Tokina 400mm ATX AF samples

mole · 01-31-2012, 06:49 PM - **3 Likes**

Purchased this lens recently from the forum marketplace, and have been very pleased with it. Long enough for birding, but small enough to fit in a daypack for long hikes. Fine color and detail, especially when stopped down a bit. Here are a few samples, all taken with K20D, and only minor cropping for compositional purposes:

White Breasted Nuthatch on the side of a White Pine.

Hermit Thrush on a rotten stump:

Great Blue Heron watching the annoying photographer:

Male Eastern Bluebird on a Red Cedar branch:

and one more, a Female Eastern Bluebird on a fence post:

Attached Images

netrex · 04-18-2012, 02:59 PM

I'm looking into getting this lens. How is your impression of the AF speed?

mole · 04-22-2012, 06:44 PM - **1 Like**

Netrex - sorry for the slow response - I don't have time to stop by very often...

To answer your question: I don't have a lot of basis for comparison, not owning any other long autofocus lenses. But the Tokina 400 seems quite to focus quite quickly, and usually quite accurately, on my K20D. Manual focus works fine and easily as well.

Here's a recent sample shot to show you AF speed - it's a Red-Winged Blackbird holding onto a Cat-tail. Was a rather windy day, and her perch kept swaying, But the Tokina locked focus quickly, and stayed with her quite well...

netrex · 04-22-2012, 11:46 PM

Thank you for the response, both here and PM

It looks like a lens I will be happy with, I won't be able to buy it until next week, and hopefully the one owning it now won't sell it before then, for my sake :P I'll post some samples if/when I get it. Again, thank you for the response

Macario · 04-23-2012, 01:23 PM

How close are you to the birds and what aperture you use? I have tried it many times, but can't get really sharp shots of birds. (it has to do with my abillity, as I do get sharp shots when shooting surfers)

mole · 04-24-2012, 04:26 PM

Netrex - glad to be of some small help. Hope you enjoy this lens as much as I am, and will look forward to seeing your posted samples!

Macario - This lens seems to be sharpest at around F 8 - 11, although gives quite useable images across the aperture range. Sharp shots of birds are not easy - I haven't posted all my bad shots! Closer is better, even with long lenses (I also have a Pentax SMC 135-600, and even it gives better results when close), but getting close takes plenty of time (often too much time for this impatient photographer!). Also fast shutter speeds help considerably - birds' feathers are almost always moving a bit in slight air currents, even if the bird is sitting quite still. There are other, far more accomplished bird photographers here who can probably give you plenty more great advice, but hope this was of some help...

Macario · 04-25-2012, 09:24 AM

Thanx,

Just asked it as I have used this lens for years (analog) for bodyboard/surf photography. And just recently when I got the K-7, I started to shoot birds aswell, not that the results are that great (yet)

jb0501 · 12-10-2014, 09:11 PM

I just pulled this lens out of the closet to use again.

**Scorpio71GR** · 11-15-2015, 01:11 PM - **1 Like**

One of my older lenses, lightweight and easy to walk around with all day.

**Scorpio71GR** · 02-21-2016, 06:51 PM - **1 Like**

Brought out my trusty old Tokina 400 yesterday. I did not feel like manhandling the Sigma 50-500mm. This lens is much smaller and easy to handhold. Plus it fits easily into camera bag or backpack. It does need to be stopped down for best results, but with the K3 that is not a problem.

**Scorpio71GR** · 04-16-2016, 05:04 PM - **1 Like**

A much underrated lens. F11 1/180 on the K3 shot indoors using the AF540FGZII flash.

**Scorpio71GR** · 03-11-2017, 08:24 PM - **2 Likes**

Been awhile since anything was posted here.
On the K3.

**Shedking** · 03-20-2017, 07:15 AM - **2 Likes**

Centre crop from 10m:

01-31-2012, 06:49 PM - 3 Likes	#1
mole Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Tennessee Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,432	Tokina 400mm ATX AF samples Purchased this lens recently from the forum marketplace, and have been very pleased with it. Long enough for birding, but small enough to fit in a daypack for long hikes. Fine color and detail, especially when stopped down a bit. Here are a few samples, all taken with K20D, and only minor cropping for compositional purposes: White Breasted Nuthatch on the side of a White Pine. Hermit Thrush on a rotten stump: Great Blue Heron watching the annoying photographer: Male Eastern Bluebird on a Red Cedar branch: and one more, a Female Eastern Bluebird on a fence post: Attached Images

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Tokina 400mm f5.6 ATX AF worth picking up?	ivoire	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	4	03-25-2011 03:19 PM
For Sale - Sold: Tokina ATX 80-400mm AF	Patriot	Sold Items	14	03-31-2009 06:26 PM
For Sale - Sold: Tokina 80-400mm ATX	wasupdoc	Sold Items	18	02-21-2009 03:42 PM
For Sale - Sold: FA* 300mm/4.5, Tokina ATX 80-400mm/4.5-5.6	chemxaj	Sold Items	9	07-27-2008 07:58 PM
For Sale - Sold: Tokina ATX 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 AF Pentax Mount for sale	mmzymxf	Sold Items	2	06-18-2008 02:27 PM

04-18-2012, 02:59 PM	#2
netrex Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Alta Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 279	I'm looking into getting this lens. How is your impression of the AF speed?

04-22-2012, 06:44 PM - 1 Like	#3
mole Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Tennessee Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,432 Original Poster	Netrex - sorry for the slow response - I don't have time to stop by very often... To answer your question: I don't have a lot of basis for comparison, not owning any other long autofocus lenses. But the Tokina 400 seems quite to focus quite quickly, and usually quite accurately, on my K20D. Manual focus works fine and easily as well. Here's a recent sample shot to show you AF speed - it's a Red-Winged Blackbird holding onto a Cat-tail. Was a rather windy day, and her perch kept swaying, But the Tokina locked focus quickly, and stayed with her quite well...

04-22-2012, 11:46 PM	#4
netrex Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Alta Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 279	Thank you for the response, both here and PM It looks like a lens I will be happy with, I won't be able to buy it until next week, and hopefully the one owning it now won't sell it before then, for my sake :P I'll post some samples if/when I get it. Again, thank you for the response

04-23-2012, 01:23 PM	#5
Macario Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Hoek van Holland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,393	How close are you to the birds and what aperture you use? I have tried it many times, but can't get really sharp shots of birds. (it has to do with my abillity, as I do get sharp shots when shooting surfers)

04-24-2012, 04:26 PM	#6
mole Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Tennessee Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,432 Original Poster	Netrex - glad to be of some small help. Hope you enjoy this lens as much as I am, and will look forward to seeing your posted samples! Macario - This lens seems to be sharpest at around F 8 - 11, although gives quite useable images across the aperture range. Sharp shots of birds are not easy - I haven't posted all my bad shots! Closer is better, even with long lenses (I also have a Pentax SMC 135-600, and even it gives better results when close), but getting close takes plenty of time (often too much time for this impatient photographer!). Also fast shutter speeds help considerably - birds' feathers are almost always moving a bit in slight air currents, even if the bird is sitting quite still. There are other, far more accomplished bird photographers here who can probably give you plenty more great advice, but hope this was of some help...

04-25-2012, 09:24 AM	#7
Macario Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Hoek van Holland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,393	Thanx, Just asked it as I have used this lens for years (analog) for bodyboard/surf photography. And just recently when I got the K-7, I started to shoot birds aswell, not that the results are that great (yet)

12-10-2014, 09:11 PM	#8
jb0501 Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 58	I just pulled this lens out of the closet to use again.

11-15-2015, 01:11 PM - 1 Like	#9
Scorpio71GR Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Michigan Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,019	One of my older lenses, lightweight and easy to walk around with all day.

02-21-2016, 06:51 PM - 1 Like	#10
Scorpio71GR Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Michigan Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,019	Brought out my trusty old Tokina 400 yesterday. I did not feel like manhandling the Sigma 50-500mm. This lens is much smaller and easy to handhold. Plus it fits easily into camera bag or backpack. It does need to be stopped down for best results, but with the K3 that is not a problem.

04-16-2016, 05:04 PM - 1 Like	#11
Scorpio71GR Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Michigan Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,019	A much underrated lens. F11 1/180 on the K3 shot indoors using the AF540FGZII flash.

03-11-2017, 08:24 PM - 2 Likes	#12
Scorpio71GR Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Michigan Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,019	Been awhile since anything was posted here. On the K3.