Pentaxian Registered: March, 2017 Location: Pretoria Posts: 4,661 | | Review Date: March 16, 2020 | Recommended | Price: $40.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Small and light | | Cons: | Not easy to handhold | | Sharpness: 6
Aberrations: 6
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 6
Camera Used: Samsung NX1
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I already have an SMC Pentax A 400mm f/5.6, so I wasn't really in the market for another 400mm. However, I got a good deal on the Tokina that I could not pass up.
The internal focus came as a surprise. Focusing is very smooth. The throw is a bit short but one gets used to it.
Image quality is pretty good at this price point. When used wide open, images are more than a little soft. At f/11 all is well.
This lens is amazingly compact for a 400mm. It is smaller than a lot of 300mm lenses. Being small and light has its downsides. My Pentax is reasonably easy to handhold, but this thing is a bit of a beast. There is not enough heft to act as a stabilizing influence. As long as one keeps the shutter speed high enough there is no problem. Perhaps some practice will make it better.
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Junior Member Registered: May, 2018 Posts: 34 | | Review Date: December 10, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $60.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Can be found used cheaply. | | Cons: | Manual focus only which may be an issue for some. No tripod mount | | Sharpness: 6
Aberrations: 5
Bokeh: 5
Handling: 6
Value: 7
Camera Used: Pentax K-1
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I bought a K-1 whilst using a Nikon D3300 with a Sigma 300mm APO which I really liked. I was trying to photograph quite a few birds in flight and found the autofocus "hunting" a fain so, in some respects, I don't really miss the autofocus on the RMC Tokina.
It's not fast, it's not forgiving but you CAN take it as carry on and you don't have thousands of dollars tied up in keeping it safe. If you want a 400mm but do not have access to good new or used deals with Pentax mount lenses and one of these becomes available, it's well worth considering. Not every shot you can take with a 400mm lense and sell needs to be pin sharp. Some of this lense's "issues" can be mitigated in post production (I use the software that came with the K-1). Anyway, until I get something better .... the size of the 560mm ED DA Pentax jobby puts me off since I travel nearly all the time ... though I am considering it ... just need to work out how to protect it ... if you see one of these and it works and is pretty clean, I'd get it and, if you don't play with it happily, sell it on. I'm very glad I got mine snce, as a Pentaxian, the world is not full of great, used deals on Pentax or 3rd part telephoto primes.
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