I remember this being brought up before here or on photonet, but does anyone know the definitive story on whether Tokina actually manufactured late-line Konica brand SLR lenses? I just purchased a 35-70/3.5-4.5 (a very late model), and it surely does not feel like the Hexanon construction -- instead, a plastic body like the 50/1.8. Although it does have a nice macro feature, it feels more like my tokina 17/3.5 than any Konica-made.

I love the info on this webpage, but I wish there was more information on the zooms -- especially the difference between the older and newer models.

-- Anonymous, July 09, 2000

Answers

Tokina/Konica Connection

Summarizing the previous posts on this topic, the conclusions reached were as follows:

Hexanon zoom lenses made by Konica:

35-100 f2.8 Varifocal 45-100 f3.5 65-135 f4.0 80-200 f3.5 80-200 f4.0 UC (two rings - one for zoom; one for focus)

Hexanon zoom lenses made by Tokina:

28-135 f4.0 80-200 f4.0 (one touch zoom) 80-200 f4.5

Not quite sure:

35-70 f3.5-4.5 35-70 f4.0 70-150 f4.0

I suspect that the 70-150 f4.0 was made by Konica. The 35-70 f3.5-4.5 definitely wasn't made by Konica - probably not Tokina either. That leaves the 35-70 f4.0 - perhaps a Konica lens as well?

I'm not sure if any of the late prime lenses were contracted out. Anyone know?

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2000