rayparlour Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 Hi all, I'm looking for a 135mm for my a7ii. Does anyone have some advise? I'm looking at various lenses, and it is though to choose. I'm looking at lenses like: Canon FD 2,5/135 Olympus OM Zuiko 135mm f/3,5 Minolta Rokkor 135mm f/3,5 Maybe even a Carl Zeiss/Contax Sonnar T* 135mm f/2.8, but this one is more expensive Greatly appreciate your input! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 12, 2015 Posted August 12, 2015 Hi rayparlour, Take a look here 135mm for A7ii. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
azradiohead Posted August 13, 2015 Share Posted August 13, 2015 I have a Minolta Rokkor 135mm f/3.5 that has great colors are is really sharp on my A7r, I tend to use my X-Fujinar 135 f/2.5 just for the Depth of field when I'm doing portraits, but the Minolta is one of the smaller and makes a great walking lens. I actually have another Fuji variant in f/2.8, both have a funky X mount so I had to order a different adapter, that was a whopping $35 on Amazon. I've read good things about the Olympus Zuiko 135 and if it's anything like the Oly 35 and 50 I have it should be great. I found that exact Oly 135mm lens at a garage sale over the weekend but they were selling it and the 35mm camera as a package and wanted $150 so I passed. I saw them on the auction site for $25 and up. I found a number of lenses at local pawn shops. Usually they will have a couple 'newer' Canikon AF lenses in a case and then if you specify that you want OLD film camera lenses they will bring out a box with a thick layer of dust and cobwebs filled with old lenses and parts. With pawn shops you can usually barter down the price with the knowledge that the shop knows that you are probably the only person in years asking about those lenses. Despite the dust coating and lack of care I have managed to find a few jewels in the rough such as a Minolta Rokkor 58mm f/1.4. I found a Rollei 85mm Planar body and lens at an antique shop but it was $600 so I passed on it too. Just be sure to check the aperture blades for obvious signs of damage/oil/fungus, along with scratches and see what mount it is for. I have adapters for Minolta, Pentax, Canon, Fuji, and a few other odd balls, just in case I run across something. With adapters starting at less than $20, it's nice to be able to adapt almost anything to these cameras. I've taken a few lenses apart and repaired minor issues or used Lighter Fluid to clean the blades without much issue but the main thing is getting the body cleaned up before putting it on your camera so you don't contaminate your camera, adapters, sensor, or anything else down the chain. Best of luck. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nordentro Posted August 13, 2015 Share Posted August 13, 2015 CZJ 135mm f/3.5, great lens! (Sonnar) Samples: http://manuellfokus.no/carl-zeiss-jena-135mm-f3-5/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pichonpa Posted August 14, 2015 Share Posted August 14, 2015 hello, an example with my carl Zeiss Sonnar & sonyA7 at f2.8 and f8 https://www.flickr.com/gp/67058135@N08/u7K491 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cadibob Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 Hi, Zuiko Auto-T f2.8, great performances, extremely easy to use (depth of field button on its body). Regards. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rayparlour Posted August 19, 2015 Author Share Posted August 19, 2015 Thanks guys, seems to me I can't go wrong with the CZJ, Zuiko or Minolta. I am going to search for a good condition of one these lenses Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nordentro Posted August 19, 2015 Share Posted August 19, 2015 The West German made Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8 (ref. pichonpa) in C/Y mount is perhaps slightly better than the DDR made Carl Zeiss Jena 135mm 3.5, but also more expensive. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golem Posted August 20, 2015 Share Posted August 20, 2015 I'm using a Maxxum 135:2.8, so I have AF and auto-iris. Great lens, internal focus, sliding hood, focus scale under a clear window. ` Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tedbahas Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 I have a PF Rokkor 135 F2.8. It has really great Bokeh for portrait work. Built like a tank with an integrated hood, it's one of my faves. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimmyD Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 I have the Olympus OM Zuiko 135mm f/3.5 and it is fantastic for its size and weight, very sharp and contrasty; probably the best value for this focal length. I also have the Zeiss Sonnar T 135mm f/1.8 which, while it is both considerably larger and considerably more expensive, also is autofocus and is simply as good as it gets for image quality. Neither Canon nor Nikon or anybody else even makes an autofocus 135mm f/1.8; if you do any portrait or other shallow depth of field work and bokeh is important to you then the Zeiss 135 1.8 is worth every nickel. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bstrom650 Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 I also have a sweet 135/3.5 SMC Takumar. Sharpest glass in my kit. Like many Taks, you have a full range of useable apertures from wide open to at least f16 on most of them. I generally use mine on a tripod but with an inexpensive MAF M42 adapters you can focus/shoot very accurately handheld at a swift enough shutter speed. Bokeh is a search effort. Find the right aperture/distance relationships and it does well with homogenous backgrounds. Few lenses do well with detailed areas when producing their Bokeh. Shopping for these optical bargains is an art in itself. Go after the later SMC versions, not the Super Taks. Some Taks have specific numbers on their Auto/Manual switches that represent the optical formula. Research these numbers to get the cream of the crop. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alastc Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 I've enjoyed using the samyang 135/f2, manual focus and aperture, but quite easy on the A7 series. It is new for less than £400. If you want better (with auto focus), I'd go for the a mount 135 with adapter. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Langstrum Posted August 24, 2015 Share Posted August 24, 2015 For the actual image quality, I vote for the Samyang, too. I tested several legacy 135mm lenses but the Samyang beats them all, even the modern Canon 135L or Zeiss 135/1.8. It's too good for the money. Since I had the Samyang, I never used other 135mm. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philber Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Be careful with Contax Zeiss (C/Y) 135mm f:2.8. I had one, and while the rendering was lovely -more detailed than bitingly sharp-, it was very suceptible to flare and CA. Not saying it is a bad lens, or that you shouldn't buy it, just don't expect it to perform like like today's Zeiss 135 APO f:2.0. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
teemutt Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 I have leica r 135mm 2.8. Beautiful lens with lots of character. Highly recommended, but it is of course a legacy lens, not a modern coated one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Austrokiwi Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 I am probably a bit late... but you should look out for the minolta MD 135mm F2..... its a phenomenal lens( and rare) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nomad Posted September 16, 2015 Share Posted September 16, 2015 Yes, but a bit dated too, regarding coatings, and since it fetches insane prices (if you even find one) I'd rather recommend a Zeiss. If you want incredible bokeh, get the Minolta/Sony 135mm STF, though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now