At CP+ 2018 in Japan, Tokina was showing their brand new Opera 50mm F1.4 FF lens for Canon EF and Nikon F mount. Tokina told me that Opera will be a new family of lenses using premium optics for full-frame camera systems.
Tokina also told me that the Opera family will become their top tier lenses when it comes to optical performance. The Opera 50mm F1.4 is equipped with a ring-type ultrasonic motor for smooth, fast AF, as well as weather sealing, to prevent the intrusion of dust and moisture. Additionally, the Nikon model offers an electromagnetic diaphragm, and the focus ring will rotate in the proper direction of each system.
Tokina claims that the lens has no vignetting when used on full-frame sensors, and very good edge to edge brightness.
Tokina couldn’t tell me much more information about the lens, but we were allowed to put it on a Canon C100 Mark II and do some test shooting. What really surprised us was how well the autofocus performed on the C100 Mark II. It was probably the best I have seen from a non-Canon EF mount lens. The lens was very sharp even when used wide open and it produces very pleasing bokeh.
The Tokina Opera 50mm F1.4 will be available in Canon EF and Nikon F mounts and will start shipping sometime in summer, but there is still no indication of pricing. Tokina will have more lenses in the Opera series coming at a later date.
