Painterly Creative Bokeh - 400mm Tokina Lens Review!

[@Jawad.1]

OMG!!! You are a Miracle Worker...! This Video is in another league of Camera Accessory Reviews...!!!

[@TheSlantedLens]

Wow, thanks! Appreciate your comment!

[@david777ism]

Outstanding video and review. Could not be better.I subscribed after watching.I am new to photography and have been watching lens comparison videos for 3 months. The usual types, 24x35x50x80mm. All done by hotshot photographers with prime lenses. Your portraits with this inexpensive lens, blow far out of the water, all the other photographers that I have seen in these videos and beyond. Your portraits are mind blowing.Stunningly artistic and with an inexpensive reflex F/8 manual focus! What the...? You have given a lot of hope to many people worldwide like me who are on a tight budget. You have shown us that sharpness in not everything, it's more about the art,that the bells and whistles of auto focus and image stabilisation are not essential and also proved the saying ,that a poor workman blames the tools. I guess that Jimi Hendrix could have played Hey Joe,just as well on a Squier Stratocaster. I bought a Tokina, it arrives tomorrow.Thank you teacher. Edit: My Tokina 500mm arrived today.

[@ruihe6769]

Beautiful images and great idea always. Thank you!

[@TheSlantedLens]

Many thanks! Appreciate the comment!

[@IanPack007]

This lens reminds me of the 1988 Tamron 500mm ƒ/8 mirror lens. I'll have to give the new Tokina a go. As ever Jay, thanks for a great review. Keep 'em coming...

[@TheSlantedLens]

You are very welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@jean-claudemuller3199]

Oh yes you are right, what an artistic look with these "old fashion" reflex tele-lenses. I use a medium format Mamiya C reflex 500mm f:8 adapted on my Hasselblad X1D, today they can be found relatively cheap on second market. Images are gorgeous.

[@TheSlantedLens]

Wow, that sounds fabulous. Share some of your images on our Slanted Lens Facebook group.

[@jean-claudemuller3199]

@@TheSlantedLens Sorry I don't use any social media, but I can post examples where ever yo want

[@NancyGillespie-k9h]

Thank you for your video - love it! I love the tripod and swivel thing on top. Can you let me know where to order those please.

[@riber99]

This might be cool for my b&w and mono. Not bad

[@robobrien2916]

You sold me on this one ... expecting a parcel tomorrow!

[@TheSlantedLens]

Let us know how you like it!

[@david777ism]

Mine arrived today. I bought it because of this stunning review. The 500mm model and I am like a kid on Christmas morning. It is beautifully engineered. It does not look or feel cheap. Man those portraits he did are so good.The zoom with this lens on an APS-C is even higher.

[@david777ism]

I too was blown away by this great review.I bought the Tokina 500mm version.Very happy. Have fun with your new lens.

[@freddensing1224]

Reminds me of Tamrons Adaptall lens, with the different mounting options

[@TheSlantedLens]

Yeah, other people have mentioned that as well.

[@Shoxart]

Good review, i iike this bokeh, i need to check this lens in the future! Thnx. But guys, if you want to use this lens you need to buy adapter! Lens without adapter it's useless.

[@RickMentore]

The Bokeh is amazing! leaves one wondering, " why haven't the other lens maker use this light weight tec.?

[@Smaug1]

Best review out there on this lens. Seems like this one has a 270° focus throw, but the 500 mm version has only 100°? That's a killer for the 500, as these are so focus-critical.

[@TheSlantedLens]

When I look up specs on the 500mm it says this, "Wide focus ring provides smooth rotation range of 270°"

[@david777ism]

Yes you are right.The review is superb.I love how he totally broke the mold and showed us that portraits can be so good with this focal length and aperture.His style and enthusiasm are infectious.I bought the Tokina 500mm F/8 reflex after seeing this review. The 500mm that I bought has a very big focus throw and with a tripod is easy to get good focus but forget it hand held.The build quality is superb.

[@akselhamm4111]

Beautiful photographs! Is it sharp enough for moon photography?

[@TheSlantedLens]

We haven't tested it for that. Tokina does mention moon photography on their website in the kit with the Extender: tokinausa.com/products/szx-400mm-2x-extender-kit?_pos=1&_psq=400&_ss=e&_v=1.0

[@david777ism]

Yes.I tried shooting the moon a few days ago.If you use an APS-C camera the crop factor gives the equivalent of a lens of 640mm on Canon and 600mm on Nikon etc. You will need a tripod and set the shutter to timed to reduce shake.The zoom is mind blowing. I can see inside a supermarket at a distance from my home of 400 meters and read their special offers posters.I can also see the light reflected on peoples faces from their cell phones as they sit on their sofas in apartments over 500 meters from my home at night. Seriously. Lol.I bought the 500mm F/8 version after seeing this review. The build quality is superb..It rocks for macro ,especially for insects, plants,birds and nature. Good luck.

[@BazzilioSPb]

Hi! Which tripod do you use in this video? Which model exactly? And what is the complete tripod design?

[@TheSlantedLens]

That is the Fotopro E6 Eagle Series Tripod Kit.Here is a link: bhpho.to/3LqoDEq

[@SinaFarhat]

Nice! :) Have a good week!

[@TheSlantedLens]

Thanks! You have a great week as well!

[@scrptwic]

I have a 500mmF-8 mirror lens I bought mine from a pawn shop for $40.00 I find the lens is easier to focus with live view and good for stationary or slow moving subjects. My camera has IBIS so my lens is stabilized for slower shutter speeds

[@TheSlantedLens]

Sounds like fun! Enjoy shooting with that great find!

[@VisualizeHealing]

Great video, thanks for the info! What tripod and gimbal do you use? Thanks!

[@TheSlantedLens]

That is a Fotopro tripod: bhpho.to/3XRQkJg

[@snapsbyreyes]

Where/how do I buy the mount adapters for this so I can use with my different branded cameras?

[@TheSlantedLens]

You can specify which adapter you need when you purchase the lens. Not sure about additional ones. Here on the Tokina site you can specify which adapter when you purchase the extender kit: tokinausa.com/products/szx-400mm-2x-extender-kit?_pos=1&_sid=f6bf08f51&_ss=r

[@andyyoon7853]

Is it the high meg-pixel camera? It seems a little sharper than other F8 reflex lense. I wish there is a faster reflex lens then bokeh will be even more softer and would look much better.

[@TheSlantedLens]

We didn't test it with another camera, so not sure how much of a difference it makes.

[@chriscarroll6447]

Something I noticed from your macro shots, a dirty lens is all of a sudden making little dark doughnuts 🤪

[@TheSlantedLens]

Not seeing what you are talking about but thanks for watching!

[@chriscarroll6447]

@@TheSlantedLens Around 2:42 on the top right 15% and the right middle 15% there are some spots. Obviously it could be a little smudge on the sensor but it seemed consistent based on the images. And no problem! Long time follower (8+ years-ish), love the content!

[@hirakab3873]

Can i use this lens in Z 30

[@TheSlantedLens]

They do make a Z-mount. Here is a link: tokinalens.com/product/szx_super_tele_400mm_f8_reflex_mf/

[@iraneman1668]

Great intro to this little big lens. But...I'm afraid you have shown your skill more to over power what this lens can do for most!

[@Lone_Runner]

some photos look a little blurry, other than that everything is fine.

[@Mikifano]

in 2022 photographers still use viewfinder and tripod? OMG! 🙃🙃🙃

[@TheSlantedLens]

Of course. You should try is some time. It will open up a whole new world for you.

[@BokushingusKendoTV]

I do!

[@Mikifano]

@@TheSlantedLens 5 years ago I decided I want to feel free and I stopped to use viewfinder and tripods! I use display, I own only super stabilized cameras, my tripods now are stands for lights and I'm a free photographer

[@Mikifano]

@@BokushingusKendoTV I did! tripods and viewfinders are the past! I watch the scene with my two eyes

[@BokushingusKendoTV]

@@Mikifano I think it's personal choice. If you do, you do; if you don't, you don't. So long as you get the shot & make the art. The only thing I have to say is that if you only rely on modern technology and don't keep your fundamental photography skills, and if you have to go back, you will have a difficult time. I shoot with Nikon Z7ii and I use viewfinder and tripod... I even have some manual focus lens I still use.

[@tomallen6073]

The bokeh is hideous. That’s why nobody uses them, nothing new here expect someone getting paid by tokina.

[@TheSlantedLens]

We really liked the look!

[@chinitopinoy1726]

I agree the bokeh isn’t quite to my liking. But if you have a more solid plain background, you will avoid getting that donut bokeh. Just depends what you are shooting.

[@david777ism]

@@TheSlantedLens Your portraits looked so good that I instantly subscribed and bought the Tokina 500mm (saw your review of this lens too).Very satisfied with the product.Very well made.Superb review and channel.I have re-watched many videos over and over.Great production,presentation, energy, entusiasm and tips.

[@freddybanuelos9039]

Model looks depressed

[@jankucera8505]

none of these photos are sharp

[@TheSlantedLens]

Not sure what you are seeing, but they are plenty sharp on our monitors.

[@david777ism]

You are right.They are not ultra sharp.Sharpness was not the point of exercise here. He showed us what can be done with this interesting lens. To be be fair, those portraits are stunning. What model or client wouldn't love them? He is showing us here that it is ok to go against the grain and trends and put the art back into this art and also what more can be done with a relatively inexpensive lens that is a favourite of macro photographers. It gives hope to artistic style ,amatuer and aspiring professional photographers who are on a budget.

[@romanivanov2730]

Try Rubinar 500/8 - it's mirror lens and it's sharp and makes details on photo. But also it need contrast boosting (or, maby, sharpness) in photoeditor.