This is an old story, Moose.
Please, take some good test pictures with both lenses and you´ll can see the
real difference...
Ángel Lobo.
Cuenca ( SPAIN )
----- Original Message -----
From: Moose <olymoose@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <olympus@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, March 25, 2004 5:29 AM
Subject: [OM] Zuiko & Tokina 35-105mm zooms
>
> I've always been curious about the occasional posts suggesting that the
> 35-105/3.5-4.5 might have been made by Tokina, presumably a custom
> version of the Tokina SMZ 35-105/3.5-4.3. So I invested (ha, ha) $44 in
> a Tokina to satisfy my curiosity.
>
> I can see where someone could at a casual look think they might be the
> same underneath. They are very similar in size, weight and overall
> appearance except for very different rubber focus/zoom ring covers. On
> closer inspection, I note the following:
>
> 1. Coating reflections are different colors, indicating different
> coating design/technology, and size/depths, indicating different
> internal element shape/configuration.
>
> 2. Front mounting of the front element of the zooming group is slightly
> different.
>
> 3. The Zuiko focusing helicoid takes considerably less rotation of the
> focus/zoom ring to get to its
> minimum of 1.5m and than the Tokina takes to go to its minimum of 1.6m
>
> 4. Zoom ring travel from 35-105mm is 20.8mm on the Zuik and 20.6mm on
> the Tokina.
>
> 5. Although the close focus mechanism uses the same principle of acting
> as an extension tube, the ring moves in opposite directions on the 2
> lenses, locks into CU position on the Zuiko, but not on the Tokina and
> has a different extension length, 6.6mm on the Zuiko and 8.3mm on the
> Tokina.
>
> 6. Both have 6 blade diaphrams that point their fingers clockwise, but
> they are mounted opposite ways, with the fingers on the Zuiko toward the
> front and the Tokina to the back. The Zuiko hexagon is also a bit more
> symmetrical and consistent as it is stopped down.
>
> 7. The rear element of the Tokina is considerably larger and mounted
> into its cell differently than the Zuiko.
>
> 8. The finish of the visible part of the mount is classic Oly matte on
> the Zuiko and shiny on the Tokina.
>
> 9. The mechanisms that convey aperture setting to the pin on the rear
> and operate the diaphram from the other pin on the rear are quite
> different designs, with the Zuiko using the same basic design as in
> other Zuikos I've had apart.
>
> 10. The Zuiko has 16 elements in 12 groups and the Tokina has 16 in 13.
>
> 11. Ths Zuiko is styled pretty much like the 70-150 and 35-70/3.6 &
> 35.-4.5 except fot the close-up ring, which isn't on those zooms, but it
> is in the same relative position as the zoom rings on those 2 touch
> models. I assume the otherwise odd design of the CU ring with the groove
> around the middle is to differentiate it from the zoom rings on the
> others. The Tokina is styled just like the other Tokina zooms I have.
> Finish of the body surfaces is very similar.
>
> 12. The nose of the Tokina in front of the zoom ring is much shorter
> than on the Zuiko, so the Oly hood doesn't clamp on as securely. The
> Tokina hood, which I didn't get, is a screw-in design which apparently
> is calculated for use with a filter and uses something like an empty
> filter ring when a filter isn't used to keep the hood in the right
> place. The Oly solution of a clamp on hood that doesn't interfere with
> filter use is much nicer.
>
> My conclusion? It is extremely unlikely that the Zuiko is an adaptation
> of the Tokina. There are just too many differences that wouldn't make
> sense if it were, especially things like reversing and changing the
> length of travel of the CU helicoid, changing the pitch of the focusing
> helicoid and changing the internal design of the auto aperture
> mechanisms. It also really does appear to me from the reflections that
> the internal elements differ quite a bit in surface curvatures and/or
> locations.
>
> Which is the better lens? I'll probably never know. I'll try some pics
> with the Tokina, but the chances of carefully matched comparisons are
> slim to none. The zoom action on my Zuiko has always been quite stiff.
> The Tokina is nicer without being in any way loose or liable to creep.
> Build quality? A toss up from external visuals and handling. The CU
> rings are both plastic, but the Tokina doesn't look like it. Which one
> to use on a chrome OM-1? The Tokina 'cause it is a silver nose! (Just a
> joke folks! Easy now!)
>
> A compulsive Moose
>
>
>
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