Hello, I just bought an EOS 3 +PB E2 to replace my Rebel 2000. I also recently bought a used Tokina 80-200 2.8 ATX lens. All of the equipment (with the exception of my rebel) is in mint shape. For some reason, when the Tokina lens is on the EOS 3, the AF works for a split second the instant I depress the shutter button half way and then basically quits. I attempt to focus on subjects of various brightnesses and have not been able to conclude that it's a lack of light. It's a hit and miss issue as sometimes it'll pick up on something and focus but it'll quit again. It's quite testing to be pressing the shutter button for a minute or two to actually have the AF react and sometimes focus.

Even more confusing is that the Tokina lens works perfectly on the Rebel 2000. This leads me to think that it's a problem with the EOS 3 but my old Sigma 70-210 4-5.6 works fine on the EOS 3. For some reason it's the combination of the EOS 3 and the Tokina. Please help.

-- Brian Lee (b_blee@sasktel.net), February 28, 2002

Answers

Brian,

What you are experiencing is most likely an incompatability between the Tokina lens and the EOS-3, not a problem with the Canon. If it was the body it wouldn't work with the Sigma either.

You will probably have to contact Tokina and see if it's possible to have the lens upgraded by having it rechipped.

-- Dick Tope (RTope@yahoo.com), February 28, 2002.

Thank you for the response. It still seems quite odd that it would work so well with the Rebel 2000 and almost not at all with the EOS 3. I guess the two cameras are very different though.

-- Brian Lee (b_blee@sasktel.net), February 28, 2002.

There is a considerable difference between the two when it comes to the electronics. If's very common for older 3rd party lenses to work with older EOS bodies but not with the newer ones.

The 3rd party manufacturers design and build their lenses to work with the current crop of Canon camera bodies but there is no guarantee they will work with the newer stuff (as you found out).

-- Dick Tope (RTope@yahoo.com), February 28, 2002.

I had a sigma 170-400mm lens, that was bought brand new last summer, and it did not work properly on my Canon EOS 30 (Elan7e). I took it back to the shop I bought it from, and they told me it had not been chipped to work on more recent bodies. I bought a Canon zoom instead, as Canon lenses never have compatibility issues.

With the Sigma if I tried to take a photo it would focus OK, but when I wanted to fire the shutter the mirror would jam up and the camera would go blank. It sounds as if your EOS 3 is having a similar problem with compatibility issues due to its advanced AF system. The Rebel 2000 may work OK as it has a different, less complicated, and possibly earlier technology based focusing system.

I would try to either get the Tokina chipped (which could be expensive), or sell the Tokina on and get a compatible lens that you have tried on your EOS 3 before buying it.

I would always buy a Canon lens for my Canon body from now on.

-- canonlover (canoneosd60@aol.com), February 28, 2002.

Whilst I never had any incompatibilty problems with my lenses and bodies, I came to the decision not to buy any non-canon lenses again simply because the canon lenses are BETTER. Not necessarily optically (my Sigma 70-300 APO macro was the equal of the canon 100- 300 USM optically, if not even a little better), but the Canon 100- 300 would have been a much more satisfying lens because it does not extend/rotate during focus, and it focuses quickly and silently. I replaced the Sigma with a Canon 70-200 F4L, which I am very happy with.

However, this does indeed sound like a compatibility problem. Use Canon lenses.

-- Isaac Sibson (isibson@hotmail.com), February 28, 2002.

I agree that the Canon lenses are better, maybe not always optically (typically always seem to be near the top in reviews I have seen), but from what I have heard focus the fastest and most silently. There is a price premium to be paid for their lenses even if they're not the L series. In a lot of instances, the standard Canon Ef and EF USM lenses cost as much as a third party lens that is one-1.5 stops + faster. As well, Canon doesn't make any fast zoom lenses within range of third party lenses of similiar speed. I guess this justifies the existence of third party lenses, I just lost out in this instance. (minus a few hundred bucks) Anybody want to buy a Tokina Lens? Thanks again for the responses, this is truly a community! Brian

-- Brian Lee (b_blee@sasktel.net), February 28, 2002.

Both Tokina and Sigma reverse engineer their ROM chips to work with Canon and, hence, the incompatibility problems. If they licensed the operating code from Canon, their products would work better but cost more. Apparently Tamron has taken a different route and has few incompatibility issues.

When I bought an EOS 3 and Elan 7E, my 1999 Sigma 50 2.5 EX macro lens was incompatible and needed rechipping (I sold it).

-- Puppy Face (doggieface@aol.com), February 28, 2002.