RMC Tokina 28-85mm F4 zoom, any experience ?

[NickT]

As part of a bundle, I obtained a Tokina 28/85mm zoom in OM fitting. It's an enormous heavy lens with good build quality. It really needs the winder grip fitted to my OM1 to make it comfortable to hold. It rather negates the benefit of the OM1 being a lightweight camera when it's fitted so I've not used it yet. It takes a 72mm filter.

Before I spend any money on filters, I wonder if anyone reading this board has used one of these and could express an opinion as to its image quality? I think an F4 lens of this size must have something going for it, to justify the weight.

 

[excalibur2]

Well I've found this for you http://zone-10.com/cmsm/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=300&Itemid=97 but the problem with lenses is copy variation (well other than Zeiss etc ) so it would be best to try it out before buying filters etc
One of my favourite zooms for sharpness is one that everyone ignores, the aperture sticks and I've taken it apart to fix it, but the aperture still sticks if I don't use an elastic band to keep the aperture at f16 and it's amazing the amount of slapping the lens has suffered in the beginning to get the aperture working and the lens still produces VG results.......and I won't buy another for peanuts as it might be a bad copy.

 

[DNH]

I normally stand in front of a brick wall & take test photos at a range of apertures for lenses that I want to test. Not as scientific as a proper chart, but the pointing gives a good idea of distortion/ pincushion etc & there is plenty of detail to get an idea of resolution. Neither of my 35mm F2.8 Nikkors gets great reviews, but both seem fine to me with this test.

 

[RaglanSurf]

To be honest I think you've answered yourself on this, why would stick something the size of a small family car on the front of one of the best, lightweight cameras that the 70's produced? Stick a prime lens on the front and enjoy it's all day usability and use the Tokina as a door stop or defensive weapon.