Tokina Announces Development of Unique New Photographic Lens After Years of Limited Activity

Tokina, the Tokyo-based lens manufacturer with 76 years of history, has revealed it is developing a new photographic lens described as 'one lens like no other.' The announcement came at CP+ 2026 in Yokohama in late February, where the company displayed a prototype. This marks a significant development for Tokina, which has seen limited new photographic lens releases in recent years, with its last being the atx-m 11-18mm f/2.8 in September 2022. Historically, Tokina was a major player during the DSLR era, producing well-regarded lenses for Canon EF and Nikon F-mount systems, such as the AT-X series. However, the company's transition to mirrorless systems has been slower, with its photographic efforts overshadowed by the success of its Tokina Cinema division, which has released high-end cinema lenses costing up to $20,000. The new lens prototype currently lacks specifications like focal length, aperture, release date, or price, but Tokina emphasizes it will be unique in the market. This move signals Tokina's continued commitment to the photography sector despite its recent focus on cinema products.