I've had no idea this lens even existed. The results are wonderful, although that's mostly due to your photography and natural-look processing skills. Keep up with the great work you've been doing, as always I can't wait to watch the next video. This is my favourite review channel for sure.
What a sleeper of a lens this appears to be! If you told me the sample images were from the OM 90 or 100 f2, I would have believed you---not many lenses would pass that perceptual threshold. I have the 80 f4, which is an absolute peach at 1:1, and knew of the 135, but I had no idea it had this kind of performance outside of macro ranges. Given the prices, I have to doubt that others do either.
Yeah, it's a really special lens! That's why I wanted to share it with others, since it's still quite affordable for the kind of quality you can get from it. Definitely a sleeper!
Your reviews are intelligent, fact-only and image-oriented, Bravo! I am using a number of OM lenses, mainly the 300mm f/4.5. The 135 macro is definitely on my wish list, I look forward to experimenting with it for my high-speed flash hummingbird photography. Thanks for your refreshing approach to photography.
Thank you so much Bruno! I appreciate the feedback. I hope you’ll enjoy the OM Zuiko 135mm f4.5 macro once you try it. It is easily one of my favorite lenses. The optics are simply superb!
Fantastic review of a gem of a lens. You inspired me to see for myself, as I already had the auto extension tube. I picked up a late copy in great condition. This combo is unbelievably versatile and the extension tube makes focussing really quick and easy. I now have a new favourite lens. Smashing photos! I wish I had access to wildlife like you seem to have.....maybe after lock-down.....
Thank you so much!! I am so glad to hear that you also love this lens! It's a hidden gem! It's also one of my absolute favorites! Super versatile with basically no issues whatsoever! I hope you'll get to shoot some wildlife with it soon. Take care and thank you for the comment.
Absolutely corking pics.. You keep pulling these out've the hat.. Brilliant.. Another suggestion for future - SMC pentax K mount 135mm / 2.5.. Keep up the good work : )
I just found this lens for $75 in an antique store. Save for a loose bearing (I think) or two in the extension tube, it's in stellar condition. Thanks for the review!
Another great old lens that's similar to this is the Vivitar 135mm 1:2.8 Auto Telephoto Close Focusing. This lens will go to 1:2 macro without any bellows or tubes. It took me a while to find a good condition one. But I did. It's in Nikon f mount and I use it on my Sony a6500 with a simple Fotasy NIK-NEX adapter. This lens is one of my favorites, when I don't need 1:1 capability. It's great for flowers (and many other things) and it renders very nice images. Vivitar also made a Vivitar 100-200mm 1:4 Close focusing Auto Zoom. Pretty much the image quality equal of the 135, but with a lot more working distance. I found a nice specimen of this lens, in Canon fd mount, last year and bought it. I always enjoy your videos, as they are both interesting and informative.
Thank you so much! Yeah, I know of the Vivitar 135mm f2.8 close focusing. I haven't found one yet, but it's on my (ever growing) list of lenses that I need to get. I've heard very good things about it and would love to test it at some point. Vivitar came out with so many good optics back in the day. Even their zooms are good! Glad you're enjoying the videos. Thank you!
@@VintageOptiks Actually, Vivitar didn't "make" any lenses. They had lenses made to their specs, by various lens makers. Just like others such as Pentax, Nikon, Canon,etc. they had some lenses that were not great, some average, and some that were very good. Their "very good" lenses are just that, very good. I've also got a Series 1 90-180 Flat Field macro that is wonderful, a 35 1.9, and a Series 1 135 2.3 that are great. Anyway, good luck with locating a 135 2.8 Close Focusing lens. It really is a nice lens. While searching, keep an eye out for the 100-200 4.0 Close Focusing lens also. I look forward to more of your video content.
@@photobuzz That is correct, Vivitar didn't make any lenses. I talked about this in my video on the Vivitar 28mm f2.8 close focus wide angle lens. That lens was made by Komine, a Japanese third party lens manufacturer that produced some excellent lenses! I recently got a Vivitar 24mm f2.8 which is great! (made by Tokina). Gotta review it at some point. Anyhow, I am excited to try the 135mm f2.8 close focusing at some point. Take care!
@@VintageOptiks Yes, I've got the 28mm Close Focusing lens. It's another very good lens, from Vivitar. I have many Vivitar lenses, and many of them are very good. I'm not, generally, fond of mirror lenses, but I have tried to acquire the Vivitar 600mm 8.0 Solid Cat lens, but never found one in the condition, nor at the price I was willing to pay. It's another highly acclaimed Vivitar lens. Vivitar sold a lot of great lenses.
Thanks so much! Yeah, I was also amazed at the quality of the video when I first saw it! The sharpness of this Zuiko is astonishing. And on top of that has great colors and no issues that I have to worry about. Easily one of my all-time favorite lenses!!!
Once again you have put out an excellent video!!! I stumbled on this lens about a year ago and absolutely love it…I rank it up with my other most favorite vintage macro…Tokina 90mm f2.5
Thank you! That's awesome that you also have and love this Zuiko! Isn't it just incredible?? What a magical lens! My other favorite macro is also the Tokina 90mm! Both are simply superb!
Awesome videos! Thank you for such a good videos that make us try something new. Do you think you could find a way to adapt Yashica 45mm f1.8 from Yashica 1C Lynx 5000E 35mm Film Camera as well as UVTOPCOR 53mm f2.0 from TOPCON UNI 35mm SLR?
Thank you so much!! Glad you are enjoying the content! I am not sure if I'll do a projector lens, but maybe sometime in the future. They can be fun, but are a bit too limited in what they can do.
Wonderful review. Am I right in thinking that when going digital you need ensure your adapter will convert the auto diaphragm to click stops as the tube does not have a mechanism for stopping down the iris diaphragm in the Auto-Macro lenses.
Hello, Very good photos as always, I did not know that lens and I have many Zuiko. This macro seemed technically interesting to me but due to its weight it would have to be able to be screwed onto a tripod to be in practice a better option given the small size of today's digital cameras comparatively speaking. In this case I would prefer to use it with a bellow. Thank you very much for this interesting video.
Hello and thank you! This is definitely an unusual Zuiko lens for sure. I was very intrigued by it when I first found out about it and I had to try it out. Honestly, even though it’s a bit heavier than some other 135mm lenses, it is absolutely incredible! If I had to keep only one 135mm lens this will be it! It produces stunning images.
I jusT read.. outstanding in the title and I regret not buying. I remember i asked question about it on the forum and all people were like.. f4.5 NAH.. :/ 3:52 photo is amazing 👏😍
Sorry to hear that you didn't get this lens, because people discouraged you from buying it. I can see how some people might dismiss this lens because it's only f4.5, but they forget that this is not just any lens, but a Zuiko Macro lens! Olympus made some of the best macro lenses back in the day, which is why I had a feeling that this one is going to be special. And I am very glad that I tried it. I hope you can find one again. Cheers!
hello, I did not know this lens and I was about to buy the 2.8 version to combine with an Om4ti. Having a sony a7iv, i didn't understand if i can use a conversion ring or not. I didn't understand if the nom ring only works for macros or doesn't work at all. I don't do macro, I would use it for photos and probably portraits. What do you suggest me? Thank you so much for your videos
Hello. You can use this lens on your OM4Ti or on your Sony with an adapter (OM to NEX). But you will need the extension tube in order to focus. If you are not interested in doing macro photography I wouldn't really recommend this lens. You would be better off with the regular 135mm f2.8, which is smaller and lighter. This macro version is intended for precise close-up work with great depth of filed.
Hello and thank you! This lens can achieve 1:2 or half life size magnification. If you want true macro 1:1 magnification you’ll need to get the Zuiko 80mm f4 macro lens.
Thank you for letting me know. Unfortunately the links only work for people who are in the USA. Not sure if there is a way to make them work in other countries around the world.
