| Author: | | Senior Member Registered: March, 2007 Location: Slovenia Posts: 140 | | Review Date: March 22, 2008 | Recommended | Price: $45.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Good sharpness | | Cons: | none | |
Almost perfect wide angle lens. Sharpness is great even at wide open (f/2.8) aperture, and gets even slightly beter stoped down only one click. A pleasure to use both with digital and analogue SLR.
| | | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: March, 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Posts: 7,183 | | Review Date: August 9, 2008 | Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 6 |
| Pros: | size, sharpness, | | Cons: | flare and contrast when shooting into the light | |
I have bought this lens in very good condition, for £25. I needed something in between my Sigma 10-20 and DA40ltd. This lens fits the bill for now, as a gap stop measure. I'm not sure but, I think there is more versions of this one. My is bearing name Tokina RMC 28 f2.8, and filter thread of 52mm!
It's very good size, just little bit bigger than DA40. Really pocketable lens. Opticaly it's OK. Bit soft at f2.8 far better at f4 and really good around f5.6 /8. The main problem of this lens is flare (hence reduced contrast) when shooting into the light (ANY light). All in all an OKish lens especialy considering the price.
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: July, 2008 Location: Berkeley, CA Posts: 124
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 13, 2008 | Recommended | Price: $38.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | tack sharp, great price | | Cons: | none yet | |
I bought this lens off eBay on a whim, and have been constantly startled at its excellent level of performance.
This lens is tack sharp even all the way open at ƒ2.8, focuses smoothly, and works like a charm. In addition there appears to be virtually no distortion at all, despite the rather wide angle.
The body is a combination of metal and plastic, and the aperture numbers are engraved & printed, while the distance markings are only printed. The lens *looks* very old and feels pretty solid, but I wish there was a little more metal and a little less plastic.
I'm docking it a point because the lens can be a bit difficult to get on and off my K10D, and because the bokeh can be a little noisy.
Overall this lens is a winner, and virtually unbeatable at this price.
I would definitely recommend this to others!
| | | | | New Member Registered: February, 2009 Location: thailand Posts: 17 | | Review Date: March 12, 2009 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 8 |
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It is a nice lens.i use with my Pentax K-m Oh..very good.
Thank you.
| | | | | | | New Member Registered: November, 2008 Location: Glossop Posts: 6 | | Review Date: May 11, 2009 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Sharp at f8, low distortion | | Cons: | Not really sharp below f4 | |
This is a great lens on a sunny day. I have taken a set in Buxton of a few buildings and a motorcycle meet up, which you can find at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/drnick3/tags/tokinarmc28mmf28/
It does not seem to really sharpen up until f8.
Here are two 100% crops, the first at f4.5 and 1/350s
and one at f8 and 1/180s.
It is very well built, and using the focus confirmation of the K10D seems to allow correct focusing very easily. This is very small and smart, even though it weighs about twice what the kit lens weighs, and gives a nice bright image on the viewfinder.
I've had a few goes at taking pictures inside at f2.8 to f4 but the quality drops right off, so this is a 9 on a sunny day or a 5 in the gloom, so 7 overall.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: March, 2007 Location: St Louis, Missouri U S A Posts: 2,464
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 5, 2009 | Recommended | Price: $28.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Light, well built, sharp. | | Cons: | None | |
I have the RMC version of this lens, and I really like it. On mine, it seems the only plastic part is the aperture ring. Everything else ( except the rubber on the focus ring ) seems to be metal. I have a very good copy, it is sharp, and produces nice colors as well. It is vulnerable to flare, IF you shoot into the sun, but that can be remedied with a hood. For the money, I think i got a very good deal.
here are links to a few samples I have shot with this lens.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2156/1795324700_9fa12f446c_o.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2190/1794482531_bf6d8eba10_o.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2391/2130990199_a08eed89f2_o.jpg | | | | | Junior Member Registered: September, 2009 Location: Paris Posts: 31 | | Review Date: November 11, 2009 | Not Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 5 |
| Pros: | build quality, compactness | | Cons: | contrast | |
This was the first wide angle that i tried on my K20D (which makes it more a standard lens than a wide angle lens), and i sold it quite soon after. I like the build quality of this lens a lot, it's sturdy, all metal and a pleasure to use (smooth focus and aperture rings). I prefer the way it's constructed over Pentax A-series. My main problem with it is that i just didn't get all that excited with the pictures it gave me, they all looked very flat, with a severe lack of contrast (as a comparison, i had to boost the contrast setting on my camera to the maximum to get a bit close to the color rendition of my 50mm 1.7 A series). It's acceptably sharp though. I replaced it with a Pentax M-series 28mm 3.5, which blows this lens out of the water, when it comes to sharpness, crispness and color rendition (and is not so expensive either).
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: September, 2006 Location: Horn Island, Torres Straits, Q Posts: 4,715 | | Review Date: May 4, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $20.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | size, sharpness, price | | Cons: | competes with other excellent 28mm 2.8s | |
Surprisingly sharp with good contrast - I used this one often until replaced with the Vivitar K02. My copy did require oil to be removed from the aperture blades but with such a simple lens this is an easy self-fix. Has occasionally needed treatments since. Uses a 52mm filter ring so is a good place to put my Cokin filter set or the Fisheye attachment when out playing.
| | | | | New Member Registered: June, 2008 Location: Pune Posts: 2 | | Review Date: October 1, 2010 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Fast, AE, very close focus | | Cons: | not sharp | |
This is good lens to take around and works good on my K10d but this is not the sharpest lens I have. The lens focuses very close. nice colours, nice bokeh. Overall satisfactory.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: December, 2007 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 336 | | Review Date: December 20, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $20.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | good build, inexpensive, great image quality for the price | | Cons: | can be tough to focus | |
My RMC Tokina II 28/2.8 was a go-to walkaround lens for me for quite a while and I still use it. It's wide, inexpensive, and produces great images for a low price. It can be tricky to manual-focus on DSLRs, but I think that's common to wider lenses. When I tried the Takumar 28/3.5 to compare, I thought the Takumar was a bit better though couldn't quite say why. Still, the Tokina produced a bunch of great shots for me. Here are a few shot on my K20D:
More samples here | | | | | New Member Registered: February, 2012 Posts: 13 | | Review Date: March 24, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $60.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, great tone | | Cons: | mayb ca and flare? not that i've really experienced though.. | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 10
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i've had this (the non coated version) but i've always stuck a lens hood over it so i wldnt noe much abt the ca and flare. but what i can say this, it is sharper than the A28 and M28 from pentax that i have, and by a very huge margin. i love the tone of images this lens produces,it is just so natural, so clear compared to my tamrons/pentax which tend to produce a very yellowish tint. i regret selling it away and wish i cld have it back. | | | | | Inactive Account Registered: November, 2009 Location: Southern Ontario Posts: 22
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 27, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $11.50
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharpness, colour, contrast, close focusing, price | | Cons: | None | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 10
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I managed to get a steal of a deal on an RMC Tokina 28mm 2.8 in M42 mount, only $20 including shipping. Even at five times that price, I'd consider it a bargain.
This is probably my favourite lens, even though I was never a wide angle shooter. On my crop body it isn't truly 'wide', but is about as wide as I like to go.
This lens is sharp from wide open, sharp through infinity, has beautiful, natural colour and contrast straight out of the camera, is easy to focus and is close focusing. Photos taken with this lens only ever need very minimal processing, if any.
It is perfect for landscapes, street photography, food photography (or other close ups) and portraits. It is a very versatile lens. Detail is amazing and sharpness is retained even with significant crops.
If I could only recommend or use one lens it would be this Tokina. I have been truly impressed by its performance each and every time I've used it.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: June, 2012 Location: Kosice,Slovakia Posts: 440 | | Review Date: December 1, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $35.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | quality build,bokeh,colors | | Cons: | soft even at f8 and higher when infinity focusing | | Sharpness: 7
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 9
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I bought this lens because i was interested in 28mm manual lens. Lens are well build,no cheap plastic like todays many new lenses. Wonderful bokeh and color rendering. Only complain is that i have problem with infinity focusing. Landscape shots are soft even at f8 or higher. I tried it with tripod and live view, same results. Close distance focusing with better results. I am using pentax K-r. Will sell this lens, looking for pentax smc m 28mm. Still,this is lovely bargain lens.
Image taken with this lens, no post processing. Much better results when close focusing regarding sharpness. handheld.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8339/8221771094_8f23a53b97_b.jpg
example of soft image taken not wide open.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8062/8221771772_17ef9d4810_b.jpg | | | | | Senior Member Registered: April, 2013 Location: Gatineau, Quebec Posts: 156
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 18, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $30.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Fun to use, Solid build, very sharp | | Cons: | CA .... CA......and... CA | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 6
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 10
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The Tokina 28mm MF F2.8 is a very fun lens to use.
Colors are very contrasty and come out great on my K5...
CA is the only point i have against it. In bright light im getting very heavy CA and it NEEDS PP touch ups.
The lens is Very sharp and easy to use also. Good for portrait and landscape and macroish (you can get so close!!!)
Anyhow, to me its a must add to the collection as it is so cheap and so fun.
Good shooting!  | | | | | Senior Member Registered: June, 2012 Posts: 276 | | Review Date: September 13, 2013 | Not Recommended | Price: $20.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | cheap, metal built, quite close focus | | Cons: | flare | | Sharpness: 7
Aberrations: 6
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 10
Value: 10
| |
Update: I've decided to NOT recommend this lens due to the flare issue (not only from the sun but also reflective material). On general use it has became a nuisance. So I'd conclude that this lens has its own specific purpose, but not good for everyday use.
I would give this lens a 9 if it isn't because of the flare problem, which is very serious when shooting side or straight to the sun. This being said, sometimes the flare can be very pretty. I haven't tried it with a hood yet but will update if I have. It seems that many people reckon that a hood is a must on this lens.
Melaleuca sp., UQ by Hao Ran Lai, on Flickr
Also agree that it seems sharper when you focus closer.
When stopped down below f5.6 it becomes very good.
On a APSC camera it is equivalent to 42mm, which is better than 50mm in my preference.
Focus throw is a wee bit too long, but it's very suitable for close subjects (and the lens focuses very close too).
From the series "Animal Dreaming..." (2013) by Hao Ran Lai, on Flickr
From the series "Zoo" by Hao Ran Lai, on Flickr
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