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Tokina RMC / SZ820 80-200mm F4 Review RSS Feed

Tokina RMC / SZ820 80-200mm F4

Sharpness 
 8.0
Aberrations 
 7.8
Bokeh 
 8.0
Handling 
 7.8
Value 
 9.8
Focusing 
 6.5
Reviews Views Date of last review
8 78,828 Mon August 29, 2022
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Recommended By Average Price Average User Rating
100% of reviewers $40.81 8.00
Tokina RMC / SZ820 80-200mm F4
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Description:
Tokina 80-200mm manual focus lens. Can be found in all the mounts of the era including PK.
There are also f4.5 and f3.5-4.5 versions.
This brochure from 1984 illustrates the updated versions. Tech specs are from this brochure.

"One touch" zoom and focus sleeve.
Optical construction: 12 elements, 9 groups
Focal length: 80mm to 200mm
Maximum aperture: f/4
Aperture is one-stop clicks.
Six blade iris,
Front group rotates with focus,
Front element diameter: 55mm
Focus throw:
CFD: 1.9m
Mount Type: Pentax K
Price History:



Add Review of Tokina RMC / SZ820 80-200mm F4
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Forum Member

Registered: February, 2014
Location: Warsaw
Posts: 76

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: July 6, 2014 Recommended | Price: $25.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: sharp at F4, sharp, good IQ
Cons: manual
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 9    Value: 10    Camera Used: K-500   

I have compared it to my other cheap zooms like F 80-200, FA 28-200, FAJ 70-300.
Surprisingly this lens is remarkable sharper with better contrast and less chromatic aberration at max aperture f4 then other earlier mentioned lenses at apertures like f5.6, f6.3.
F 80-200 which is believed to be very sharp matches Tokina f4 at f7.1!
So it is good cheap lens that offers great IQ at reasonably fast aperture of f4.
   
New Member

Registered: November, 2013
Posts: 14
Review Date: April 5, 2014 Recommended | Price: $40.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: very sharp zoom lens
Cons: very few fringing wide open
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 8    Value: 10    Camera Used: k200d,k-x, K-s1, K-5, Z5P, K2, fuji x-e1+x-t100    Focusing: 8   

my lens is / mon objectif est


++ very sharp, // très net


++ has high contrast, // avec haut contraste


++ nice colors and // couleurs neutres


+/++ nearly no flare. // presque pas du flou

+/++ very few CAs // ACs minimales


for macro shootings suitable,too but stop down to f 11 with macro extension tube = nice results // de bonnes photos macro possibles avec une bague d'extension de 36 mm (f 11)

if you'll stop down to f8, no more fringing. // Si vous fermez votre diaphragme à f 8, plus d'aberrations chromatiques visibles

full recommendation // haute recommendatioin


*************************


My personal tip // mon conseil personel :


very similar sharpness: TOKINA 4/50-200 with intergrated macro ring for landscape and butterfly shootings // piqué semblable au TOKINA 4/50-200 avec bague macro intégrée - pour photographier des papillions
   
Senior Member

Registered: March, 2009
Posts: 113
Review Date: February 4, 2013 Recommended | Price: $11.50 | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: Well built, smooth positive controls, sharp at F8 and above, Cheap!
Cons: Really soft wide open, sharpens up nicely at F8.
Sharpness: 8    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 9    Value: 10   

I owned one of these 25 years ago. used it on the OM 1, in Alaska. During that time I owned several cameras (one at a time), including OM4, Minolta Xooo series, and Nikon 8008 with 85mm F1.8. They were all good, but I got more "keepers", with the 80-200 Tokina. Not because it was sharper, but because it was better suited for my outdoor lifestyle, and I had it with me most of the time. Sold it to an uncle, and regretted it. Even tried to buy it back.
Last year got one off ebay, but was really bad condition. Salvaged the front element and barrel section for macro attachment. Works great.
Last week I snagged a really nice one off ebay for $11.50 including shipping!

It is too soft wide open to be useful it me. (might work for "dreamy" portraiture), But at F8 and 11 it is very good. This one is mounted on my K-01. And a side Note: By clipping off the aperture tang it is a no-fuss aperture priority lens. Works great on mirror-less, for WYSIWYG. I only do this on old "M" series lenses. This lens will stay with me.
   
Site Supporter

Registered: November, 2012
Location: North Wales
Posts: 2,858
Review Date: December 3, 2012 Recommended | Price: $20.00 | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: constant f, consistent IQ, smaller + lighter than many lenses of this era, construction
Cons: doesn't match best IQ of eg tamron 19AH, contrast tends to be dull (no hood). CA/PF
Sharpness: 8    Aberrations: 7    Bokeh: 7    Handling: 8    Value: 10    Camera Used: Lumix G1   

UPDATED 4/14/13.

My assessment similar to the others: a soundly performing lens, pretty consistent over its focal range. Similar overall performance to eg some kirons I have looked at, and also similar faults like strong purpling of OoF backlit branches, contrast a bit low (but I should have used a hood more). And I prefer the colour and general look of the Kirons. Because mine is MD mount I am limited to using it on my G1, and with my acquisition of adaptalls and other lenses its now rather neglected. Lens Porn! blogger has written a good assessment of this lens here, and I have to say there is nothing to choose between his pics and similar pics I have taken with my (well regarded) Kiron 70-210mm f4 Zoomlock.

Like the Kirons there seems to be a bit of a family of variants: an f4.5 version (with macro mode), an f3.5-4.5 version, and a 70-210 f3.5 that is reckoned to be Tokinas own label of the Vivitar Series 1.

Fairly readily available so if your looking for a good bargain basement TP to use on your dslr this is one of the ones you can bear in mind. If best quality is a priority then I think eg the VS1's, Tamron SP's etc offer (but cost) more.

Minor practical point the focus is the opposite rotation to PK norm.

UPDATE gave decent results with the 7 element RMC 2x TC.
   
Veteran Member

Registered: October, 2008
Location: Albuquerque NM
Posts: 9,830
Review Date: January 8, 2010 Recommended | Price: $100.00 | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: Good sharpness for zoom, light
Cons: Not suited to digital, soft wide open at 200mm

I bought this lens more than 25 years ago, and it was my primary telephoto in the days of manual film cameras. It was one of the sharpest, if not the sharpest, third party zoom of its type at the time of its purchase. It does not have an "A" setting, so it will not meter as easily on digital bodies.

My only complaint on this lens was that it was soft wide open at 200mm.
   
Senior Member

Registered: March, 2007
Location: Slovenia
Posts: 140
Review Date: March 22, 2008 Recommended | Price: $50.00 | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: Good sharpnes even at wide open aperture, reasonably lightweight
Cons: Moderate purple fringing at wide open aperture

Very nice manual zoom lens. Maximum aperture is f/4 and it is constant through whole focal lengths (80 to 200mm).
Very sharp at f/8, but can be slightly soft at both extremes (f/4 and f/22). Some purple fringing is visible at high contrasts using wide aperture (f/4), but this is easily correctable in PP.
For the price on second hand market it is very recommended.
   
New Member

Registered: July, 2008
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 3
Review Date: August 29, 2022 Recommended | Price: $20.00 | Rating: 7 

 
Pros: Economical
Cons: Awkward zoom and focus ring
Sharpness: 7    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 8    Handling: 5    Value: 10    Camera Used: FujiFilm X-T2    Focusing: 5   



Tokina RMC / SZ820 80-200mm f/4 - Canon FD mount

This inexpensive lens has a constant f/4 throughout the zoom range, unfortunately it does not render good sharpness until f/8.
Bokeh and color are worthy, I don't see any fringing. Handling is clumsy - the "One touch" cohabiting zoom & focus ring is slippery and will easily negate desired settings without careful adjustment.
All metal build is substantial with good quality construction.
   
New Member

Registered: December, 2012
Posts: 9
Review Date: February 16, 2013 Recommended | Price: $60.00 | Rating: 7 

 
Pros: Good value for money, solid metal build, coated optics
Cons: Tendency to underexpose, prone to PF at wide apertures, bokeh not the prettiest
Sharpness: 7    Aberrations: 7    Bokeh: 6    Handling: 8    Value: 9   

Found mine on the Danish second hand market, and it's in mint condition mechanically and the barrel looks new. Had some slight fungus on the back of the front element, but that was easily sorted, since that part of the lens can be taken apart using friction.

I do find the lens a bit on the heavy side considering it's span in focal length; it doesn't balance very well on my K-5. Could just be me. Besides, it is a minor thing. Positive twist to the weight is how solid is seems.

All in all a fine purchase for someone like me who wants to test out a little more range on top of the typical kit lenses provided. A great learner's telezoom.
Add Review of Tokina RMC / SZ820 80-200mm F4



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