Tokina atx-m 33mm f/1.4 X

Summary

The Tokina atx-m 33mm f/1.4 X is a solid optical performer — a standard prime (50mm equivalent) with f/1.4 maximum aperture. The lens is priced at approximately ~$500 USD. Please check the official product page for sample images, manuals, and firmware updates.

Genre Suitability

  • Excellent for: Street, Travel
  • Avoid for: Nightscape, Landscape, Architecture, Portrait, Sport, Wildlife, Macro

Strengths

  • Exceptionally smooth bokeh
  • Negligible distortion

Weaknesses

  • Below-average corner sharpness stopped down
  • Very soft center performance wide open
  • Very soft corners wide open
  • Noticeable coma in the corners wide open
  • Noticeable spherical aberration wide open
  • Noticeable vignetting wide open
  • Below-average flare resistance
  • Low macro capability (0.1x magnification)

Specifications 20/20

Optical construction 10 elements in 9 groups (1 SD)
Coating Multi-coating
Focal length33mm
Max aperturef/1.4
Sweet spot f/4
Aperture blades 9 (circular)
Sunstar points 18 (soft — circular blades)
Max magnification 0.1x
Min focus distance400mm
AF motorSTM
OISNo
Weather sealedNo
Aperture ringYes
Clickless apertureYes
Focus ringYes
Focus by wireYes
Distance scaleNo
Rotating frontNo
Tripod mountNo
Weight285g
Diameter65mm
Length72mm
Filter thread52mm
Year2020

MTF Charts

f/1.4 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 C 1.4 2.8 4.2 5.6 7 8.4 9.8 11.2 12.6 14 Image height (mm)
10 lp/mm S 10 lp/mm M 30 lp/mm S 30 lp/mm M
Position 10S 10M 30S 30M
Center — 0.92 — 0.71
1.4mm 0.92 0.92 0.69 0.69
2.8mm 0.91 0.90 0.68 0.65
4.2mm 0.91 0.94 0.69 0.65
5.6mm 0.91 0.90 0.70 0.59
7mm 0.90 0.87 0.67 0.52
8.4mm 0.87 0.87 0.58 0.49
9.8mm 0.86 0.84 0.51 0.45
11.2mm 0.86 0.81 0.55 0.41
12.6mm 0.86 0.78 0.58 0.49
14mm — — — 0.51

Source: Official manufacturer specifications

Optical Quality 14/14

Center (wide open)
0.0
Corner (wide open)
0.0
Center (stopped)
2.0
Corner (stopped)
0.5
Coma
0.5
Astigmatism
2.0
Spherical aberration
0.5
Longitudinal CA
1.0
Lateral CA
2.0
Distortion
1.5
Vignetting (wide open)
0.5
Vignetting (stopped)
2.0
Bokeh
2.0
Flare resistance
0.5

Sharpness

  • Very soft center performance wide open
  • Very soft corners wide open
  • Outstanding center resolution stopped down
  • Below-average corner sharpness stopped down

Aberrations

  • Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
  • Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
  • Noticeable coma in the corners wide open
  • Negligible astigmatism
  • Noticeable spherical aberration wide open

Rendering

  • Exceptionally smooth, creamy bokeh
  • Noticeable vignetting wide open
  • Vignetting essentially gone by f/5.6
  • Below-average flare resistance

Distortion

  • Minimal distortion

All optical scores are based on lab measurements and field tests from trusted review sources. For details on how we score lenses, see our scoring methodology.

Genre Fit

✗ Nightscape Avoid ✗ Landscape Avoid ✗ Architecture Avoid ✓ Street Good ✓ Travel Good ✗ Portrait Avoid ✗ Sport Avoid ✗ Wildlife Avoid ✗ Macro Avoid

✗ Nightscape Photography 2/5

Nightscape Photography prioritizes coma control, astigmatism correction, and a fast aperture for short star exposures.

Primary
  • Noticeable coma in the corners wide open
  • Negligible astigmatism
  • Fast f/1.4 aperture
Secondary
  • Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
  • Very soft center performance wide open
  • Very soft corners wide open
  • Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
  • Noticeable vignetting wide open
  • Noticeable spherical aberration wide open

✗ Landscape Photography 2/5

Landscape Photography prioritizes corner-to-corner sharpness at stopped-down apertures and good flare resistance.

Primary
  • Below-average corner sharpness stopped down
  • Outstanding center resolution stopped down
Secondary
  • Minimal distortion
  • Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
  • Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
  • Vignetting essentially gone by f/5.6
  • Below-average flare resistance
  • Negligible astigmatism
  • Noticeable coma in the corners wide open

✗ Architecture Photography 2/5

Architecture Photography prioritizes geometric precision with minimal distortion and even corner sharpness.

Primary
  • Below-average corner sharpness stopped down
  • Outstanding center resolution stopped down
  • Minimal distortion
Secondary
  • Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
  • Vignetting essentially gone by f/5.6
  • Below-average flare resistance

✓ Street Photography 4/5

Street Photography prioritizes sharp stopped-down performance and a fast enough aperture for low light.

Primary
  • Outstanding center resolution stopped down
  • Fast f/1.4 aperture
Secondary
  • Very soft center performance wide open
  • Below-average flare resistance
  • Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
  • Noticeable coma in the corners wide open

✓ Travel Photography 4/5

Travel Photography prioritizes balanced image quality in a lightweight package.

Primary
  • Outstanding center resolution stopped down
  • Lightweight at 285g
Secondary
  • Fast f/1.4 aperture
  • Below-average flare resistance
  • Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post

✗ Portrait Photography 1/5

Portrait Photography prioritizes smooth bokeh and critical center sharpness wide open for subject isolation.

Primary
  • Exceptionally smooth, creamy bokeh
  • Very soft center performance wide open
Secondary
  • Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
  • Noticeable spherical aberration wide open
  • Noticeable vignetting wide open

✗ Sport Photography 1/5

Sport Photography prioritizes sharp wide-open center performance to freeze action at fast shutter speeds.

Primary
  • Very soft center performance wide open
Secondary
  • Fast f/1.4 aperture
  • Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
  • Negligible lateral chromatic aberration

✗ Wildlife Photography 1/5

Wildlife Photography prioritizes center sharpness across apertures for distant subjects.

Primary
  • Very soft center performance wide open
  • Outstanding center resolution stopped down
Secondary
  • Fast f/1.4 aperture
  • Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
  • Negligible lateral chromatic aberration

✗ Macro Photography 1/5

Macro Photography prioritizes stopped-down center sharpness and high magnification for close-up detail.

Primary
  • Outstanding center resolution stopped down
  • Low magnification (0.1x)
Secondary
  • Minimal distortion
  • Negligible lateral chromatic aberration
  • Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
  • Noticeable spherical aberration wide open
  • Exceptionally smooth, creamy bokeh

Reviews

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Alternatives

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