Tokina 24mm Konica Fit

[John Parry]

Hi Everyone

I've heard good things about Tokina lenses on here, but mostly for Nikon, and mostly for longer lenses. I spotted a 24mm 2.8 Tokina for a Konica - in mint condition. I missed the end of the auction, and nobody had bid on it. So I've contacted the seller, offered him a couple of quid more than the starting price, and I've got it.

Any Konica buffs tried one of these? I like the Vivitar 28, but maybe (like two Shermans) the 24 can give you 'an edge' ??

What do you think?

Regards - John

[Peter S.]

Dear John,

I don't have used the SL24, nor do I own a Konica setup. But I heared a lot of
complaints on the SL24 in the German usenet when discussing Minolta MD (I think
it is the same lens except for the mount). Stopping down to F=8 is reported to result
in a perfect sharp center but not in the corners.

I had a SL28 myself, and for moderate printing sizes (e.g. 13x18cm) the results
were fully satisfactory. W.r.t. A3 enlargements I would be sceptical.

I would expect, that the SL24 behaves not too much different than the 28mm
lens. So it should be OK. But if You become a WW buff, You might develop the
lust for a second 24mm lens.

E.g. the Kiron 2/24 (I heared reports that there is a Vivitar labeled Kiron, too).
The Kiron is however not too easy to find. And it got its price, since it got a very
good reputation.

If You don't got a 24mm lens so far, then You might be surprised by the 24 mm
focal length. It is different to the 28mm. I think, this is the reason so much people
don't like 28mm lenses. I don't use 24mm often, but on the rare occasions I got
a few very good shots.

HTH & Best regards
Peter

[kiev4a]

I've never been much of a 28mm fan because I got a 24mm Nikkor when it first came out. That is a marvelous focal length. I've probably used the 24mm more than any WA. I actually like my 24mm Nikkor better than the 20mm.

[Peter S.]

Dear John,

I read over my posting, and I felt not to happy with it anymore.
I should have expressed my relationship to the 24mm lens a bit
different:

It is not my primary choice, since I am not too good at wide angles.
Maybe more often than not I am too shy to get close. The second
reason is, that I often feel, a longer lens would result in a more even
background.

On the other hand, if the background is OK, then 24mm is really a great
choice. So I can fully understand Wayne praisal of the 24mm.

Concerning the Kiron lens, I have a link here:

wstar.dyndns.org/oep/articles/Minolta24mm_against_Kiron24mm_comparison.htm

I have a bit of contact to Hans Weber. He is very picky with lenses. And I think
he is very careful in his evaluations, too.

Best regards
Peter

[John Parry]

Hey - PeterS

Don't worry about it - I've bought it now! My experience of third party lenses has been with Soligor, Sunigor, Optomax, Vivitar and Hanimex and things like that. I'd heard people on here praising Tokina as a sound lens maker, and just thought I'd give it a try. True Konica lenses (Hexanon) are expensive (seriously expensive when you get to the long ones).

I'll give it a try, and let you know!

Regards - John

[Peter S.]

Dear John,

the mechanical quality of Tokina lenses is absolutely top notch. One of my favourite
lenses is the Tokina AT-X 2.5/90 macro lens. It is nearly unreal, that good it is.

I got the AT-X 2.8/35-70 and the AT-X 3.5-4.5/28-70 zooms. Both are perfect from their
mechanical precision. But both are a class below the Minolta prime lenses of the
corresponding focal length.

So my point is, that I respect Tokina as a good choice for a third party lens. But anyway
especially on the 24mm lens there are some not so nice reports. I would not worry too much
on this however, as I think, that in a lens discussion group the impact on the lens quality
on the picture quality generally is overestimated.

I still don't know however, if You got a 24mm lens before - although I think You have this
experience. And if You don't got another 24mm in You various setups, then it shurely will
give You a lot of nice experiences.

Best regards
Peter

PS: I have to repeat: my English is less perfect, than it might sound. I don't get everything
on the first sight. And I fell pretty uncomfortable not being able to express as precise I
could in my native language.

[John Parry]

PeterS

Don't worry! Somewhere, no doubt there is a chart comparing all of the lenses in the world. I have a CZJ 24/3.5 which has some vignetting in the corners. It will be an interesting comparison! I don't care- I just want to take beautiful photographs!

Regards - John