Tokina ATX-i 100mm
Score: 82/100
Tamron 17-70mm
Score: 82/100Rankings
The Tokina ATX-i 100mm f/2.8 macro delivers true 1:1 reproduction, a fast aperture and a 55 mm filter thread in a compact package. It lacks an internal focus motor, causing autofocus limitations on some Nikon bodies. Perfect for macro photographers needing high sharpness and decent working distance.
The Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD is a versatile, constant-aperture zoom with built-in vibration compensation and weather-sealed construction, delivering sharp images across a useful focal range. Minor vignetting and by-wire focus quirks are its main trade-offs. It excels for APS-C mirrorless shooters needing a fast, all-round travel lens.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
100 mmbest | — | |
2.8best | 2.8best | |
| ↓ lower better | 0.3 m | 0.19 mbest |
| ↓ lower better | 525 gbest | 525 gbest |
— | 4.1best | |
9best | 9best | |
1best | 0.2 | |
9 | 16best |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Compatibility(2) | ||
Lens Mount | Nikon F | Sony E |
Mount Compatibility | Full-frame | Sony E-mount (APS-C) |
Features(2) | ||
Autofocus Type | External focus | RXD |
Focus Type | One-Touch Focus Clutch | Autofocus |
Optics(6) | ||
Focal Length (mm) | 100 mm | 17-70 mm |
Minimum Focus Distance (m) | 0.3 m | 0.19 m |
Macro Ratio | 1 | 0.21 |
Number of Optical Elements | 9 | 16 |
Number of Optical Groups | 8 | 12 |
Coating | Multi-coating | Fluorine, BBAR |
Build & Design(2) | ||
Filter Thread Size (mm) | 55 mm | 67 mm |
Length (mm) | 98 mm | 119.3 mm |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers commend the Tokina ATX-i 100mm f/2.8 for its exceptional sharpness, especially at f/5.6, and its flat-field design that yields edge-to-edge clarity.
Everyday users praise the lens for its striking sharpness, soft bokeh, compactness, and fast aperture that handles low-light situations well. Recurring criticisms focus on the limited autofocus performance on certain Nikon bodies and the need for extra lighting when stopping down to very small apertures.
Professional reviewers commend the Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 for its travel-friendly size, constant fast aperture, and the added benefit of VC, which together deliver high-resolution, homogenous images and quiet, responsive autofocus. The lens is praised as a well-balanced, versatile option that feels solid in hand, though critics point out its noticeable vignetting, slight edge softness at 70 mm, and the quirks of its by-wire focus system.
Everyday users love the lens's portability, sharpness and the ability to shoot handheld in low light thanks to the f/2.8 aperture and VC. They frequently cite its "do-it-all" range as a major value, while repeatedly noting the need to correct vignetting and occasional autofocus oddities as the main pain points.
“fantastic”
“soft beautiful bokeh”
“magnificently soft”
