~135mm lens recommendations

One of my favorite lens in the minolta system was the 135/2.8. Unfortunately,

while Pentax has quite a few options in this range, none seem to be

in-production, and the FA is almost impossible to find at a reasonable price. I

am looking at the K/A lenses, and am not sure which one to go for. I think there

is the K 135/2.5 that seems to be amazing, but goes for insane prices on ebay.

There is the A 135/2.8, F 135/2.8, K 135/3.5, and M 135/3.5. There also seems to

have been a K/M 120/2.8 lens that I haven't found much information about. Oh,

and then there is the A* 135/1.8 - I don't think I even want to know the price

of this one :)

 

My primary criteria is the cost (~$150 or less), the image quality (of course),

and portability (I don't want something huge and bulky), in that order. I don't

think I'll miss f/2.8 too much, so if one of the f/3.5 makes more sense, I'll go

for that. Any recommendations?

 

Oh, and while I am at it, how is the M/A 100/2.8 (non-macro)?

According to the <a href="http://kmp.BDimitrov.de/lenses/resolution.html"

target="new">lens resolution summary</a> at Bojidar Dimitrov's <a

href="http://kmp.BDimitrov.de" target="new">K-Mount Page</a>, the M 100/2.8 is kind

of a dog compared to the K 105/2.8 or 135/2.5.<p>

 

When I decided to retire my old screw mount 135mm f/2.8 for a K-Mount replacement, I

thought about picking up one of the 135 f/2.5's but the rebates enticed me into getting a

new D-FA 100mm Macro. Very sharp, practically distortion and CA free, and notably

better contrast over it's FA 100mm predecessor...

I've given up on getting a 135mm K-mount with an 'A' setting; or a 105mm for that matter. Descending like a pack of crazed hyenas on an eBay auction is not my idea of fun lens buying.

I have the M 135/3.5 and it is about my favorite lens. Very sharp with rich contrast. Images sometimes almost seem three-dimensional. I picked it up used for $75 a couple years ago. F3.5 isn't that fast, but it's sharp enough that you can get good results with it wide open, and it's very compact.

 

Steve

The 105mm deal was when that dude was selling NIB/NOS 105mm Viv S1 Macros for $249 Buy It Now...

 

I treat mine like a jewel.. Love that lens.

I agree with Steve. I have that lens and got it maybe 10 years ago for cheap in perfect like-new shape. Very nice build. Very compact. Very fine images. Cheap price. The "M" 135mm f/3.5 is a bargain.

As a cheap alternative.

I have SEARS 135/2.8. It got it for $25 on eBay. Very well built!

Optical quality looks very good also (at least for my opinion).

The only concern - it is manual lens.

Well depending on what you're looking for the M42 Pentacon 135mm f/2.8 - a.k.a "The Bokeh Monster" is a very interesting and affordable lens. Great build quality, built in hood, reasonable size, reasonably sharp, but Bokeh that runs with lenses costing many, many times it's price. It's a Zeiss Sonnar formula. I don't use mine much any more; especially with the DA*50-135 in my bag, but it is a very cool lens. Here a like to some examples.

 

http://www.flickr.com/groups/bokeh_/discuss/72157594302524412/

I LOVE the Pentax SMC 135/2.5. Its build quality only compares to the old screw mount takumar primes. Among the nicest handling lenses I've ever used. I recently did an entire shoot with just that lens. Sharp sharp sharp sharp. Also beautiful bokeh. Picked mine up in mint condition for $200.

<br><br>

Examples:

<br>

<a href="http://zack.loseby.net/ali/images/Scan-080220-0013.jpg">http://zack.loseby.net/ali/images/Scan-080220-0013.jpg</a>

<br>

<a href="http://zack.loseby.net/ali/images/Scan-080220-0025.jpg">http://zack.loseby.net/ali/images/Scan-080220-0025.jpg</a>

Another vote for the 135/f3.5 'M' I recently got on for $51 on uPay (incl. shipping), great condition, and wonderful images.

I've had three, the Pentax 135mm f3.5, the 135mm f2.8 A, and a cheap-o screwmount Spirltone 135mm f2.8. Which do I use the most? The Spirltone! It is soft, but that's exactly what I like about the lens. I did eventually sell the 135mm f3.5M. It is sharp and small, but at the time I could only justify one lens and the ability to do TTL flash was more important. The 'A' lens is said not to be a fantastic optic, but I like it regardless, even though I use it infrequently.

 

The big problem for my use of these lenses is that none of them are very good close focusing. Great for portraits, but I don't use them for much else. I almost prefer my 100mm f2.8 FA for portraits.

<i>The 105mm deal was when that dude was selling NIB/NOS 105mm Viv S1 Macros for $249 Buy It Now...</i><p>

 

@Tom Maher<P>

Tom: I got one of those from that guy - he was liquidating stock at a shop in San Francisco before he retired - I called him because I didn't quite believe the deal.<p>I actually paid $189 BIN for mine.<p>I have trouble keeping the aperture ring on mine locked in Auto - it goes there, but the button won't lock it in. Never bothered me when I was shooting film on a KX or MX - but now that the K10D has shipped it will matter more.<p>Have you had this experience?<p>@Ankit<p>The 135 prices on eBay are too high - I sold my 135/2.5 (sadly - it was a late version and was pristine) and put the proceeds in the K10 account <|;>)<p>-- Paul

Thanks everyone who replied. I keep finding good stuff about the 'M' 135/3.5, and I have a few in my watch list on ebay. I would like to get the 135/2.5, but can't justify the price it is going for on ebay. I hope pentax releases a DA 135/2.8 soon (200mm was always a popular focal length on film!)

 

About the 100/2.8 macro, does this have a focus limiter? How good/bad is the AF speed on this for non-macro shots?

Maybe consider a Samigon 135/1.8 if you can find one, they arent all that expensive. Or even a 135/2 soligor can be found at better prices and is a good performer AFAIK.

Paul - I have not had that problem at all. Mine locks very firmly into the A position. If you depress that silver pin and slide it to the A position, it won't lock in?

 

That is very strange as the one thing about that lens is the insanely high build-quality. It's as if no expense was spared. Some reviewing authority (I forget which) said that to buy a lens of that quality today would likely cost $2500..

 

Using it with a 2x tele is pure joy as well. The flat-field focus can be interesting to work around though.