augieg27 Loc: Central California

Anyone has experienced this lens?
I'm looking to buy a macro lens, any other suggestions?
Thanks.

Charlie'smom

I got one a couple of months ago and just love it. It takes amazing macro images.

Charlie'smom

These are two examples taken with the Tokina 100mm macro lens.

(Download)


(Download)

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

Good lens, however mine failed after very little usage (<1000 pics)

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

The Tokina is a fine, if fairly simple macro lens. It doesn't have all the "bells and whistles" of some of the more expensive macro lenses, but is capable of making fine images.

100mm is a good compromise of focal length. It gives you decent working distance, while still being reasonably hand-holdable.

The Tokina is not an "IF" or "internal focusing" lens. That means it grows longer when focused closer.

For what camera? The reason I ask is because in the Nikon mount version, this lens doesn't have a built-in focusing motor. As a result, it's manual focus only on D3000/5000-series Nikon cameras (for example). D7000-series and higher cameras that have a focusing motor built into the camera body itself can autofocus this lens.

Even if it is manual focus only on your particular camera, that's not necessarily a "deal killer". Often it's easier to use manual focus when shooting macro, anyway.

If you're looking at it for use on Canon, no worries. That version has an in-lens focusing motor and can autofocus on any Canon DSLR.

It's an "FX" or "full frame" capable lens, so will work fine on either full frame or crop sensor cameras.

It's not the fastest auto focusing lens in any case... but that's true of most macro lenses, regardless of manufacturer or model. Due to their shallow depth of field, most macro lenses are designed to emphasize accuracy over focus speed, and use a "long throw" focus mechanism for that purpose.

I'm a little surprised to hear that Richard had one fail after relatively little use. I've used several Tokina over the years and never had a problem. I still have a 12-24mm that's probably 8 or 10 years old and works fine. The Tokina AT-X Pro lenses, in particular (the 100mm macro being one of them), all seem quite well built. I'd be interested to hear more about how the lens failed and if it was fixed or replaced under warranty (Tokina offers a 3 year warranty, if I recall correctly).

Hope this helps!

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

Error - deleted

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

I have had 3 Tokina lenses fail prematurely (and one that is still going years latter - the 12-24 f4).
All purchased via a grey market importer or whilst on vacation overseas.
Auto focus failure in all 3 cases.
A Tokina 80-400 - failed after ~15 pics - it was replaced by importer.
Another Tokina 80-400 failed afer about 14 months (out of warrenty) and ~15,000 pics (I was shooting motor sport)
And the 100mm macro.
That's when I found how much an international warrenty was worth - nothing.
No local Tokina repairer at the time.

I replaced the Tokina 80-400 with a Canon 100-400.
I didn't replace the 100mm macro as I found a good P&S camera (Canon G11) which met my needs with its "macro" feature.

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

I love mine. You can check out my man macro posts on this site all done with the Tokina 100mm.

augieg27 Loc: Central California

Thank you, I have a D5500 so no AF with this lens. After all manual focusing is used almost always in macro.
Also suprised about Richard's problems with this Tokina lens, because Ken Rockwell is very high on it.

John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK

Ask the hogs on the Macro forum. I bought Sigma, but asked their advice first. At the time they rated the top 3 independents (Sigma, Tokina, Tamron) as being fairly similar in optical performance - but perhaps things have moved on since then.

srt101fan

The inability to use this lens in autofocus mode with your D5500 may not be a problem for macro but could be a significant disadvantage if you also want to use this lens for other types of shooting. I've pretty much ruled out getting one for my D5300 for that reason.

jeryh Loc: Oxfordshire UK

Tokina is a very good lens, especially the macro

ggab Loc: ?

I bought a used one from one of the reputable retailers. It took great shots, however the manual/auto focus switching failed. I would move the clutch to manual to focus, then put it back in the auto mode. I would try to auto focus for another shot and it would not work unless I jiggle'd the clutch a few times.
I ended up returning it and buying a Canon 100mm L Macro. It cost more, however not much more than a new Tokina and is amazing.
The posted picture, while not macro, is a hand held close up taken indoors in low lighting. Something I could not do with the Tokina.

(Download)

Elsiss Loc: Bayside, NY, Boynton Beach, Fl.

Great fx lens with a great price point. Love mine for portraits as well on my d750.

waegwan Loc: Mae Won Li

I have one. I use it very little but when I do it works well for me.