GH4 GH4 + Tokina 11-16 = Can't focus to infinity?

StevenBills

StevenBills

Active member
Hey everybody, I just got a good deal on the original Tokina 11-16, which I paired with my GH4 via a Kipon EOS to m43 adapter. Anyway, I focus to infinity on the lens, and it is still only focusing about 4 feet in front of me. Anyone know why this is happening?

Thanks!

SB
 
It might be the adapter, as the distance between the lens and the sensor should be 100% the same as what it has to be on native camera. With ultra-wide angle lenses like the Tokina 11-16mm those margins are very important and even the slightest difference shows up in the performance of the lens.

What usually happens when the adapter is at fault is a 'decentering' of the lens. Also common is not being able to reach infinity focus. Usually, it's the adapter at fault here.
The problem is that Tokina has a bad quality control and many lenses aren't calibrated well when they get into customers' hands. How do I know? Because my new Tokina 11-16mm (Nikon mount) is currently in a Tokina service center for calibration and adjustments.

I have used 2 Metabones adapters and a Novoflex adapter. All high quality, expensive adapters and the lens kept being unsharp in the right side of the image + the infinity sign was way off the 'real' infinity. When I tried the lens on a native Nikon camera it performed excellent.

Conclusion:
First try the lens on a Nikon / Canon camera (whatever mount you bought the lens in) to find out if the lens itself is faulty. If so, get the lens replaced or calibrated by Tokina.
Then try different adapters to see if that makes any change.

Hope this helps.
 
If you got this 2nd hand, the lens could be the issue. Some batch of the 1st gen 11-16mm had issues focusing to infinity when it first came out. I own the nikon mount and ef mount. Luckily mine don't have issues.
It was an issue for early adopters of this lens.
 
Stab said:
It might be the adapter...
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info, guys. Popped it onto my wife's 6D and it focused to infinity fine. Popped it back onto my GH4 with a "dumb" adapter, and it works just fine, so I guess the problem was the Kipon adapter that I was using. Now the only problem is the lack of aperture control...

SB
 
refocusedmedia said:
Put it back on your wife's 6D, set the desired aperture and then hot swap it to your GH4.
Click to expand...

I would do that, but I'm not always going to be near a Canon body when I'm shooting. Does anyone know if the Mitakon focal reducer gives you aperture control?

SB

EDIT: Doesn't look like it. Bummer.
 
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If you want to stay on the cheap, you could buy a cheap adapter like this: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/994969-REG/fotodiox_eos_iris_mft_p_pro_micro_4_3_mft.html

It has a built in iris... but I've heard mixed reviews on these kind of adapters.

You could sell the EF mount version and pick up a Nikon G mount version, with an accompanying adapter. I believe the Nikon G mount has an mechanical (instead of electronic) iris, so even a "dumb" adapter with a aperture ring can adjust the lens's aperture.
 
your lens might be in AF mode, pull the lens to MF on the front rubber ring. I have the speedbooster with tokina .
 
blues said:
your lens might be in AF mode, pull the lens to MF on the front rubber ring. I have the speedbooster with tokina .
Click to expand...

Yeah, the lens is definitely in MF. I'm in the process of borrowing a SpeedBooster from my buddy, and if it turns out that it works with the Tokina, then I might as well flip for one.

SB
 
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