It's been awhile since I've posted here. I guess I've been taking pictures more and posting less. In the process I've slowly grown less and less enthusiastic about my favorite lens, my Tokina 28-80mm f/2.8 AT-X Pro. When I first bought it I loved it (and still do with some caveats) since I could finally catch action that I never could with slower variable-aperature zooms. Now I'm really starting to see this lens' major flaw... from 60mm - 80mm below f/4 (f/5.6 at 80mm if you want to be really critical) it either becomes very soft or back focuses (some of both). 75% of the time this isn't a problem as I'm shooting in the 28-50mm range. That said, I lost ALOT of good shots at a recent cheeleading competition when I was forced to shoot no-flash from a balcony. I needed to be able to quickly go from the 80mm end for individual stunt shots back to 28mm for wider formations/arangements so shooting w/ my Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 HSM wasn't really an option and I don't own a second body.
I don't want to give the Tokina up because it's really sharp 28-60mm even at f/2.8. It's also built like no other lens I could afford and I love the feel. That said I'm still considering letting it go and trying something else. My main consideration as a replacement is the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8. I know it won't come close to matching the build quality of the Tokina but hopefully a sharp copy will make up for that. I'm also considering trying to sell my Tokina AND Sigma 15-30mm and putting that towards a Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8, though it'll take some money I don't really have, I'll lose the long end that is my real motivation for upgrading, and there's really no way I can afford The Beast. Other lenses I'm considering are the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8, 28-70mm f/2.8, or maybe an older Tokina 28-70mm f/2.8 (which I've read can be sharper).
Anyone have any input? Thanks!
I don't want to give the Tokina up because it's really sharp 28-60mm even at f/2.8. It's also built like no other lens I could afford and I love the feel. That said I'm still considering letting it go and trying something else. My main consideration as a replacement is the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8. I know it won't come close to matching the build quality of the Tokina but hopefully a sharp copy will make up for that. I'm also considering trying to sell my Tokina AND Sigma 15-30mm and putting that towards a Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8, though it'll take some money I don't really have, I'll lose the long end that is my real motivation for upgrading, and there's really no way I can afford The Beast. Other lenses I'm considering are the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8, 28-70mm f/2.8, or maybe an older Tokina 28-70mm f/2.8 (which I've read can be sharper).
Anyone have any input? Thanks!
