You’re looking at my Tokina 35mm f2.8 Macro Review.
I bought this lens at a bargain (Canon mount
I’m an old style photographer and I used a normal 50mm lens when I first started photography using film SLR.
Graffiti close up. Shot using Tokina 35mm Macro.
The 35mm focal length will give you the equivalent of a 50mm normal lens when used with a cropped sensor DSLR.
This is a good lens for anyone who is just starting photography and wanted to learn about the art of composition.
The 50mm lens will give you a good field of view to experiment with your subject’s composition.
A big plus on this lens is its macro capability. Not only you can use it to start learning photography, you can use it to shoot macro as well in the future (if you ever want to move to this area).
In terms of optical performance, this lens will satisfy all photography beginners with its sharpness, good distortion and vignetting control.
All in all, for the price, this lens is a steal and I highly recommend it for any beginning photographers.
See the complete Tokina 35mm f2.8 Macro review below.
Specs • Performance • Sample Image • Conclusion • Where to Buy
Tokina 35mm f2.8 Macro Review – Specs
Back to: Menu • Introduction
Official Name:
Tokina AT-X M35 PRO DX AF 35mm f/2.8 Macro
Focal Length Markings:
35mm
Features:
AT-X – Advanced technology that Tokina use to design and fabricate for the most advanced lens (this one is a marketing jargon, don’t pay too much attention)
PRO – Professional build quality for enhanced durability.
DX – You can only use this lens with cropped sensor DSLR. You shouldn’t use it with a full frame DSLR camera.
AF – Allows the lens to focus automatically on your subject.
Macro – A “true” 1:1 macro lens meaning the image on the sensor is the same size as the subject being photographed.
Full Technical Specs (from Tokina’s website):
| Technical Specifications | |
| Groups / Elements | 8 / 9 |
| Angle of View | 43° |
| Number of Blade Diaphragm | 9 |
| Minimum Aperture | f/22 |
| Minimum Focusing Distance | 5.5in.(0.14m) |
| Filter Thread | 52mm |
| Weight | 340g (11.99oz) |
| Dimension (Diameter x Length) | ø2.93 x 2.42in. (ø73.2 x 60.4mm) |
| Macro Magnification Ratio | 1:1 |
| Available for | Canon and Nikon |
Optical Performance
Back to: Menu • Introduction
Tokina 35mm f2.8 Macro Review – Sharpness
Sharpness is very good overall in this lens, both in the border and in the center.
Even at the maximum aperture of f/2.8, this lens is noticeably sharp. Stopping down to f/5.6 will give the maximum sharpness.
The Macro performance of this lens is also superb, even at the closest focusing distance of 5.5in.
See the full sharpness test result on this Tokina 35mm f2.8 Macro review below.
Sharpness Scale (from Best to Worst):
(5) Excellent
(4) Great
(3) Good
(2) Fair
(1) Poor
Center Sharpness
| Focal Length / Aperture | f/2.8 | f/4 | f/5.6 | f/8 |
| 35mm | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
Border Sharpness
| Focal Length / Aperture | f/2.8 | f/4 | f/5.6 | f/8 |
| 35mm | Great | Excellent | Excellent | Great |
Distortion
Distortion is very well controlled and is not field relevant.
See the distortion test chart below.
Vignetting
Being a DX lens, vignetting is visible at the widest aperture (f/2.8). Stopping down to f/4 will make vignetting non-field relevant.
See the result of the vignetting test on the chart below.
Chromatic Aberration
Tokina is known for its weakness on the chromatic aberration department, but this lens managed to fare quite well.
If you don’t want to fix chromatic aberration in post processing, then stop down to f/5.6 to reduce the chromatic aberration significantly.
Chromatic Aberration Scale (from Best to Worst):
(5) Negligible
(4) Very Low
(3) Low
(2) High
(1) Very High
Chromatic Aberration
| Focal Length / Aperture | f/2.8 | f/4 | f/5.6 | f/8 |
| 35mm | Low | Very Low | Very Low | Low |
Build Quality
Back to: Menu • Introduction
Materials
The PRO designation indicates that Tokina used special finish to make the build more solid. Although not comparable to a Canon L lens, the build is definitely better than most consumer grade lens. Made in Japan.
Focusing
The autofocus speed is fast and accurate. The f/2.8 helps a lot during low light shooting and can prevent autofocus hunting.
The front element of this lens will not rotate during autofocus. So, using a polarizer is not a problem.
For Nikon user: This lens does NOT have a built in Motor, which means it will NOT autofocus when used with cameras with no internal focusing such as Nikon D40
Compatibility
Being a DX lens, this lens can only be used for cropped sensor DSLR. You should not use this lens with a full frame DSLR such as the Nikon D3
Sample Image
Back to: Menu • Introduction
Below are some pictures that I took using the this lens:
Get the best price online from Amazon: For Canon
Conclusions
Back to: Menu • Introduction
This lens is a very solid performer in all aspects given the price. It is sharp at any aperture and has good distortion and chromatic aberration control.
The only minor problem is the chromatic aberration at f/2.8 which can be easily corrected in post processing or by stopping down to f/5.6.
Below are the conclusions for for this lens:
Drawbacks
- Slightly visible chromatic aberration at f/2.8. This can easily be fixed in post processing. Alternatively, you can stop down to f/5.6 to significantly reduce it.
Positives
- Sharp at all aperture
- Vignetting is very well controlled for a DX lens
- Distortion is control is excellent
- Excellent build quality for the price
- Great macro capability
- Excellent value for money
This Lens is Good For
All around walk-around normal and macro lens. Definitely the perfect “normal” lens for cropped sensor DSLR users.
This Lens is Not So Good For
Wide angle landscape photography. Being a 35mm lens, this lens won’t be wide enough to take a wide angle landscape shot in a cropped sensor DSLR.
What Others Are Saying…
by “M. Morgan”
Excellent lens for the price! I was all set to buy Canon’s 60mm f/2.8 macro…but I was hesitant because I really wanted something in the 30-50mm range that I could double up with as a portrait lens. I didn’t even know this lens existed until I randomly stumbled upon it at POTN….and the rest, as they say, is history…
Click here to read the full review
by “Joseph Massimino”
Bright, light, and easy to use. Easy pull out barrel to manual focus. Macro gives the lens more uses. Picture quality is excellent. I bought the Nikon model for my D90. Most of my other lens are Nikon, but once I got this Tokina, I bought another longer 2.8 Tokina lens soon after…
Click here to read the full review
Where to Buy
Support this site, buy the Tokina 35mm f/2.8 DX 1:1 Macro from Amazon (best price online):
If Amazon doesn’t have it in stock, try B&H Photo (Canon, Nikon) or Adorama (Canon, Nikon).
Be sure to also see the related lens review below.
Thanks for reading my Tokina 35mm f2.8 Macro Review – a great, light and small macro lens.
You’re looking at my Tokina 35mm f2.8 Macro Review.
I bought this lens at a bargain (Canon mount) from Amazon for my Canon EOS 7D DSLR came…
You’re looking at my Tokina 35mm f2.8 Macro Review.
I bought this lens at a bargain (Canon mount) from Amazon for my Canon EOS 7D DSLR came…
| Lens Score | |
|---|---|
| Optical Quality | |
| Build Quality | |
| Value for Money | |
| Overall | |
Tags: tokina 35mm, tokina 35mm f 2.8 review, tokina 35mm macro, tokina 35mm macro review
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