Like other lens manufacturers, Tokina uses codes in the names of their lenses to identify key features and technologies of the lens.
Once you know how to read them, they can be very useful as a shorthand way to quickly categorize a particular lens. But the codes can also be confusing, and every lens manufacturer makes up its own codes.
So here’s a breakdown of the codes Tokina uses in naming their lenses. I’ve grouped them by the type of information they convey.
Tokina Lens Codes for Mount Types
Codes in this category help identify which lenses are compatible with which types of cameras. As a third-party, aftermarket manufacturer, Tokina makes lenses for mounts by different brands.
- Tokina Canon EF – Lenses designed for Canon EF and EF-S mount cameras.
- Tokina Nikon F – Lenses designed for Nikon F-mount cameras.
- Tokina Sony A – Lenses designed for Sony A-mount DSLR cameras.
- Tokina Sony E – Lenses designed for Sony E-mount mirrorless cameras.
- Tokina Micro Four Thirds – Lenses designed for Micro Four Thirds (mFT) mount cameras, used by Olympus and Panasonic.
Tokina Lens Codes for Lens Categories
- FX – Full-frame lenses designed to cover a 35mm sensor or film frame, similar to Nikon’s FX and Canon’s EF lenses. FX lenses are compatible with both full-frame and crop-sensor cameras.
- DX – Lenses designed specifically for APS-C sensor cameras, similar to Nikon’s DX and Canon’s EF-S lenses. DX lenses are not recommended for full-frame cameras as they produce a smaller image circle.
Tokina Codes for Lens Series
- AT-X – Advanced Technology Extra, Tokina’s high-quality lenses aimed at professionals and enthusiasts, offering superior optical performance and build quality.
- opera – A premium lens series focused on delivering high-quality performance and outstanding image quality for full-frame DSLR cameras.
- FiRIN – A series of lenses designed specifically for mirrorless cameras, providing a balance of optical performance, compact size, and lightweight construction.
Tokina Lens Codes for Autofocus Motors & Optical Technologies
Some lenses feature notable technology that the designers (and marketers) consider worth highlighting in the name of the lens and may well influence a buyer’s decision (and the price). An important example is newer lenses that feature lens optical stabilization.
- SD – Super-low Dispersion, a type of optical glass used in Tokina lenses to reduce chromatic aberrations and improve overall image quality.
- F&R – Floating and Rear focusing system, a lens design that allows the lens to focus without changing its physical length or rotating its front element.
- AF/MF – A designation for lenses with a switch allowing users to choose between autofocus (AF) and manual focus (MF).
- IRF – Internal Rear Focusing, a lens design that moves the rear lens group during focusing to maintain the overall length of the lens.
Tokina Lens Codes for Optical Lens Coatings
- MC – Multi-Coating, Tokina’s lens coating technology is used to reduce lens flare, ghosting, and improve color accuracy and contrast.
