I just got a new Tokina 12-24! Naturally, I have a question.

Lare

For those who have a Tokina that has the push-pull AF/MF clutch:
I find that, when going from AF to MF there are a couple spots where the "clutch won't engage." It's like there are fingers that won't mesh unless I turn the focus ring just a little bit in either direction, then it just drops right in.

I've never had a lens with this feature (and my local shop doesn't carry this line) so I wasn't sure if this is normal or not.

I know of no better place to ask than here--before I take it to the Grand Canyon in about a week. Your thoughts, please?

PB_PM

I'm assuming you have the second version of the lens (v2 has a red line above the lens title, vs gold on the v1)? I owned the version 1, I assume they are mechanically similar, and never experienced any issues moving the clutch to switch focus modes. It was a little stiff, but I always viewed that as being a good thing. To me the only downside of the clutch was that focus shifted when you switched from auto to manual.

tcole1983

I had the lens and never noticed this, but I don't think I did it much while I had it. Seems like it should be able to switch at any point.

cbg

I have the lens and while I don't use it a lot, I have never noticed any problems switching from AF to Manual. It might be worth have it looked at.

spraynpray

Ditto - I never had a problem, but I think if I did I wouldn't be overly worried. Doubtless there are gears which need to mesh and it is highly likely that you may be able to try to mesh them 'tip-to-tip' which may cause a momentary clash - perhaps if you wiggled it slightly you would feel the gears engage. Or of course you may be not applying a parallel pull on the sleeve which may cause a hang-up. Maybe that is more likely.

Lare

In the words of the venerable Bugs Bunny, "What a maroon!" And to who (whom?) would I be referring? Me. Folks, I didn't buy the Tokina 12-24, I bought the Tokina 12-28.

Sheesh, I'm not sure if I just mis-typed or did it subconsciously due to the hours of pouring over the various spec sheets.

Anyway, probably most of the answers still apply except for PB_PM's query about v1 vs. v2.

What spraynpray describes is perhaps a better way of describing what's happening: It's like I'm trying to mesh the tips of the gears. And if I do move the clutch a little in either direction it drops into place. I am trying very hard to make sure I pull the focus ring as even as I can, but like I said, this one's all new to me.

Probably not a problem as the switch does take place? @cbg: If you don't mind me asking, if you try to switch very slowly, might you experience what I describe?

Oh, and if a mod happens by, please correct my somewhat misleading title.

spraynpray

I tried it with my similar 11-16 TOK and although I couldn't clash gears, I could pull the sleeve back skewed and get it to hang up that way, but I had to really 'try' to pull it back skewed, it was alien to me to do it.

cbg

I took my 12-24 Tokina out and tried but I could not duplicate the problem you were having even if I changed from AF to MF very slowly.

michael66

Is this the DX version? Is there an FX version? On my copy, the push pull moves smoothly and the AF seems to kick right in. There is a slight thunk when the ring is moved.

PB_PM

@michael66 Tokina only makes a DX version of the AT-X Pro 12-24mm F4. Sigma makes a 12-24mm F4 for FX., but there aren't many reviews.

TaoTeJared

All of Tokina's lenses with the clutch mechanism AF to MF do that.

Lare

Thanks to all of you, and special thanks to people who dug their lenses out to try it. After playing with it some more, I think I might not be doing it right. Since it's brand new I may be over-cautious in the way I'm handling it. Since it seems to be working properly--and the pics seem very sharp, I'm going to take it up to the Canyon and shoot with it for a bit. I'll see how it feels after getting a little bit used to it. If it persists in feeling resistant to setting, I'll send it back, but if I just get a better feeling for it, then I will hold on, at least farther into warranty.
Again, thanks for your kind feedback.

daveznspace

mines a bit stiff and this is the lens on my camera the most but i think i've only ever used the AF maybe 3-4 times, get much better focus doing it manually in live mode and since it's my landscape lens its usually on a tripod