Canon 5D Tokina 28-70 Miyazaki Japan
After watching a Lucy Luman YouTube video where she talks about the character and feel of the old Canon 5D classic, I ended up going down a bit of a rabbit hole. A few Mercari scrolls later, I picked up my first Canon. I don’t really care much about brands, but I’ll admit — I was a little excited.
The camera came bundled with a Tokina 28–70mm f/2.8 for basically the same price as the body alone, which felt like a win. I’ve owned this lens before on a Nikon D7000 and later a D800, and I remember really liking the images it produced. I’m not entirely sure which version this one is, though — and apparently that matters more than I realised.
There are a few versions of this Tokina floating around, and one of them has a bit of a reputation. The early AT-X 28–70mm f/2.8 is said to be based on an old French Angénieux optical design, and that’s the one people really get excited about. Lower contrast, smoother transitions, darker shadows — more character than precision. The later versions are technically better, but from what I’ve read, they lose some of that magic.
These photos are from a quick 20-minute walk around Aoshima Port in Miyazaki, just getting a feel for the camera. And honestly… I kind of get what Lucy is on about. The shadows are properly dark — there’s nothing hiding in them except black — but the highlights still have a bit of latitude. What really stands out is the way the contrast falls off. It feels gentle, almost film-like, and very intentional rather than clinical.
There’s something about shooting in Miyazaki that suits this kind of gear — quiet light, open space, nothing fighting for attention. Whatever version of the Tokina this is, the combination with the original 5D sensor just works. It’s not about sharpness charts or perfect files — it’s about the way the image feels straight out of the camera.
I’m especially curious to see what this setup gives me with people. If it treats skin and light the same way it treats concrete and water around Aoshima, I think it could be something special.
Anyway, I’m into it. Curious to hear what you think.
