I bought this lens in Marketplace and my first impressions are so-so as I see soft images in wide open aperture in f/2.8 especially in the 200mm end. I wrote about my initial findings in
Tokina AT-X 80-200mm SD f/2.8. When stopped down properly the lens is quite good.
1/500 sec, f/8.0, 180mm, iso 100, 0 Ev
I was initially disappointed with its sharpness in f/2.8 aperture.
It is a MF lens with A aperture.
And then I put it to the test in two low light shootings: one in a
Circus indoor and one in a
baseball game at night. Both are challenging in lighting. I found the lens doing quite well at night. When I stopped down to f/4.0, I see little to no sharpness issues. I do test out the lens in f/2.8, it is not the sharpest by any means but reasonable to use along with high ISO to freeze motion when needed.
#1
1/125 sec, f/4.0, 85mm, iso 800, -0.3 Ev
#2
1/200 sec, f/2.8, 75mm, iso 1000, -0.3 Ev
#3
1/160 sec, f/4.0, 85mm, iso 1000, -0.3 Ev
#4
1/500 sec, f/4.0, 180mm, iso 800, 0 Ev
#5
1/400 sec, f/4.0, 180mm, iso 400, 0 Ev
#6
1/500 sec, f/4.0, 180mm, iso 2000, 0 Ev
#7
getting dark towards the 8th inning
1/320 sec, f/2.8, 180mm, iso 2500, O Ev
#8
1/400 sec, f/2.8, 180mm, iso 2500, 0 Ev
Anyone with experience of this lens, does it look like a keeper to you? I wonder how it compares to Tamron SP 80-200mm f/2.8 in adaptall-2 mount or something similar.
Thanks,
Hin
Last edited by hinman; 09-11-2009 at 01:11 PM.