| Author: | | Site Supporter Registered: May, 2019 Posts: 5,976
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 13, 2021 | Recommended | Price: $30.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Sharp, contrasty, excellent bokeh, relatively small and light | | Cons: | "Tokina glow" below f/5.6 or so, no real focus ring, long MFD | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 6
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 5
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-1
Focusing: 9
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I thought I'd add a review since all the others have used it on APS-C.
I got this lens because I wanted a relatively fast, but affordable AF telephoto lens when I bought my K-1. I found this early 90s Tokina at a very easy-to-swallow price and pulled the trigger.
First, handling and build. Beer-can-sized (quite literally) so not big at all. Metal, solid, still quite light, with a nice grippy zoom ring - although IMO the separation between 135 and 210mm is too small... there is quite a bit more throw between 70 and 85! Internal zoom is nice; the lens in general handles very well on the K-1.
The focus ring, however, is almost nonexistent. You basically grab the front element and rotate it. No polarizers or grad NDs here, unfortunately.
With that out the way, IQ is very good particularly considering that this thing is an absolute steal at ~50€ (I paid less but I've seen two or three copies around that level). Sharpness at the center and around the mid-frame is *fantastic* throughout the zoom range, but edges do suffer a bit wide open. This peripheral degradation is perhaps a bit more pronounced at 70mm than at 210mm. Stopping down to f/8, as usual, makes everything better. I have had no problem with A4 or even A3 prints from this lens. Colours and contrast are rich; it is very easy to get pleasing images out of this Tokina without too much post processing.
Aberrations are a different story; while at f/6.3 or f/8 it's largely cleared up, shooting wide open invites the good old blue fringing (spherical aberration?) typical in Tokina lenses of this vintage - whenever anything reflective is in the image. It is normally not *too* terrible but it can ruin a frame here and there, so it drops the score of the lens. Otherwise, flare resistance is surprisingly very very good, and other CAs are not really problematic in most conditions (although if you need the lens for critical work I'd be somewhat concerned). I haven't properly measured vignetting, but it is easily correctable so definitely not that bad.
Bokeh is nothing short of excellent, I find it very pleasing and neutral. Who doesn't want creamy backgrounds on their long portraits?
The screwdrive AF is violently fast as the focus throw is only about 90º, and you can hear a loud TCHAK once it reaches Infinity or MFD*. In my experience, AF.S works decisively and accurately even in low light... and AF.C works as well as it does on the K-1 with a screwdrive lens. I feel like I can't fault the lens for that, though, so I'm giving it a very good score. I shot a wedding with it, got home with dozens of well-focused shots.
*On that note, MFD is ~1.5m which feels cramped. I think 1.2 would have been better, so I really have to give handling a low score. And it gets a 5 only because of the hike/travel-friendly size/weight and the Tokitank build.
In conclusion, I'd heartily recommend the lens if the few annoyances it brings are not particularly bothersome. At less than a hundred euros, you more or less can't go wrong with it and I feel like it handily beats the IQ of most of the budget 70-300 Sigrons. I'm adding a bunch of photos (from India, where I used the lens quite a lot) that I hope show how the lens performs. They are all under this album on Flickr: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmVCuPG3
 | | | | | | | New Member Registered: February, 2018 Location: Western New York Posts: 1
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 10, 2021 | Recommended | Price: $55.58
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Fast for a screw drive telephoto, sharp, even wide open, good contrast | | Cons: | I have yet to find any, but I suspect diffraction past f8 needs to be checked | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: K5 II
Focusing: 8
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I've only been able to test this on my K5 II, so far... wide open at least at 70mm, it's already quite good, even indoors, and gets even better stopped down, although I need to take it for a spin outdoors to find out when diffraction starts to set in. I paid a whopping $55.58 total, and that includes shipping, which for what I've seen from this lens so far, is a steal.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: September, 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Posts: 12,285 | | Review Date: November 17, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $28.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp, Fast AF, Smooth zoom, build quality | | Cons: | subject to flare, MF tough | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 8
Value: 9
Camera Used: K5IIs & K3
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Whoever said this lens isn't sharp must have had a damaged copy because mine is very sharp indeed. Contrast is a bit weak in low light and the lens is subject to flare (Hoods are your friend, although with a 55mm diameter and rotating front element the only one that makes sense to me is a three stage round rubber hood) that is significantly reduced with a hood. AF is fast and dead on accurate in my use and tests. At 612g its significantly lighter than the Tamron 70-200/2.8 but slower. It's roughly the same age and size as the F70-210 (both are f4ish, weigh in between 550-600g, and benefit from a hood). I'm planning a head to head between the F70-210 and the Tokina soon.
| | | | | New Member Registered: November, 2013 Posts: 14
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 23, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $60.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | very sharp lens | | Cons: | scarecely visble CA's, even in the corners | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: k200 k-x k-s1 k-5
Focusing: 9
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++ a very good performer
++ excellent sharpness in the center 
+/++ very good sharpness in the corners (with wide open aperture)
+ few CA's in the corners. if high contrast appears
++ quick (a few noisy) AF
++ very nice color rendition
++ scarcely flare
++ high contrast
++ very well corrected / scarecely visble CA's 
much more better than the 4-5,6 AF version in the edges wide open
((even sigma apo macro 3.5-4.5/70-210 is not so sharp in the cornes far distant )) 
one of my best tele zooms - full recommendation ! | | | | | | | New Member Registered: August, 2016 Posts: 8
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 21, 2016 | Not Recommended | Price: $70.00
| Rating: 6 |
| Pros: | Well built，inner zoom,fast af | | Cons: | Not sharp, even stopped down to f8; low contrast. | | Sharpness: 6
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 6
Camera Used: K5ii
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I had studied several 70-210s (including VIVITAR 70-210-3.5,dal 50-200 etc.)before I bought this TOKINA 70 210 f4.5. All because I wanted something autofocus. By reading this review, I thought the TOKINA AF745 was a good one until I finally took some pics with it. Maybe I just have too much expectations of it or It was born a mediocre one, I was disappointed by its performance.Although it was well built and autofocus speed was fast ,it was not sharp even stopped down to f8, besides it had low contrast.
I have the DA50 1.8,Tamron A16 and SMC M100F4, all are very sharp lenses, that's why I won't recommend this AF745. There was a reason for his lens coming into being for only one year before it was off line in 1994. Right now I just want to sell it with a low price and considering buy another one.
| | | | | New Member Registered: December, 2012 Location: Moscow Posts: 13
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 2, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $130.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Size, constant /f4.5 aperture, IQ, sharp, doesn't change size | | Cons: | Strange 55mm diameter, rolling front lens, PF | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-30
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Compact Tokina zoom with 210/4.5 possibility - sure you don't see this kind of thing too often!
Add low price, legendary Tokina full-metal jacket  and good AF speed. Sharpness and good contrast are also included.
This beer can won't change its size while AF. I think, it's also good.
Well, enough for Pros, count Cons.
55 mm filter is usual size for Minolta, but not for Pentax.
Screw hood is really hard to find, if you didn't have original. And hood is desirable.
Aberrations are not a problem, but really visible at /4.5.
Front lens rotates. No gradient filters.
So, if you prefer cheap but metal thing instead 'light-weight plastic' (but 300mm!) DA 55-300 - get it. I used my copy several months but soon realised - I need portable 300mm. 
Nothing to blame, however. Good lens.
 | | | | | Forum Member Registered: February, 2012 Posts: 68
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 24, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $90.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Bokeh, Sharpness, Internal zooming, Build quality, Constant 4.5 | | Cons: | No real focus ring, PF | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 9
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Excellent lens for it's price. I picked up this gem on ebay for 60 £. It's built like a tank, all metal and glass.
I use it for sports shooting and it performs very well, despite the PF at times. This lens is a real gem and with the right use can yield professional grade images.
AF is fast and precise and 4.5 is enough for daytime sports shooting. Bokeh is excellent and the lens doesn't extend when zooming.
So as I said above, excellent value for money.
| | | | | New Member Registered: October, 2010 Location: bronx Posts: 6
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 5, 2010 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | sharp, cheap | | Cons: | noisy..clunks when at max or min focus | |
Very pleased at 70 mm compared to DA 18-55mm
I feel its sharper than my SMC TAKUMAR 200MM f 1:4 &
SMC TAKUMAR 135mm 3.5 .
I paid $66.00 on ebay.
Built like tank.
Goes clunk at max and min focus is that normal?
Tokina told me "The AF 721 was introduced in 1993 and discontinued in 1994".
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: March, 2009 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 509
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 21, 2009 | Recommended | Price: $70.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | fixed aperture and fixed length. fast and quite focusing | | Cons: | slightly long and some PF at f4.5. | |
This is comparable to my FA 70-200mm f4.5-5.5. Its focusing is quieter and the lens seems to be equally well built. The image quality is decent. I love to carry it around. This design might be called FREE in Pentax. Since it is internal focusing, it is rather quick. When zooming, the lens does not extend. When focusing, the front element does move back and forth by about 2/3 of an inch.
Some purple fringing at f4.5. Resolution also suffers at f4.5. Better to use f6. The resolution seem to peak around f8-f11. Hood is a must. But it controls flare better than Tamron SP 35-80mm. Deteriorating image quality at the long end. Not as good as the worst Pentax primes that I have used.
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/9Xb9UEykNFvQMninQ-h6Sw?authkey=Gv1sRgCP...eat=directlink | | | | | Forum Member Registered: March, 2008 Location: Kyiv Posts: 69
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 12, 2009 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Built quality, sharpness, constant f/4.5. | | Cons: | Size/weight, PF. | |
Built quality is excellent. The lens doesn’t change its size while zooming, zooming ring is rubberized and very easy to use. There is no focusing ring - on MF bodies focusing would be a challenge. It’s heavy, (normal for metal & glass lenses). Front element rotates while focusing. Autofocusing is fast.
Image quality is very good. Sharp and contrast enough even wide open. Very sharp and contrast when stopped down. For better results in the sun lens hood is necessary - not SMC lens . The only serious drawback of this lens are PF.
I rate “9” for built quality, “8” for optical quality and “10” for price/performance.
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