Has any one tried the Tokina ATX 400/5.6 lens. Cameraworld price is $440. It received decent reviews from Photozone. I am looking for a lens for my wife's birhtday. She enjoys taking pictures of our children playing soccer in Southern California, normally sunny days.

Thanks..Ted

-- Ted (t.reyes@ix.netcom.com), November 27, 1999

Answers

The optics are good but the autofocus is slow and noisy compared to Canon USM lenses. I would recommend taking a look at the 100-300 f/4.5-5.6 USM, which I did use for youth soccer and found it to be very good for that purpose. It focuses very fast and being able to zoom is extremely helpful as "the action" comes up the field toward you. Fot the $$ you'll save, buy a good monopod and a light-weight folding seat. Sit at the end of the field by the goal and wait for the action to come to you. Load up with some 400 asa print film, set the camera to AV mode at 5.6, AI focus mode and continuous film advance and have some fun!

-- Jim Erhardt (jimerhardt@hotmail.com), November 28, 1999.