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(manual focus) © 2004 KenRockwell.com Lens Test Glossary About these reviews
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Introduction This modern classic AI-s lens has been made exactly the same way since about 1983, and for twenty more years before that in different mechanical packages. You can get them cheap, and even brand new they are very reasonable for what you get here. This lens is made to legendary professional mechanical standards, unlike many of today's autofocus lenses. In the 1960s this used to be the most popular telephoto focal length and speed. Today most people use a zoom instead. The advantage of this lens is the fast f/2.8 speed at a much smaller size and much smaller price than any f/2.8 zoom. Specifications Five elements in four groups. Seven-bladed diaphragm stopping down to f/32. Closest focus 4.5' or 1.3 am. Takes standard small 52mm filters. Built-in hood. It's 2.5" (64mm) around by 3.1" (78mm) long and weighs 15 oz. (435g). Performance It's a great lens. It's sharp at all apertures in all points of the image. Its light falloff goes away by f/5.6. Recommendations The 135mm f/2.8 is a great lens. Since most people prefer the convenience of a big, heavy, expensive zoom these lenses are plentiful used today. Personally I prefer the field of view of an 85mm when it comes to fixed lenses thus I don't own one of these, but let's face it: it's the cheapest way to get f/2.8 in a fixed lens this side of the 180mm or an 80-200 zoom. This is a great lens and therefore has no flaws to write about. If you want one, buy one. They are all over the place second hand or brand new. I find that they are more suited to fixed use in a studio. An 80-200 f/2.8 zoom is my preference for use out in the field. |
