Thought I'd get a macro and decided on the Tokina 100mm to go with my 7100. Well I took it out for a spin and am really disappointed. The lens is sharp but it focus hunts like crazy even with the limit switch engaged. So annoying. I called Tokina customer service about the issue and the guy said "oh that's typical for that lens/body combo you just have to move around to find the sweet spot". Huh? I found that a very bizarre answer. Returning it today !!
chase4
Loc: Punta Corona, California
Sounds like I'd do the same thing...return it. chase
joer
Loc: Colorado/Illinois
Royce Moss wrote:
Thought I'd get a macro and decided on the Tokina 100mm to go with my 7100. Well I took it out for a spin and am really disappointed. The lens is sharp but it focus hunts like crazy even with the limit switch engaged. So annoying. I called Tokina customer service about the issue and the guy said "oh that's typical for that lens/body combo you just have to move around to find the sweet spot". Huh? I found that a very bizarre answer. Returning it today !!
Then you will be disappointed with just about all macro lenses and this camera. Macro is code for manual focus.
Yea, guess I found that out the almost hard way. Got me to looking into wide angle gonna get one.
Royce Moss wrote:
Yea, guess I found that out the almost hard way. Got me to looking into wide angle gonna get one.
I have that lens and love it. Manuel focus is almost a necessity and a tripod or monopod is very useful. Sorry you don't like it, Royce, but all macros will be like this.
I also have that lens and find it to be very sharp. Manual focus is a must and a tripod or monopod helps tremendously. Sometimes moving just a bit improves/degrades focus and it is good to take several shots at various small differences in distance. vz
I also have the same lens camera combo and love it as well! I use it mostly for portraits. Haven’t tried it for macro, but i will eventually. Sorry you’re having a bad experience with that lens camera combo.
I also have the same lens camera combo and love it as well! I use it mostly for portraits. Haven’t tried it for macro, but i will eventually. Sorry you’re having a bad experience with that lens camera combo.
Ive used that lens on my D7000, had to use the manual focus. It worked well because I was shooting table top product, that seems to be pretty much what the lens is good for. Very sharp images. I was shooting running shoes for web catalogue and the client demands that the material texture and woven surfaces be crystal clear, and they were.
Jerry G
Loc: Waterford, Michigan and Florida
Check Ken Rockwell's review, he thinks this is a very good lens.
Royce Moss wrote:
Thought I'd get a macro and decided on the Tokina 100mm to go with my 7100. Well I took it out for a spin and am really disappointed. The lens is sharp but it focus hunts like crazy even with the limit switch engaged. So annoying. I called Tokina customer service about the issue and the guy said "oh that's typical for that lens/body combo you just have to move around to find the sweet spot". Huh? I found that a very bizarre answer. Returning it today !!
Well at least you'll be in good shape. LOL
Sorry you had a bad experience. Mine has not been so and I find it a very special lens for portrait and Macro shots. I am sure the group
will have some additional suggestions as a replacement!
Royce Moss wrote:
Thought I'd get a macro and decided on the Tokina 100mm to go with my 7100. Well I took it out for a spin and am really disappointed. The lens is sharp but it focus hunts like crazy even with the limit switch engaged. So annoying. I called Tokina customer service about the issue and the guy said "oh that's typical for that lens/body combo you just have to move around to find the sweet spot". Huh? I found that a very bizarre answer. Returning it today !!
No lens is going to hunt for focus. It only responds to signals from the camera. If you were trying to autofocus in close on something like a flower, where everything is on a different plane, the camera will have a difficult time focusing. It’s worse if you were using multiple focus points, and nearly impossible if you were hand holding not too steadily. AFC is useless here, too. You will encounter the same problem trying to focus on a bird or squirrel among branches with a telephoto lens. Manual focus is best of course, but you could use AFS and a single focus point, preferably on a tripod. So the rep was not too far from correct, but he should have told you it’s typical with any lens or camera in that situation. I have the older version of that lens, only focuses to 1:2, and if the new one is as good, you’ll not find any other brand to be much better for the money. However, a manual lens with a longer focus throw would be much preferred.
I also bought that lens, Nikon mount and I love it. I have not noticed any af problems , but I like to shoot manual focus. Come s from owning old Nikon and Canon FD glass, that I adapt to my a7.
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