2026-11-05 RMC Tokina 35-105mm f/3.5 Close Focusing Zoom

The RMC Tokina Close Focusing Zoom 35-105mm f/3.5 was made in 1976 so it can celebrate being fifty-years old. It is quite a lens with 14 elements in 8 groups. It is probably one of the few three ring zooms you will ever meet—

the front ring is for focus
the middle ring is a dedicated “close focus” ring
the back ring zooms the lens

The mostly metal construction added to the glass optics makes it weighs 788 g (27.8 oz.).

One person in a review on the internet said the zoom is built like a tank. The same person listed several points that could be criticized—like the Close Focusing wasn’t so close and it was a bit hard to hold as most surfaces are controls (remember the rings?)—but then floored me by stating it is a favourite lens and is carried on every shoot.

Why you might ask?

The reviewer said the lens has excellent contrast, produces vivid, brilliant colour (especially blues and greens) and is the best rendering lens in high dynamic range situations the reviewer had ever found. Stopping the six-bladed aperture down even a little makes the lens very sharp.

One caution: With that huge front—72 mm filters!—try to avoid light sources pointing into the lens from the sides. If you notice flare, try casting a shadow on the lens front with your hand or hat or spouse…

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