Not-So-Random Excellence: John Kennerdell

John Kennerdell, Ferry terminal, Dumai, Sumatra, Indonesia

This can't be called random...first of all because John is an occasional contributor to TOP (with his own Category in the right-hand sidebar), but also because this directly relates to our recent posts about a B&W-only sensor and my thoughts on "temptations." For not only does John do some outstanding B&W conversions, but he routinely crops to a square! He referred to these in a recent email as his "Fauxliflex" shots, which made me smile.

Both his Canon 5D's recently died, so this shot was taken with a Canon Rebel.

The reason John sent me the pic was to thank me for the write-up Carl and I did for photo.net about the Pentax 35mm ƒ/2.8 DA Macro.

The lens was developed in cooperation with Tokina, and Tokina sells its version in a different barrel design for both Canon and Nikon mounts. The lens is a true sleeper: an optical paragon, you might even say, and yet it flies almost completely under the radar. It's not even particularly expensive (less than half the price of the Pentax). But very few people know about it.

John wrote, "...You convinced me to try the Tokina version. I don't know if it's an optical twin [of the Pentax DA Macro —MJ] but in any case it's just wonderful. Certainly one of the two most impressive designed-for-digital lenses I've used (the other is the Olympus 50mm macro) and better both technically and aesthetically than the Canon 35/2, which itself is no slouch."

The shot at the top of the page was made wide open. The Tokina Macro 35 is a textbook example of the fact that there is a lot more to any lens than just resolution. It's one of the best lenses you can buy for digital photography, regardless of maker, regardless of price. Always assuming that you don't evaluate lenses like the blind men describing the elephant.

(If you want to purchase one from B&H, however, best hurry, because they're about to go on hiatus for more than ten days for Succos. You have until 7 a.m. ET tomorrow morning if you want anything you order to ship before the break.)

Mike

Send this post to a friend

Please help support TOP by patronizing our sponsors B&H Photo and Amazon

Note: Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site. More...
Original contents copyright 2011 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved.

Featured Comment by Jim Weekes: "Let me add to the kudos for that lens. When Carl and Mike first wrote about it I was in the process of changing from Canons to Pentaxes. I snapped up the 35 f/2.8 DA Macro for my 20D. It was and is incredible. I got a K-5 and it shone a little brighter on the upgraded sensor. It was so good that I kept my T2i because it weighs so little and got the Tokina version for it. It is just as good. It—the Pentax version—was one of two lenses I took to France for our 30-day stay, along with a 17–135mm zoom. I would say that 80% of my pictures from the Pentax were with the 35mm. If I was to try Mike's one lens and camera for a year it would be the K-5 and the 35mm."

Featured Comment by Miserere: "As a Pentax shooter and photography blogger who has read way too much about lenses, I am as confident as any outsider can be (I don't work for either Tokina or Pentax) that both these lenses share the same optical design and differ only in exterior body design and coatings on the glass surfaces. The Pentax version sports their famous SMC while Tokina uses its own coating formula. As for John Kennerdell, he'd make great photos with a Kodak Brownie, but I'm glad he likes the Pentax/Tokina 35mm."

Featured Comment by Emmanuel Huybrechts: "The Pentax version is much more compact and lighter and has quick-shift (instant manual focus override, so useful). Its price at launch was similar to the Tokina. I'm still kicking myself for not buying it at that time. I finally got this lens (the Pentax) this summer and it was an instant love. A perfect lens, except for the focal length itself. 35mm is in a kind of no-mans-land for me. Not wide enough, not long enough."

Mike replies: That was also what both Carl and I concluded, separately and together. We both want a similar lens in the 24–26mm ballpark. Neither of us are holding our breath.

Comments

[Robert Meier]

The Nikon 35mm f1.8 DX lens is also excellent, as well as being a stop faster and working on the D40 and D5100, and being a lot cheaper.

[Bill M]

On the B&H website:

"Note! Not suitable for 35mm film SLR cameras or digital camera with image sensor bigger than APS-C size"

*Gnashes teeth*

[Rowan]

Wow, having seen the price of this lens on B&H, I thought 'ooh, I might get one'. Being in the UK, I checked amazon.co.uk, and the price difference is staggering - I'm used to paying a bit more, but double the price is ridiculous. Moral of the story - buy from the states!

[David]

Well, in regard to John's cropped image, (and not having the whole image to see what's what), I would have cropped it to just behind the girl, to try to do away with the guy with half his head cut off.

Just saying ... .

(now where is that flame proof suit to put on quick ...).

[Jim Bullard]

I wish they would build a B&W square format digital camera.

I have added that lens to my wish list.

[Sandro Siragusa]

The lens was developed in cooperation with Tokina, and Tokina sells its version in a different barrel design for both Canon and Nikon mounts.

So you're finally admitting it! ;) (A light tickle; I remember you being somewhat resistant to that information when you posted your review on this site.)

[Animesh Ray]

I see that some people in the net have described the Tokina version as looking like a "toilette bowl plunger". I guess that is why it is usually under the radar. Esthetics of a different kind.

[James]

DP Review lists the Tokina as APS-C and the Pentax as full-frame. Are they really the same optic?

[Ian Lim]

The Pentax DA 35mm Macro Limited is an amazing lens. Unlike the "plasticky" lenses that Canikon produces, it is made entirely of glass and metal - amazing feel to it. Best optical performance I've ever come across - typically mounted my Pentax K10D.

[- et -]

FWIW, there is a very well regarded 35mm f:1.8 lens made by Sony for its APS-C cameras that is priced at only $199. It is mostly plastic and feels much too light for one to expect good performance, but the lens appears to make a believer out of everyone who tries it.

I literally just acquired mine this evening, so all I have done with it so far is a handful of casual shots with no attempt at a serious test, but what I have seen so far makes me agree with the rave user reviews at B&H. (Which, BTW, give an average score comparable to the B&H user reviews for the Pentax/Tokina 35mm f:2.8, which is more than a stop slower.)

This would be usable on your A900, although the A900 would automatically crop the image to APS-C size when it detected the lens ID info.

With best wishes,
- et -

[beuler]

I know why you don't do lens reviews anymore, and I can't blame you. But still... can you blame me for asking you to?

[Tom Kwas]

Robert Meier...

...plus one for that Nikon 35mm f/1.8...cheap and a decent performer...just spent a week in Sonoma shooting for an art director and ended up using this a lot, and I don't even care that much for a "normal"! I'm absolutely sure it had something to do with size, it was great to actually use a lens smaller than the camera body for once! I don't get it, if Nikon can make this, why can't they make my DX sized 24mm f/2.8 (good for my 35mm range, which I DO use all the time)...heard they just came out with a 40mm macro as well...down with lenses the size of coffee cans, let's get back to some sanity...

Why doesn't Tokina start making a complete lens line of single focal length lenses for APS-C sized cameras, all with f/2.8 apertures and slim dimensions. I swear I'd sell every ridiculously large zoom I own and buy them. I say start with an 18, 24, 35, 60, and 120...

[Andreas]

I didn't know of a Canon version of this lens. Then I immediately thought of using it on a 1.3 crop like the 1D MKIII. Obviously this works: http://tinyurl.com/6knzwc8, and would open up new possibilities, so to say.

Canon should make a smaller body with a 1.3 crop sensor and weather sealing, and/or Pentax should make a body like the K-7 with 20th-century AF and 1.3 crop sensor ;-)

[Edd Fuller]

Relative to the focal length being "too long" remember that this is, after all, a macro lens. It seems to me that 35mm (on APS C) is probably about as short as one would want for macro work, where a shorter lens would make the macro working distances so close as to be impractical.

[Cw.]

My favorite 35mm is the 4th version of the Nikkor F/2.8 Ai. I got one in excellent used condition from KEH for about $200.00. There are some old gems out there for not a lot of money if you can give up autofocus.

[Robert S.]

I wish they would build a B&W square format digital camera.

I have added that lens to my wish list.

This is exactly why I love my Panasonic G2. You can shot in square format, and I think the native B&W setting is excellent. I know this isn't necessarily the "right" way to shoot (i.e., use the whole sensor, shoot in RAW and then convert to B&W using the channel mixer), but it works really well for me and saves a lot of time in post-processing.

[Gordon Ray]

I've been using the tokina version on my Canon 40D for a year now and its a great lens.I've hardly use anything else now.

Also its macro capabilities are amazing.Watch for the lens hood casting a shadow on your super close macro shots.