rick_drawbridge Posted April 2, 2014 Share Posted April 2, 2014 <p>This disreputable old lens arrived as a "bonus" with a far nicer one I bought. It was heading for the "Parts and Spares" department, but I relented and attached it to an old Canon 5D, and carried the outfit around in my ute for a week or so. I took it out in the odd spare moment and shot off a few frames, and when I eventually fed them into the computer I was pleasantly surprised. The lens is a very early Hanimex Tele-Lens 135/3.5 with a M42 mount.</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick_drawbridge Posted April 2, 2014 Author Share Posted April 2, 2014 <p>This is a pre-set lens that must date from the early days of Jack Hannes's Hanimex empire, shortly after WWII. It's a simple lens that has been a few times around the block, a little loose in it's movements and worn on it's exterior. While the glass appeared to be virtually uncoated, it was clean and clear and I was attracted to a peculiar brilliance it exhibited, a feature that experience has taught me often indicates something of worthwhile quality. The lens is so generic in appearance that I wouldn't dare hazard a guess as to who might have been the manufacturer; if someone on the Forum has an identical lens with a different branding, I'd be pleased to hear. While the lack of decent coatings precludes pointing the lens into bright light or highly reflective surfaces, with the light off to the side or over the shoulder the lens turned in a very creditable performance, indeed. In fact, the images are as sharp and contrasty as those from many of the high-end 135mm lens I seem to have accumulated, and there are quite a few of those. I've often seen the statement that "No-one made a really bad 135mm lens", and while that's perhaps something of an exaggeration, I guess it's true that the usual 4-elements-in-a-tube construction is fairly fail-safe.<br> <br />So, for now the Hanimex can live on the shelf, though it won't become a regular user. But, as a typical example of a 135mm lens from half a century ago, I thought the images might be of some interest. I'll post some below, probably too many, but I hope one or two meet with your approval.</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick_drawbridge Posted April 2, 2014 Author Share Posted April 2, 2014 <p>No.2</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick_drawbridge Posted April 2, 2014 Author Share Posted April 2, 2014 <p>No.3</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick_drawbridge Posted April 2, 2014 Author Share Posted April 2, 2014 <p>No.4</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick_drawbridge Posted April 2, 2014 Author Share Posted April 2, 2014 <p>No.5</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick_drawbridge Posted April 2, 2014 Author Share Posted April 2, 2014 <p>No.6</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick_drawbridge Posted April 2, 2014 Author Share Posted April 2, 2014 <p>No.7</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick_drawbridge Posted April 2, 2014 Author Share Posted April 2, 2014 <p>No.8</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick_drawbridge Posted April 2, 2014 Author Share Posted April 2, 2014 <p>No.9</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick_drawbridge Posted April 2, 2014 Author Share Posted April 2, 2014 <p>No.10</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick_drawbridge Posted April 2, 2014 Author Share Posted April 2, 2014 <p>Once again, images not loading...</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick_drawbridge Posted April 2, 2014 Author Share Posted April 2, 2014 <p>I'll try again...</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick_drawbridge Posted April 2, 2014 Author Share Posted April 2, 2014 <p>No.11</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick_drawbridge Posted April 2, 2014 Author Share Posted April 2, 2014 <p>No.12</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin carron Posted April 2, 2014 Share Posted April 2, 2014 <p>Very nice shots, Rick. (and I mean that, given the recent threads on 'great' shots from CMC's that aren't that great:-). The suspension bridge shot is very effective and the cafe shot is too. Very nice light. <br /> The short tele range from 75mm to 135mm was always a place (and still is) to find excellent prime lenses. This one looks to be one of those. Thanks for posting.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony_lockerbie Posted April 2, 2014 Share Posted April 2, 2014 <p>I can't use great, so I will have to say very effective demonstration of this lens...is that ok? Love the verandah shot with the little peek of colour.<br> Along with the 50mm, the 135 has to be the most corrected of the lenses, Everyone made one and most are surprisingly good, even the examples from our Jack Hannes. Recently got a LTM Steinheil 135, looks well made, and I will try it soon.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlesBecker-Toronto Posted April 2, 2014 Share Posted April 2, 2014 <p>nice stuff Rick! I have been meaning to ask you how many cameras you have collected (if you know!). regards, cb :-)</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Evans Posted April 2, 2014 Share Posted April 2, 2014 <p>My favourite focal length. Can't say "great", just "Track should hang in a Gallery". Thank you.</p> Tony Evans Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDMvW Posted April 2, 2014 Share Posted April 2, 2014 <p><em><strong>I</strong></em>'m not afraid to say it.<br> Great. I really like your eye for color, and enjoy these particularly.</p> <p>One way or another I've got lots of these rebranded 135mm f/something preset (and automatic, sometimes). I am almost always surprised at what a good job they do.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_levine Posted April 2, 2014 Share Posted April 2, 2014 <p>There were many decent quality preset M42 135/3.5 lenses. And as you said the "4 lenses in a tube" formula worked. Some of the 135/F3.5's had 12 bladed apertures which makes pleasing out of focus backgrounds.</p> <p>One of my favorite portrait lenses is the Nikkor auto 135/F3.5 shot wide open.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogerwb Posted April 2, 2014 Share Posted April 2, 2014 <p>Some of the Hanimex imports received very favorable reviews. I acquired an M42 200mm which rides in a bag with my Contax D which was one of those reviewed.</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoryAmmerman Posted April 2, 2014 Share Posted April 2, 2014 <p>Nice work as usual Rick. That "Weir" shot is the best of the bunch I think. "Autumn" is nice as well.</p> <p>I have a fairly similar Hanimar 135/3.5 pre-set lens. Mine does seem to be of slightly more recent vintage, though most likely has similar optics.. The reflections on the front of the lens do seem to have a very slight purplish tint to them, suggesting some sort of very thin coating. This one has a 15 bladed diaphragm. Inspired by your thread here, I decided to give it a try on my Nikon DSLR. Hope you don't mind a bit of a thread hijack here, but you did ask for experiences with similar lenses. :-)</p> <p>Here's the lens. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right?<br> <img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/17725318-md.jpg" alt="DSC_1942" width="680" height="453" border="0" /><br> A few backyard shots. The minimum focus distance is about 6 feet, so extension tubes were used.<br> <img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/17725319-md.jpg" alt="DSC_1916" width="680" height="453" border="0" /><br> number 2<br> <img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/17725320-md.jpg" alt="DSC_1921" width="680" height="453" border="0" /><br> number 3<br> <img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/17725321-md.jpg" alt="DSC_1927" width="680" height="453" border="0" /></p> <p>Overall, I'd say that my experience mirrors your pretty closely. I was pretty impressed with the sharpness and color rendition. The only negative things are that there is quite a bit of CA wide open (as is to be expected), and its rather clunky in operation, like all pre-set lenses. Like yours, this one won't every be a regular in the camera bag, but I might just have to look into one of those cheap M42 to Nikon adapters and knock the glass out of it.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick_drawbridge Posted April 2, 2014 Author Share Posted April 2, 2014 <p>Thanks, <strong>Cory</strong>, your interactive response is exactly what I hope for when I initiate a thread! Your Hanimar looks pretty much the same to me, right down to the 15-blade iris. Your images demonstrate the nice OOF areas and and the crisp rendition. I'd taken a couple of shots with a 10mm extension ring fitted and, like you, I was impressed. I post a full-frame and a 75% crop.</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick_drawbridge Posted April 2, 2014 Author Share Posted April 2, 2014 <p>Crop</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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