Welcome to another of our infrequent review / comparison posts. This time we are taking a look at two 35 – 105mm lenses in Nikon fit, a Tokina RMC 35 -105 mm f3.5 – 4.5 manual focus zoom lens and a Nikon 35 – 105 mm f3.5 – 4.5 autofocus zoom lens.
Nikon 35 – 105mm Tokina 35 – 105mm
First a little background history.
The Nikon lens has been in my possession since I purchased it with a Nikon F801 from Mark of GCM fame way back in the mists of time!
The Tokina lens I purchased earlier this year along with a non functioning Nikon F301 (bad battery leak) from a collectables store.
Having two lenses of identical focal length got me thinking, I really should do a comparison between them. Thus following article tells the tale.
Specifications
Tokina RMC 35 – 105 mm
Construction: 16 elements in 13 groups, multi coated.
Aperture range: f3.5/4.5 to f22
Focus: Manual 1 touch zoom/focus ring
Close focus: 1:4 continuous focus at 105mm
Filter size: 55mm
Weight: 441g
Nikon 35 -105 mm
Construction: 16 elements in 12 groups, multi coated.
Aperture range: f3.5/4.5 to f22
Focus: Auto focus with manual focus ring and separate zoom ring
Close focus: 1:3.5 Manual focus only via close focus button and zoom ring rotated to M
Filter size: 52mm
Weight: 472g
Testing
I decided to evaluate both lenses using black and white negative film and also see how they fared when used on a digital camera body.
The black and white tests were performed using the previously mentioned (now fixed) Nikon F301 loaded with Fuji Acros 100 ISO film in aperture priority mode. Film was processed in Hydrofen and images scanned on a Nikon Coolscan 4ED
Colour testing was performed using a Nikon D800 set to 100 ISO, daylight balance set and aperture priority exposure used.
The cameras were individually mounted on a tripod and manually focused. Exposures were made at f3.5, f8 and f22 at both 35mm and 105mm. The target once again was Eastbourne pier.
All the results were viewed at 100% in Adobe CC using a colour calibrated monitor.
The lenses in use.
Both lenses have defined full aperture click stops, zoom action is good and without excessive slip, the Tokina has a push / pull zoom action whilst the two touch Nikon lens has a twist action to zoom. Focusing is precise again on both lenses, the Nikon being lighter due to it being an auto focus lens (not much resistance but precise), as a first generation Nikon autofocus lens the focusing is operated via a motor in the camera body to a drive mechanism in the lens.
The Tokina has the ability to close focus straight to a ratio of 1:4 at 105mm only, whereas the Nikon lens close focuses to a ratio of 1:3.5 when the lens is rotated past the 105mm setting to ‘M’ whilst pressing the silver ‘M’ button, with only manual focus available via the focus ring.
The Nikon lens has a diamond pattern rubber zoom ring and to the front of the lens a thin ribbed plastic focus ring, the Tokina has a similar diamond patterned zoom / focus ring.
The Results
Black and white film results.
At the 35mm setting both lenses vignetted at f3.5, producing a reasonable centre sharpness but quite soft edges. Illumination and sharpness improved across the frame at f8 with the Nikon slightly behind on overall sharpness. At f22 evenness and sharpness remained even, however whilst sharpness improved on the Nikon lens it dropped a little on the Tokina.
Tokina at 35mm
f3.5 f8 f22
Nikon at 35mm
f3.5 f8 f22
At the 105mm setting, wide open at f4.5 neither lens displayed vignetting and focus was even across the frame although the Nikon sadly showed a distinct lack of sharpness compared with the Tokina. At f8 the tables were turned and the Nikon produced a much sharper image over the Tokina lens, by f22 both lenses produced sharp even images.
Tokina at 105mm
f4.5 f8 f22
Nikon at 105mm
f4.5 f8 f22
Colour digital results.
Starting at 35mm and f3.5, again both lenses vignetted the Tokina more than the Nikon. This time the Nikon lens was much sharper across the whole frame with the Tokina soft on the frame edges, whilst there was a degree of colour fringing on both lenses contrast was good. The most obvious difference however was the colour rendition of the Tokina lens, it produced an obvious yellow cast – the reason for the colour cast is due to the use of Thorium in the glass (or the multicoating layers), it’s use is to enhance light transmission through the lens. Research has offered a remedy, it involves leaving the lens in direct sunlight for around four weeks which I am now doing, an update will follow.
At f8 vignetting had gone on both lenses, sharpness had improved with the Tokina lagging a little behind on the edges, once again colour fringing was evident with both lenses. Finally at f22 central sharpness was good whilst edge sharpness dropped a little.
Tokina at 35mm
f3.5 f8 f22
Nikon at 35mm
f3.5 f8 f22
When at 105mm the results were quite mixed, set at f4.5 the Tokina lens was definitely soft with the Nikon producing a sharp even image. Once more there was a degree of vignetting with the Tokina showing more than the Nikon, this time very little colour fringing was seen with either lens. A very strange result a f8 with the Nikon producing sharp edges but a slightly soft centre, the Tokina was evenly sharp across the frame but had a small drop in contrast, again no colour fringing was observed. Onto f22 both lenses were sharp across the frame with the Nikon just a little ahead.
Tokina at 105mm
f4.5 f8 f22
Nikon at 105mm
f4.5 f8 f22
Sample full size images
Tokina at 35mm
Nikon at 35mm
Conclusion
Both lenses were designed to be used as an all round kit lens thus producing good but not spectacular results. Being general purpose zoom lenses both effectively loose 2/3rds of a stop of light from one end of the zoom range to the other..
Since neither lens was designed for use with digital sensor they both produced reasonable results that would give an acceptable medium sized image. In saying that the Nikon lens did produce a surprise at 105mm and f8 – that will require a little more research!
It is worth noting that colour fringing can easily be dealt with in any imaging software.
Both lenses gave good results when used with black and white film, I would expect similar results with colour film.
Once the Tokina has had a month of daylight treatment to remove the yellow cast in the optics I shall do further tests and produce an update.
Finally. Are either lens worth purchasing? If the price seems fair then the answer to that is yes, providing that you remember their limitations, stop the lens down to f11 where possible and you should get good results.
Update
After a month in the sun ( the Tokina lens, not me!) I took both the Nikon and Tokina lenses out to our local lake for a retest. The result is an unchanged yellow cast with the Tokina lens. The lens may require a lot longer in time in daylight to make any major difference.
I shall continue to expose the Tokina to strong daylight and retest at a later stage.
Tokina at 35mm – retested
Nikon at 35mm – retested
Colin