Tokina announces Opera 50mm f/1.4 “Top Premium” full frame lens for Nikon and Canon

As WPPI2018 comes to an end, CP+2018 fires up, which means yet more new gear announcements. First off the block is Tokina with their new Opera 50mm f/1.4 FF (full frame) lens for Nikon and Canon DSLRs. The new Opera series of lenses is designed to be a “top premium” line of full frame lenses for high-end DSLRs.

The debuting premium full-frame lens for high-end DSLR cameras in opera series is 50mm F1.4 FF (FF – Full-Frame). Designed for full-frame format DSLR cameras, opera 50mm F1.4 FF adopts a ring-shaped ultrasonic motor for autofocus drive module. Weather sealing prevents from dust and moisture to come inside the lens body. For the first time in Tokina line up Nikon mount model incorporates an electric diaphragm mechanism. The direction of the focus ring rotation fits the genuine Nikon and Canon lens.

The Tokina Opera 50mm f/1.4 FF is the first in a new series of high-end lenses from Tokina. Tokina doesn’t say what else is to come, but we can probably expect the usual suspects to first. So, probably either an 85mm or a 35mm next.

Looking at the photos, it’s a lot bigger than my Nikon 50mm f/1.4, so chances are it’s much heavier, too. Of course, the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art is also pretty huge in comparison to the Nikon as well. So, it will be interesting to see how the new Tokina stacks up against the competition once it’s released. Although, their definition of the name seems to suggest it’s a Sigma Art competitor.

In modern society the word “opera” is commonly used to express general genres of stage art. In Italian it means work or work of art. As an omitted art genre definition opera comes from “opera musicale” that means a piece of music work. In Latin opera comes from “opus” and in contemporary language “magnum opus”, “opera magna” still has a meaning of “great literary, artistic or intellectual work”. We chose the name “opera” for a new premium full-frame DSLR lens series thinking of a lens that will help photographer in creating real “work of art”.

Final specs have not yet been released, but a prototype of the Tokina Opera 50mm F1.4 FF is currently on display at CP+2018 at the Kenko Tokina booth. There’s no word on price, but it’s expected to be released during Summer 2018. All we know for sure is that it’s for full frame sensors and will become available in Nikon F and Canon EF mounts.