Four FANTASTIC Fast 135mm Lenses UPDATED - and One Big Surprise! 

It's dangerous watching this channel. I end up on auction sites within minutes of the video finishing. Please don't stop.

It was because of your informative videos that I purchased my first old manual lens - now my collection includes 30+ lenses (including 5 135mms) and several film cameras. You have fueled my love of photography - thank you! 135mm with extension tubes is ideal for macro work, even lenses with lower contrast. With regards to the vivitar, vivitar lenses were made by several different manufacturers with great differences in optical and mechanical quality. I've not checked out this particular focal length, but for the 90mm f2.5 macro there are specific serial number lenses with recognized high optical quality (amazingly good!) while others are not good at all. That may have been a factor with your particular vivitar lens lack of sharpness (though cool bokeh!).

Loving your channel m8 👌 Your looking a lot better than you did in some previous videos.

The Vivitar 135 f2.8 was the first lens i tested on my Lumix Gx8. I noticed the softness right away, but as you said, when it comes to blur it’s superb. Great for flowers from a distance, and macro paired with vivitar macro rings!

Another interesting lineup. I picked up a non-working Pentagon 135mm 2.8 and non-working Pentacon 50mm for basically nothing when they were thrown in with a Practica camera which itself I got for good deal. I was able to fix both lenses and I have been using the 135mm occasionally this summer. I call it my squirrelly lens as I have been using it on 4/3 camera to take pictures of squirrels in the local park.

Your reviews are a delight.

Brilliant information, I’ve been thinking about a Tair 11 to adapt to my Fuji and M4/3 cameras, you’ve sealed it for me, I need one in my life! Thank you 🙂

Informative as always. I agree on slower 135mm lens options. I have several including Canon nFD, Pentax Super-Takumar, Minolta MD, most recently (and fondly) the Nikkor-Q 13.5cm F3.5 early Sonnar formula F mount lens that I adore. That one required a slight machining of my Nikon F to Sony A adapter to make it fit (apparently those early Nikon F lenses had a bit more metal on the mounting ring on the lens).

Kinda lost track of this channel. Glad you're still making awesome videos! And that Vivitar 135mm 2.8- yours isn't a bad copy. I have one myself and it's... Disappointing. I disassembled mine a while ago, inverting elements to try and make a Frankenstein out of it but even that didn't produce anything particularly novel.

I absolutely love Pentacon lenses. This 135 is really sharp wide open even up to 20-24mpx on both FF and cropped sensors! It also has beautiful creamy bokeh and (if it does) pretty yellow and blue (instead of green and magenta) chromatic aberrations. But what I like and recommend even more is its "younger" brother - *Pentacon 100mm f/2.8* . It is around 1/3 smaller and lighter and seems to be even sharper and much more portable and convenient in use. True portrait classic!

Very happy with my Minolta MD celtic 135 3.5. That Tair does look interesting!

I love my minolta. It belonged to a former uncle who left it and an old pentax camera in my aunt's attic. I inherited it before I had any interest in photography. For years I had no idea I had such a good lens rolling around in my desk drawer.

Nikon nicor 135 f 2.8 AIS is one of two lenses that I've used on all of my documentary photography. I love the 135!

Another lovely video as always! It was your previous 135mm video that prompted me to buy my FIRST vintage lens, the Minolta 135. I wasn't too enamored with it tbh (maybe due to some mold on the lens) but it kickstarted an obsession with vintage glass so thank you for that lol I am surprised you weren't too enamored with the Pentacon, it has a really strong reputation. I love using my copy on occasion even though it is really large. (Personally I prefer the Meyer 100 f/2.8 because of how small and usable it is but not a 135 etc) My personal recommendation for fast 135s is as others mentioned, the Pentax K-mount 135 f/2.5 because it is just a solid all around performer that is pretty inexpensive. That said, I agree with you in that 2.8 is often not the best and there are some fantastic, lighter cheaper 3.5 options (my pick being the FD 135 f/3.5 which is one of the few vintage lenses I use for slightly more serious "i only have so much space and I need to take good photos on this hike/trip" occasions).

as far as I know Pentacon 135 is a Meyer Optik Design. My favorite 135s are the SMC Pentax 135mm f2.5 and the Carl Zeiss Superdynarex 135mm f4

I've got a Rikenon XR 135mm f 2.8, which takes decent photos, although it is quite prone to purple fringing. It has a PK bayonet though. My second 135 is a fifties Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 135mm f4. Unfortunately it doesn't focus to infinity, but its quite good for flower shots etc, as it has 1.2 m minimum focus distance. There's also a Triotar 135mm f4 waiting, that needs cleaning and relubrication. I am quite eager to try it, as it's got 15 aperture blades.

I have an Agfa 135mm f/2.8 for PK mount. Works great on Pentax DSLR. Sharp enough for street photography at f/5.6 and very smooth bokeh.

I have a collection of 135mm lenses, f/2.5, f/2.8, and f/3.5. It seems that this focal lens is so special that even a bad 135mm create great pictures.

I own the Vivitar lens as well. Mine seems to be the same as you describe. Not a very sharp lens wide open but the bokeh and blur are very cool. Its a solidly built lens and I actually enjoy the controls of it better than some much better 135s I own. But as you said, its an art lens at best. A soft focus, dreamy, creamy lens. I wish you had looked at either or both Konica Hexanon AR 135 f3.2 or the f2.5. Both of those lens are very, very nice. The sharpness of these lenses are crazy. The 3.2 I believe has better bokeh, but only slightly over the 2.5. But the 2.5 is crazy sharp wide open. Both exceptional lenses! Another one that can be had cheaply and is a wonderful 135 is the Mamiya/Sekor f2.8 in M42 mount. Another great lens from Mamiya. So many 135s out there and so little budget and time...

Although not a 135mm, another interesting lens is the Carl Zeiss Jena 120mm f2.8 Biometar. This was normally seen in Pentacon Six fitting, but it was also available in Exakta fitting, and possibly M42, although I cannot be certain of this. The extra stop is useful, and it is an excellent alternative to the superb Carl Zeiss 135mm f3.5 Jena 'S' lens, although it rather larger physically.

I have quite a few 135 mm lenses and my favourite is the Takumar 135mm f2.5

The CZJ 135f3.5 is my go to. Great lens.

I have a few nice legacy 135s. That said, in the last year and a half, since I bought it, I've really fallen in love wit my Samyang 135 2.0 M/F lens. It's sharp wide open and only shows a little improvement when stopping down. It also produces wonderful, smooth out of focus backgrounds. It's really my favorite 135, now.

I enjoyed the video. That Vivitar is so close, both in appearance and specs to my Lentar 135mm F2.8 that I wonder if both companies outsourced the same manufacture.

I have a slightly different version of the Vivitar 135mm f/2.8 lens. Mine has a minimum focus distance of 1.5m & 6 aperture blades. I can confirm that, even on a cloudy day with plenty of smoke haze, this lens produces beautiful background separation & wonderful bokeh. This lens, along with my Helios 44-M, will be used for portraits. Both offer fantastic separation & seem to produce a 3-dimensional effect that are just magic. I can only imagine what this lens will be able to produce on a sunny day with the right background. Cheers, Chris.

Would love your opinion on the best Minolta MDs and cine modding vintage still lenses.

I thought I was watching Steve Buscemi in a new serial killer movie. But great vid, be sure to scratch my name off your hit list, use whatever shade of lipstick you prefer

One of my favorite vintage combinations is the 135mm f/2.8 Meyer-Optic Goritz Orestor lens on a Sony APSC camera adapted with a Kipon M42-NEX 0.7x Focal Reducer/Adapter. The focal reducer does away with the crop factor and adds a full f/stop. In other words, I am shooting with a 135mm equivalent f/2.0 lens on my APSC Sony A6600 camera.

I have a Pentacon 135 f2,8 another model, with 15 blades and a preset aperture - it's an excellent lens, very sharp wide open and with a magnificent bokeh - if the subject is close enough. First test with it I couldn't tell what's behind the subject, even the picture was in my room :-))).

Hi, I like wary mach a Pentacon 135mm and Vivitar .I put it on my Pentax K-5 and K-1. Thanks Zenography

Great video! I have tested the Minolta and Pentacon and I agree, si prefer the Minolta. Did you test the Super Takumar 135mm 2.4? What do you think?

I really do love my FD 3.5 135 especially since i don't do many portraits

Well I wasn't gonna do it since I have an old Canon 70-210mm wide aperture lens plus the Vivitar wide 70-210 and 28-105 lenses. I don't need the 135mm focal length whatsoever. But you had me at "soap bubbles" and the price was right on just ONE auction listing. It is the Komine version from the serial number so I have high hopes!

Thank you for sharing your knowlege and passion for vintage lenses. A wonderfull channel, thank you. Which version of Pancolar do you use? My version of Pancolar (auto MC) gives a soft glow at 1,8. It disappears stopped down to 2,8. Might there be some diffrent types of Pancolar?

My favourite focal length. I've got a few 135s and the one I keep going back to is the very cheap and unheralded Carl Zeiss Super-dynarex f4. I bought my copy for £10.

Great video thanks. How many aperture blades on that version of the Pentacon Nigel?

The Topcor RE Auto 135mm F3.5 is a gem. It has an Exakta mount.

Great overview of the lens, I just have a few questions regarding what the difference is for the Minolta MD Rokkor-X 135mm versus the Minolta MC TELE ROKKOR-QD 135mm f/3.5; does MC versus MD make a big difference? Which of the two came out first and is there a huge different in 2.8 versus 3.5 focus?

How funny.... minutes ago I bought my first 135mm f3.5 from ebay for the princely sum of £3.20. Its branded as Petri but seller suggests perhaps its a Cosinon lens. Who knows? Who cares?? For 3 quid I'll have a lot of fun with this on my xt3. 🙂 I'm hoping it produces good black and white street shots. The fun is the waiting and the playing. Love your channel my friend. You've a very therapeutic voice and manner. 🙂👍 Best wishes..... thanks. Steve.

I like using an Adjustable Focus Helical Adapter for macro focus with the 135mm lenses. They create awesome macro images.

Try an Vivitar 2,8 135mm Close Focusing. Magnifition up to 1:2 without any accessory. And an stunning image quality. Classic Ernostar lens design.

i would love some videos only about shooting B/W photos, to me shooting b/w with vintage lenses is something very special, i convinced that the micro contrast , the extra many slightly different shades of gray, e.g. jupiter 9,produced and from takumar out performs modern lenses. the new got to hard contrast coating, ,,deleting,, the sophisticated and soul full micro differences in gray scale.

Very interesting video as always. I hope you'll get your hands on a Jupiter 37a and know what you think about it, I recently got my copy for about €24 + shipping. XE-1 is very nice, I'm waiting for your next video of it

I'd love to see your take on the Nikkor 135/2.8 since it's decently cheap and has a good reputation.

Can watch Yr vids over and over..... Nigel...

Thank you! I'm very fond of the Takumar 135 2.5 six element version which has lovely bokeh and wonderful textures.

I had hoped you would talk about the 15 blade look on the Pentacon and the 20 on the Tair.

Be interesting to see your thoughts on the Mamiya/Sekor 50mm f2. It's become one of my go to lenses...

I was careful to find a copy identical to the Vivitar you reviewed (same starting digits of the serial number, same focusing ring and same color markings), and I am seeing the same extreme bubbles that you described. My CZJ Triotar 135mm f/4 has some bubbles, but nothing like the Vivitar. My favorite 135 is still my 6-element Super Multi Coated Takumar, but my new Vivitar will take the place of bubble monster. Thanks for sharing your discovery.

Have you already tried the Auto Revuenon multi coated 1 : 2.8 / f = 135 mm lens, or other lenses from Revuenon? I can only recommend it.

very cool

Yashinon DX 135 2.8, came across one at a good price, it's only short coming is it competes against my 3.5s. The x-e1 is a great little camera

I'm curious what the first two digits are on the serial number are for your Vivitar. There are at least 4 different makers they used over the years that I can see. Thanks

Is your example of Vivitar a Komine, ie serial number beginning 28...... ? If so you have a duff copy. I have one in Nikon Ai mount and also one in OM mount and both are exceptionally sharp and have great Bokeh.

As I said previously I have the mk2 shall we call it of the vivitar with an extra element and the Bokeh.is nice.... Doubt if I will ever own a Tair 11......I have the pentacon lens identical to yours with chrome bits very sharp....slight fungus just inside front element... A thought about lens caps... Is it worth drilling a couple of very fine holes in them... (obviously on the work bench) since filters never removed from lenses can cause at least surface fungus?? Nigel....

I have a few, my favourite is the Pentax M series, but only because my Pentacon 15 blade is heavier... having said that, I'll take the Pentacon out tomorrow 🙂

Tair is a great lens. The old Pentacon ist also great. I modified the old pentacon with the lenses from the newer pentacon ( MC ). So you have the old version with 15 aperture blades and the multicoated lenses. Tip: look at the old Zeiss Triotar or the old ISCO Isconar 135. Not fast but nice

Great video! I own a copy of a Vivitar 135 f/2.5 which is much sharper.

I love to hate you! After this review I bought an Tair 11-2 silver body Last night on eBay.... it was listed as 350 Euros.... I won the bid and I got it for a very nice price!!! I hate you, for you letting me spend another bag of euros for a vintage lens. I love you for making these videos and being honest about all tested Lenses. And I love you for convincing me to have a look on eBay at the right moment. If you wonder the price I paid give me a notice. Looking forward for your new videos. I use the Fuji XT20 body. Very nice camera. Oops, I bought the Tair 11-A too!!

Not yet had my first roll developed with the Pentacon 135mm to say much of the quality, but can say it's as much a delight to use as the 50mm. and hopefully the 29mm will be mine soon enough. Such a little cost for such a huge experience. I think the only thing that might stop me oohing and aahing all over them would be a similar set of Takumars.

Have you checked out the Nikkor 135 f2 ais by any chance? I own both the f2 & f2.8 versions.

My favourite 135mm lens is the Canon FD 2.0/135mm, very sharp even at open aperture and the colours are the Canon typical ones of that time. However, the lens is quite large.

Would like to see this updated with Canon FD, Nikkor-QC Auto and Tamron 2.8s. Have you had a chance to check out any of those lenses yet?

I have got the Tokina 135 mm. Got it very cheep (30 euro). I love it. It is sharp. I shame that the focal lenght is covered by my Minolta 70-210.

The Vivitar was made by Komine, indicated by the first digits "28" on the serial number

I don't have much of a comparison, but my Petri 135mm f2.8 is razor sharp. If you see one somewhere I highly recomend grabbing it

Great show! I'm very interested in the Tair 11! I sometimes use the Takumar 135mm f/2.5 (6 element) and also like to shoot the Meyer-Optik Gorlitz 135mm f/2.8, which has 15 blades. I'd love to know how they stand up to the Tair 11 ... .. . ...

Have you ever tried the Olympus OM Zuiko 135 f2.8?

On the Pentacon did you use the 15 blade ?

The lens VIVITAR 135MM F2.3 VMC SERIES 1 is amazing!!! You have reviewed it?

I had the chance just yesterday to buy a tamron 135mm f2.5 on adaptall 2 om mount. For now I only managed to get some pictures of cows but it looks quite alright for the 20 quid I paid for. Also being 2.5 made me curious

Thank you again for this video Nigel ☺️🙏! If you have the time or inspiration.... : I would like to see a direct comparison between the Tair 11 and the Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 3,5 /135. I have the Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 3,5 135 zebra version and I am very happy with it (analogue m42 camera). But I would like to know, if it will be worth to buy a Tair 11. Will it be better than the Zeiss Sonnar? I don't think so, but it would be really nice to hear your opinion. Have a nice evening and greetings from Germany, Berlin! Denis

Bougth the Konica 135 2.8. Very satisfied

jupiter 37a is a 135mm lens with exceptional sharpness that is worth talking about.

I picked up a Hoya 135 f2.8 M42 on eBay for £8.00 a few weeks ago. A cracking lens....

Those Vivitar images take my fancy, but good grief is that soft! The bokah's a little like my 28-70mm-macro F/3.5 F.Zuiko, although I don't know which lens it is currently since the front lens ring has long since fallen off. It's on the soft side too, but it's absolutely amazing under the right conditions. I have a feeling you might like it actually. It's funny, I was out with Canon's 18-55mm F/4 (the latest kit) once and for a while was deeply puzzled as to why I couldn't get the lens to flare until I remembered that the lens is designed against that! Haha! Not enough character in quite a few of these lenses coming out today. Too be fair though it does cross as an almost superb budget filmmaking lens.

I have a Rexatar 135mm f/2.8 which I recently discovered is pretty much a re-branded Vivitar. T2 mount (similar to m42), and it has exactly the same rendering and characteristics of the one you showed here. It is such trash wide open, but it’s trash with character. The Nikkor 105mm f/2.5 is a much better lens in every way, but triple the price.

Vivitar 135mm 2.8 and fujifilm xt5 are a really good pair

Question for the group, I currently purchased from a local Goodwill a Hi-Tec Inc. 135mm f2.8. I cannot find any information about this lens online. It is a screw on mount but it is not a M42 thread. Does anyone here know anything about this lens?

Some 135s do have 10 blade diaphragm thinking of Optomax f3.5 and another with name like fontesco correct me if I am wrong... pls sir......

Spookily enough... Came accross a lens in my collection that is bit of mystery to me.. It is a Sunagor 135mm f2.8 with 10 diaphragm very nice condition with an MD to PK adaptor.....just don't know how I came by it..... 😮

I'm sorry to bother you with this my friend. But I'm a new film maker, with an interest in making action movies. The group of people I spoke to in regards to cine lenses said that my budget isn't going to be able to cover the type of lenses that are in use, but they said that vintage lenses would be a smart investment for me to get started. I've rather enjoyed watching your videos, and I do a lot of filming in my 3D software using a 16:9 digital camera, and my preferred lenses in there have been typically 12mm for landscape and huge epic scenes, 50mm for standard shots and 85mm for a bit closer. Then recently the 120mm for much closer (as in face shots). But I need to pick up some ACTUAL lenses now. I currently own the Helios 44-2 58mm which I got off ebay recently. Could you please recommend to me what lenses you would suggest to a person who's interested in making movies, but that's on a budget? I'm ideally looking for something that I can pair up with the Helios 44-2 58mm that I currently have (so my movie doesn't have a drastically different look from shot to shot). I'd ideally like an 85mm as well as whatever else you could suggest. Hope you can help. Best regards.

Great video! I just picked up a Pentacon Zebra 135 2.8 with 15 aperture blades. Have you tried this lens?

Push the boat out a few more quid and get a Carl Zeiss Contax Sonnar T*2.8/135. Got a mint one for £129 a few months ago.

My cheap option of 135 mm is юпитер 37А. But my favorit is Canon 135 f/2 L. Magic lens from film era. is not cheap but it is wonderful

I feel kind of sorry for the little Zuiko 135mm 2.8 sitting there being ignored stage left... haha

What lens are you using to shoot the video? It is very soft or not closely focused. The camera in the foreground cannot not be read.

Since Nikon has stopped making AF-D and AF-S G lenses, will Canon also making their L and EF lenses? How will only a mirrorless cameras market changed things? Hopefully, any vintage or used lenses will have no bugs in them.

The vivitar lens is 4 element lens.. a later one with a rubber grip is a 5 element one if that makes sense...

In case anyone is interested, I have a video on adapters (e.g. M42-EOS). No chip, non-programmable chip, programmable chip, I tell about all kinds. It's in my "Vintage lenses" playlist. Hope it helps.

if you want something good and cheap , try an old Leitz Hektor 135 4.5 - I use one adapted on my Fuji X-E3 , and it´s great and sharp and a really small lens

This is not a 15bladed version?

There must have been as mant 135mm lenses produced as there were 50mm ones. Back in the day the very next lens you bought was a 135 - some really cheap and horrible ones too - Hanimex, Opteka, some Tamrons etc. These lenses go on Ebay for coppers and are great to experiment on - element reversal, internal filters etc for whacky effects. Great episode George

Vivitar Series 1 are so incredible lenses. Vivitar Series 1 were 100% designed by Vivitar. They were rebranded and produced by many companies like for example Tokina. People use Tokina and even don't know that this is in fact Vivitar. Moreover companies like Tokina based his many lenses on Vivitar Series 1. Other companies too.

This might sound crazy, but I prefer the Pentacon 135 'electric' over the 13 bladed version... I will do a video on it soon

Don't knock Vivitar until you try one... Recently I have acquired the elusive Vivitar 24mm f2.0 'RL Edition' -- mine is in Pentax mount, not as expensive as the Canon FD version but not an inexpensive lens by any stretch of the imagination. Nevertheless I can assure you, anything on the forums about this lens is ABSOLUTELY INCORRECT. It is astounding. The RL edition is listed by know it alls in the forums as some sort of marketing gimmickry, but it is of a far higher standard than my Pentax-M 24mm f2.8 on my A7R3... Well worth every penny the ol' RL fetches on eBay, it approaches Zeiss territory... Frankly I am so lucky to have got mine for a song, it was purchased for Canon mount by a fellow photographer and as he only shoots film, he didn't want the Pentax version.

I didn’t know Steve Buscemi was into vintage primes

I use a 1960 Leica Elmar 135mm/f4 which is an absolute bargain at around 200.- USD as it's long and looks awkward and hence not pleasing for the Leica crowd who prefer everything compact. I believe the Fuji X-E1 is going to be very similar to the X-T10 apart from the rangefinder Vs slr looks. Interesting to hear the differences, perhaps WiFi Vs Bluetooth if memory serves me right....

Use the Vivitar 135mm 2.3

What is the mount for Vivitar 135mm 2.8?