therefore the program is trying to assign "a" lens to the data from your EXIF... A MF lens doesn't have a chip to send identifying information to the camera. All the camera knows is that it's an "A" lens and that you set the shake reduction to 400mm.

03-18-2011, 10:11 AM	#6
Jewelltrail Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Rhode Island Photos: Albums Posts: 4,180	Everything everybody said already. BTW, I owned that Tokina--nice, affordable, 400mm tele--miss it.

03-18-2011, 11:34 AM	#7
.a.t. Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: yesterday Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,261 Original Poster	So, just mistaken identity? That makes sense. Thanks for your help, everyone. Originally posted by Jewelltrail Everything everybody said already. BTW, I owned that Tokina--nice, affordable, 400mm tele--miss it. Indeed. Apart from some purple fringing, the more I use it, the more I like it. I bought it intending to use it for birds. But, so far I haven't had the patience or guile to catch many. Last edited by .a.t.; 05-29-2011 at 01:01 AM.

03-18-2011, 11:56 AM	#8
Nowhere Matt Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Nowhere Land Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,362	We should start a data base. How many different ways a lens is misidentified in, say, eight different common editing software programs. I nominate RioRico to begin compiling data. Everyone start sending your email lists to RioRico.

03-18-2011, 02:24 PM	#9
nater Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: New England Photos: Albums Posts: 706	Originally posted by Nowhere Matt We should start a data base. How many different ways a lens is misidentified in, say, eight different common editing software programs. I nominate RioRico to begin compiling data. Everyone start sending your email lists to RioRico. One thing to keep in mind with RAW and EXIF is that lens identification codes, when they are present, are at best hex data, not a nice english string of letters describing the lens. Some lens makers occasionally re-use the hex ID code in more than one lens, which makes it problematic even when it is present. And it's always up to computer software to have a lookup table of lens hex codes so they can provide english language descriptions of the lens for the user (and update it when new lenses come out). Therefore, the task of identifying all the ways this could go wrong would be quite the undertaking. I just wish the software makers would make it clearer to the end-user what the software is doing (i.e. when it's guessing, let the user know it's guessing).

03-18-2011, 04:40 PM	#10
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,981	Since your lens doesn't transmit lens identification information, what you are seeing is a random hex number generated by the camera being misinterpreted by PhotoMe.