Review - Tokina atx-i 100mm F2.8 FF MACRO PLUS Lens
A comprehensive review on Tokina atx-i 100mm F2.8 FF Macro lens. Considerably, one fo the best Macro lens, available for both Canon & Nikon full frame cameras.
Overview of the lens
Launched in 2021, Tokina atx-i 100mm F2.8 FF Macro lens is a short telephoto lens which is an upgrade to its predecesor 100mm f2.8 version. Introduced with the new series of atx-i to enhance the performance, the lens is multicoated and uses in-camera auto focus for enhanced and advanced DSLR cameras. Below are main mechanical highlights of Tokina atx-i 100mm F2.8 Macro lens:
Availble for: Canon & Nikon DSLR cameras
MC: stands for Multicoating on the lens glass
FC: stands for Focus Clutch, both manual & auto focus (Tokina’s famous 01 click focus switch)
Range: 100mm short telephoto with 55mm filter size
Widest aperture: F2.8 to F32
Minimum focus range: 30cm
Weather sealed: No
I paired Tokina atx-i 100mm F2.8 FF Macro lens with my all time favourite Nikon D810, a full frame DSLR camera with 36.3 megapixel sensor.
The shots shared below are taken in both sunlight and under studio strobes to see the lens performance under different conditions.
Focus system of Tokina atx-i 100mm F2.8 FF Macro lens
Like its competitors from Nikon, Canon & Sigma, Tokina also featured this lens for Macro Photography. With 100mm and F2.8 aperture, this lens is quite suitable for variety of macro photography shots.
The Focus System of Tokina 100mm F2.8 Macro lens is built on Barrel Focussing with minimum range of focus at 30cm, which is quite impressive. Barrel Focus system works when your lens is at its closest spot from the subject, at manual focus (ideally) and can change focus by moving the focus ring from one spot to another. How can you test this? Have a book opened in front of you and try to focus on each line in a sequense, you will be stunned to see that how impressively this great lens can switch focus with a mere movement of focus ring.
So the Macro Focusing is superb in this lens but there is one drawback. The lens wouldn’t work with older camera models like Nikon D3 and D5 series because the focus is handled through in drive screw system, connected to the Camera. So if you have older Nikon camera models, I fear it woukdn’t support them. In addition to that, if you have newer mirrorless Nikon cameras like Nikon Z5, it wouldn’t work with them too because in order to use this lens on mirrorless cameras you need FTZ mounts which doesn’t support focus system for this lens.
Full 1.0X or a ratio of 1:1 magnification is the ideal range for Macro Photography so you can capture tiny details like insects or even smaller subjects.
Buit Quality - Tokina 100mm F2.8 FF Macro Lens
Built quality is excellent but it could have a weather seal too. Would be much better because when you are a macro photographer, you are expected to chase small bugs and insects in the wild. Such wild hunches can bring lots of uncertainties and poor weather is one of them.
Apart from no weather seal, lens is a great solid build and wouldn’t disappoint you when it comes to the question of value for money.
Lens performance
In terms of performance, the first thing you will definitely is the incredible sharpness. Tokina atx-i and opera series are now known for thier pin sharp image quality. This lens in particular can be called as one of the most sharpest lenses ever made by Tokina. Even at the widest open aperture of f2.8, Tokina atx-i 100mm F2.8 FF Macro lens is even sharp towards the edges too, which is a bonus if you are a macro photographer.
Even though there is no totally revamped auto focus sysyem in this lens compare to its predecessor, the Tokina lens provides very good optical performance, which adds value to the overall sharpness of the image.
Chromatic aberration is visible but when you are zooming into the image more than 100% and its quite minimal. I am yet to find a lens which doesn’t provide chromatic aberration because its almost inevitable when it comes dealing with wide aperture, harsh light and photos with good highlights. Its also not bad for all kind of photos. If you are into monochrome photos, chromatic aberration can add a very good mood into your photos, especialy to the edges of the subject.
Nikon D810 - ISO 100 | F8 | 1/200S
Summary
I would buy this lens. Because it provides the great value, especilly compare to its competitors when it comes with almost same performance and price is way low. I wouldn’t be worried about chromatic abberation because it doesnt really concern me. I know how to handle it in the post processing and on top of that its very minimal. There are some reviews mentioning focus issues with some Nikon cameras but I personally didn’t experience that even all my shots were taken with Nikon D810.
Why should you prefer this lens?
Great value in terms of price
Extremely sharp results in your photos
Amazing auto focus, especially the barrel focusing
Multi coated glass works very well in terms of overall performance
Why you shouldnt buy this lens?
Doesnt support older DSLR (Nikon) because lens need focusing from the camera
Not weather sealed so if you are going to rain forest kind of places
