Site Supporter Registered: November, 2012 Location: North Wales Posts: 2,870
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 6, 2023 | Recommended | Price: $500.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | all round quality, fantastic value. | | Cons: | some fringing, a tad softer than eg tamrons at f2.8. | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: K3-ii
Focusing: 8
| |
I've been trawling the listings buying and selling for around 10 years now, but can't recall ever seeing one of these listed here in the UK (readily found in Japan) until this one. I thought it might attract quite a bit of interest but surprisingly I was the only bidder. The lens proved to be a cased, mint condition example with an expensive 112m protective filter when it arrived - very pleasing. The price cited reflects the better value Japanese listings.
The 300-2.8's were premium lenses from the 1980's on. OEM manufacturers had used very low dispersion elements to make fast telephotos since the 1970's, eg canon with their FL300mm f/2.8 S.S.C (1974) and then the "fluorite" 300mm f2.8 (1975). By the 1980's optical/manufacturing developments allowed a more mass market approach. However they were still expensive, the tamron 60B 300mm (1984 >) was the priciest adaptall at a grand+ (£), however this was still a lot less than the oem's. We can note that tamron "won" the MF market, judging by the availability of their three versions of adaptall 300-2.8's (107B, 60B, 360B) on the s/h market, but didn't get going as far as adapting to the introduction of AF, their AF versions are rare, ditto tokina (I trawled online for some pics of an AF tokina 300-2.8 for pentax without success).
This is a manual focus lens. The PKA mount makes it the equivalent, in function, of the SMC-A* pentax 300mm. The mount has a "ricoh pin" but it is the harmless rounded variety - no concerns. There is also an AF version. Ken Rockwell cites both MF and AF versions, and an updated ATX -AF-II version, however that's in reference to what's available for nikon. This specs page on the tokina web site says discontinued in 1997. It doesn't say when first made, but given that canon switched from the FD mount in 1987, and this lens has FD mount examples, we can estimate mid eighties.
The lens comes with a large detachable hood that inverts for storage in the hard case. Like the tamron 107B it has a drawstring bag to protect the front rather than a lens cap. One distinctive feature is a slot in the tripod mount foot to take a carry strap (the third adaptall 360B also has a slot for a strap). The aperture ring has half-stop clicks except between f2.8 - f4. Focus rotation is ~ 180°, mfd of 2.4m. The relatively short throw can be considered advantageous - smooth, easily manipulated when hand holding the lens with fingers/thumb - or disadvantageous - very tight critical focus point, easily nudged off focus, twitchy. It is a common complaint with these lenses that they are not balanced at the tripod mount - front heavy. I diy my own plates to rectify this. An arca type plate or similar will meet the need of course. A plate also facilitates hand holding, the lens can rest on the palm of the hand at the balance point below the focus ring, fingers/thumb can then focus.
Tokina 300mm f2.8 vs Tamron 300mm f2.8 360B
The tokina is most similar to the adaptall 360B - both internal focus (the focus ring moves an internal group, doesn't extend the lens) designs:| | Tokina | Tamron 360B | | Optics: | 9e / 7g | 10e / 7g | | Weight (without hood): | ~2270g | ~2350g (with PKA mount) | | mfd; | 2.4m | 2.5m | | Aperture: | f2.8-32, ½ stop clicks except 2.8-4 | f2.8-22/32, ½ stop clicks | | iris: | 7 blades | 9 blades | | lens length : | 219mm | 216mm | | hood: | 15cm, metal, 470g, 1 x screw | 11cm, plastic, 339g, 2 x screws, | | Focus: | Internal, 180° rotation | Internal, 180° rotation, focus stop |
Test pics:
 
 
 
and then no real change for f8, f11.
With sigma apo 1.4x teleconverter = 420mm f4 (labelling indicates aperture set on the lens).
 
 
 
I expected good iq with this lens and have not been disappointed. My impression is it is a tad softer than the tamrons at f2.8 but stopped down I can suggest that you won't be able to identify any significant difference. Fringing was present, quite strongly so on occasion, but not more so than the tamrons:
 
I used the tamron 107B alongside the tokina for these test pics of Conwy Quay. I wasn't satisfied with the overall results, feeling that atmospherics had limited/compromised iq. In practice the comparison was comparable to the results with the 360B, main observation the tamron showing a touch sharper at f2.8.
Other reviewers, Ken Rockwell link above, making-not-taking blog, are enthusiastic about this lens and so am I. It is a classic plum from the MF era, well worth the attention of anyone happy with manual focus and keen to take advantage of the price one can be acquired for. The only reason I'll move it on is because I have collected a full complement of the tamrons, so it is surplus to requirements.
| |
Site Supporter Registered: January, 2011 Location: The Canadian WetCoast Posts: 384 | | Review Date: November 14, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $700.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Price. Fast at f2.8 . Bright & easy to manually focus. Construction & finish. | | Cons: | CA. IQ. Weight. | | Sharpness: 6
Aberrations: 5
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 9
| |
As altovintner mentioned above, this lens was produced in a limited run and doesn't surface on the market often. I believe they also make a limited run of AF version in Canon & Nikon mounts a few years back. Mine is the Tokina version that I bought from a Forum member.
The cosmetic & optical design are almost identical to Pentax A* 300/2.8, which is no surprise as Tokina make lot of Pentax's lenses throughout the years. However, the glass element material & coating are different and that show in the overall CA & IQ. From my experience, I will not recommend using this lens at f8 or below under bright light unless soft images with noticeable CA are acceptable.
On the other hand, I use this lens primarily for indoor stage performance/concert and the fast f2.8 is a blessing. I have been struggling with manual focus through darker dSLR viewfinders and shutter speed with slower primes & zooms of 200-300mm at these occasions. Then I decided to go for speed instead of IQ with this lens and have been extremely satisfied about it's cost/benefit ratio. At ISO 1600-3200 (grainy) and under stage lighting (heavy color cast), the less than ideal CA & IQ that exhibited by this lens at outdoor are totally forgiven. It makes the difference between capturing or missing the right moment.
First photo below show the massive 112mm front element. Second photo show the serious PF when shooting at f2.8 outdoor under direct sunlight & the third photo was shot at f/2.8 with ISO 3200 during an indoor concert.
   | |
Inactive Account Registered: July, 2011 Location: New Mexico Posts: 74 | | Review Date: November 13, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $800.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Price; sharpness | | Cons: | Manual focus | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 8
Value: 10
| |
I recently purchased this lens from Ebay from a good seller in Hong Kong for a bargain price. It came to me in good order --- just as described. I am hard pressed to tell it from a new lens. It had a clear 112mm filter installed, a case, and the ability to use smaller filters in a slot near the rear.
Before I get into the details, I must reveal that this is my first 300mm f2.8 lens. The only other lens I can compare it to is my 55-300mm kit lens that came with my k-x. Hence, readers should take that limitation into account.
First, what follows are several pics of the lens (some of which I lifted from the Ebay seller's ad) plus a pic of a Tokina version that some reviewers say has performance similar to this lens. As I understand it, this lens is not common and was made as some sort of special run and is considered as an ancestor of a later Tokina 300mm. As you can see in the pics, the Rikenon looks similar to the Tokina.
(images no longer available)
Lens on my 40 yr. old tripod:
So far, my tests have shown that the lens lives up to what I thought it would do. As a manual focus lens, it has a fair amount of travel that allows me to get reasonably decent focus. Plus I can use Live View as well to really nail it down if I want to. Note that it has an A-setting on the aperture ring that allows to function in the Aperture priority mode with metering.
I am delighted that it is pretty sharp at f2.8. Of course it gets sharper as it is stopped down. Moreover, I am happy to report that it works to my satisfaction with my Tamron-F 1.4x Pz-AF MC4 teleconverter. That provides me with a 420mm f4 lens as well!
From my perspective, as I expected, the f5.6 pics are sharper than the f2.8 pics. While these pics are not exactly equal to the thorough reviews found on Photozone, you get the idea.
Conclusion: I am very fortunate to have purchased this lens. It gives me for about $1,000 a 300mm f2.8 solution, plus a decent 420 f4 solution using my 1.4x teleconverter. I will use the lens mostly for bird and other wildlife pics.  | |
