Tokina 100mm Macro – Best Nikon Lens!?
Tokina 100mm Macro f2.8 AF lens
Qu. Is the Tokina 100/f2.8 Macro the Best Nikon Lens?
>> Here I explain why I use the Tokina 100mm Macro lens more than any other lens on my Nikon cameras (Portraits)
Best Nikon lenses
When I used a digital Nikon D800 DSLR I enjoyed using the typical dreamy lenses like everyone else, giving that super shallow depth of field. Some of my best Nikon lenses / favourites were the Nikkor 50mm f1.2, Nikkor 200mm f2 and Samyang 85mm f1.4 (I prefer it to the Nikkor 85mm f1.4 D that I also have). All these lenses were manual focus but that was fine as most of my Nikon D800 photography was done with manual focus only. I just preferred having full control.
Nikon film cameras
One of my earliest film cameras was a Nikon FM. I then bought a newer Nikon F4 camera and more recently a Nikon F5. 35mm film to my eyes renders much softer than the 36MP Nikon D800 digital files. As such lenses like the Nikkor 50mm f1.2 wide open was now too soft for my taste on film. Perhaps it was because I had got used to the sharp Leica lens look now that I had moved to Leica. Regardless, I needed “better” lenses for the Nikon SLR film cameras if I was to use them. Macro lenses are usually regarded as some of the sharpest in a lens lineup so that is where I looked first. My first Nikon camera macro lens was a Nikkor 60mm f2.8 Micro and I was really impressed.
Tokina 100mm Macro f2.8
The Nikkor 60mm is nice but I liked the idea of a longer focal length to use for portraits. I settled on a Tokina 100mm macro f2.8 AF lens. It has been one of my most used Nikon lenses ever since. I love it and I highly recommend it to any Nikon (& Canon) users. Rather than try to praise the Tokina 100mm macro lens in words I think it is easier to show it with real photos. See below.
Grab yourself one before the price goes up!
I guess what I can do with the Tokina 100mm Macro lens, being a current product (unlike nearly everything else I review!) is give you a direct link so you can go and treat yourself to one. An absolute bargain when you consider that this lens seems to out perform nearly every other Nikon mount lens I use and seems easily on a par with my best Leica lenses. Get one before they put the price up! Amazon UK / Amazon US 🙂
Tokina 100mm Portrait Photos
Sorry if you have seen some of the images before, perhaps in film reviews. I use the Tokina 100mm lens a lot! Click any photo to see more details.
Tokina 100mm Portraits – 35mm Film Photos
Tokina 100mm f2.8 Portraits – Digital
Tokina 100mm Wedding Film Photography
Related Nikon Posts
More Nikon Lens / Film Camera Reviews!
- Nikon F5 – Tenerife Model Photography
- Nikon F4 – Ukraine Girls 2016
- Nikon F4 + Fujicolor Fashion
- Nikkor 50mm f1.2 Ai-s Lens
- Nikkor 200mm f2 Ai-s Lens
- Nikkor 135mm f2.8 Pre-Ai Lens
- Nikkor 35-70mm f2.8D Lens
- Voigtlander Ultron 40mm f2 Lens
- Nikon F4 Camera
- Nikon F5 Camera
- Nikon F5 Wedding – I can’t share the images yet but soon
Fabulous and inspiring work, Matt. Taking delivery on one tomorrow for my F100… :))
Thanks Scott! ..and congratulations on your new lens! You will love it! 🙂
I need some help! I just received the Tokina 100mm f/2.8 AT-X PRO D Macro Len and I can’t get it to work with my Nikon D7100 camera!!! Is there some setting I need to change on my camera to get the lens to work. My camera just will not “click” to take a picture!
Hi Patti, I have not used the Nikon D7100. Have you used it with FX AF lenses before? It might be that there is no “screwdriver” motor on the front of the camera that would turn the lens AF motor. If you pull /push the front of the lens to select MF it should work in manual mode. Matt
Thamks for replying! I finally figured out what button needed to be changed and got it working! I think I will like this lens!
Great news Patti! Yes you will love it I think!
Justordered mine for my Nikon D750, should get it in about 3 days.
Congrats Bobby! Sorry I missed this. Great lens!