Re: the exact focal length of Tokina 17mm Manual focus.

[Sofjan@xxxxxxx]

In a message dated 99-09-01 20:34:40 EDT, you write:

<< As I was Executive Editor at Popular Photography from 1971
 to 1986, I can tell you that all lens makers lie on the short
 side. I would guess that the Tokina 17 is actually 17.8mm
 If it were 18, they'd say 18.
....................................

 Ed Meyers >>

  Actually lens manufacture produce lens either in the longer side or shorter 
side depending on how convinient it is or how easier it is to produced. most 
wide angle will be longer and most tele will be shorter . i remember at one 
time people are debating wheter most 70-210 f2.8 zoom should be label 80-200 
because the tele end is mostly 195-199 mm. 8^) 

 Okay back to 360'er . So if i cut the roller for 18mm and then reduce the 
dia,meter bit by bit . do i have to shift the position of the roller or do i 
let the Oring take up the slack. 
  I really need to get of my behind and start this project because it has 
took me so long without any result. Maybe today or tommorow i'll try to find 
the airplane modeler here locally that has a mini lathe to make the roller 
for me and mount the motor and place the bearing for the roller shaft.
 
  Okay one last call for opinion before i buy the tokina 17mm (non atx) Here 
is my situation i have Contax and maxxum camera. i have a 20mm f2.8 for 
maxxum but i can't use it for 36 larscan sice it doesn't have manual aperture 
tabs. i want to buy a manual 17mm with contax mount and mount on larscan via 
the rear lens cap that way i can still use the lens daily. at first i have 
two choice either Tokina 17mm (non ATX) $229 from B&H or Tamron 17mm SP $369 
plus 39 dollars for the adaptal mounts. but with tamron i could use wityh my 
maxxum albeit with extra adaptall mount.right now i'm set on the Tokina since 
i could get any info stating that tamron is superior than the Tokina . that 
plus the price pretty much set me up. what you guys think ? 

   On the side bar !

   yesterday while flipping over this month shutterbug i saw an advertisement 
for Yashica 15mm in one of the used camera dealer. it is advertise for $295 
dollars or some thing like that. i don't know exactly how much it is 
advertise for since i was leaping out of my seat to grab the phone. 
  Unfortunately(you guys must have guess it) the lens already been sold. and 
the guy told me over the phone that he could have sold at least fifty of them 
by the phone call he got. Bummer. i know yashica 15mm is hard to come by . He 
offer me  Zeiss 18mm f4 or 16mm  but i couldnt afford to get it.(at $1100 and 
*1800 respectively)
  
I truly wish i got the yashica 15mm though. it is hard to comeby and most 
likely the quality is better than either tokina or tamron. plus the advertise 
price is so low. from the tone of the seller at ken Mar (used camera dealer) 
He actually regret selling it at $295. I bet next time he got the same lenses 
he won't let it go that cheap anymore. But maybe there might not be next time