Rokkor 135mm 3.5 (nudity warning)

I have also found my Rokkor X 135mm 3.5 lens to be deadly sharp,

although I haven't heard this lens praised by others. People seem

to prefer the 135mm 2.8. I'm attaching an example of its

performance: a shot taken at Riis Park in New York. Yeah, I know,

it makes me look like a voyeur; but sometimes you just can't resist

a shot. Besides, if I didn't have a little of the voyeur in me, I

might not take pictures.<div></div>

The F3.5 135 Rokkor is a EXCELLENT lens; it is 4 elements in 4 groups; listed for 90 bucks in 1975...It tested at a great wide open (f3.5) 56 line pairs/mm in the center; 50 at the edge; both excellents........and Medium 49% contrast at the center; and 52 % contrast; excellent at the edges............................................My "orphaned NON AI-able serial block" Auto Nikkor 135mm F3.5 is a sleeper too; it was 30 bucks in the late 1970's; and was considered junk!......It tested similar to the Rokkor; @F3.5 center 54 line pairs/mm excellent; 43 edge excellent.......Contrast 50% center Medium; and tested High at the edge at 40%

I have two 135mm f/3.5 lenses at the moment; one is the Minolta MC Tele Rokkor-QD 135mm f3.5 which I bought for $25 Canadian, and the other is the Minolta MD 135mm f/3.5, which I bought for $50 Canadian (both from pawn stores in Toronto).

 

The MC has got considerable amount of damage on the back element of the lens, and yet it is my second sharpest lens after my Canon EF 50mm f/1.8. It is remarkably sharp wide open.

 

One shortcoming of this lens is, however, it flares considerably without a hood. Since it is a telephoto, a cheap rubber hood works fine (not so with wide angles).

 

Among the two lenses however (after about 30 frames of comparison), my favorite is the Minolta MD version. Although it does not seem to be any sharper than the MC version, its extremely small overall size, 49mm filter size (I am going for a all-49mm filter size lens set from 24mm to 135mm), and its retractable metal hood are its advantages. It is so small that people do not realize you are taking their picture with a telephoto until it is too late! I believe it flares less too, probably due to its dedicated hood, rather than coating.

 

Cheers.<div></div>

<p>You can view my <a href="http://www.photo.net/photodb/presentation.tcl?presentation_id=209542">presentation</a> ;most photos taken with the Minolta 135mm MC</p><div></div>

Askin, you need to at least give us a Nudity warning if you want us to all look at your photos.

<div></div>

I bet that works. I know I looked at it.