Site Supporter Registered: November, 2012 Location: North Wales Posts: 2,869
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 11, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | IQ, construction | | Cons: | slow, long cfd, fixed mount, preset lenses are easier to stop down | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 8
Value: 9
Camera Used: Lumix G2, Samsung NX20, K5
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Made a wee mistake with this, I thought it was a t-mount - it isn't. So I was restricted to using my Lumix with M4/3-CFD adapter.
Impressed with this lens. A class above the "cheapo" ones in quality of construction though there is a weight penalty, it's quite a bit heavier. Posesses the usual tripod collar, and also a good hood - often lacking on the others. And most importantly the optical performance measures up: sharp from f6.3, fringing/CA/halo sometimes evident on high contrast edges (see bottom test pic) but really not bad at all, contrast pretty good for a lens of this era ("RMC" coatings).
I compared particularly to my Tamron Nestar. Not a lot in it sharpness wise - I am inclined to favour the Nestar by a short head. 100% sample crops at f6.3, f8, f11, f16 illustrate the consistent quality (developed from RAW, mostly default settings, some sharpening and noise - a Lumix weak point - reduction). The figure shows slight signs of shake when viewed full size in faststone actually, he was moving around, but the detail the lens extracts from the tower stonework is good (and bear in mind this is 800mm equivalent).
I did try some flower shots at cfd (such as it is) but was not so impressed. But recommended.
Bird pic here.
 
 
Chapter 2 7/15
I acquired two more incarnations of this lens, the soligor fixed mount and the vivitar T4 mount versions pictured above. Differences are only cosmetic, specifically the design of the focus ring.
Performance wise these lenses were very similar and reinforced my impressions from the cfd mount tokina rmc. Good sharpness straight from f6.3, not much fringing. If you're interested in a 400mm f6.3 one of these tokinas is an upmarket choice, particularly the vivitar, which is the only lens of this type I have encountered with a flock lined hood!
Test pic of the castle again, and 100% crop, taken on my 20MPx apsc samsung NX20, f6.3, with the soligor 400mm.
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New Member Registered: December, 2007 Location: Izmir / Turkey Posts: 19 | | Review Date: November 15, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $80.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharpness, value, handling | | Cons: | Slow lens | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax K1, Fuji xt2
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Surprisingly sharp lens.
I used it on k5, k3 now Pentax k1 and Fuji xt2. For wild life Manuel focusing is of course not useful for flying animals but except that you can take decent images of them.
It is light enough, I both shoot on tripod and handheld (thanks to sr of Pentax).
As cons I can only say it is a slow lens so need good light due to min. 6.3 aperture, everything is fine except this.
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Site Supporter Registered: September, 2014 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,597 | | Review Date: December 26, 2021 | Not Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | 400mm reach | | Cons: | Purple fringing | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 6
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 7
Value: 9
Camera Used: Pentax K-3
Focusing: 8
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This lens has its limitations because of purple fringing. I am not an expert at distance focusing. The advantage for me is inexpensive price to get a distance lens. I have the Vivitar version. | |
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