135mm lens for Sony A7 system

[Paulo Bizarro]

I think that some focal lengths are still missing in the prime set up for the Sony FE system. 135mm being one of them. This is a focal length that I like to use outside, for general street shooting of people and details.

I have recently stumbled upon a Carl Zeiss Jena 135mm f3.5 lens in M42 mount. I got an adapter to use it on my A7II, and it works a treat. Below are some images from an afternoon outing in my home town of Lisbon. The lens is certainly sharp enough; it has some CA, but LR takes care of it nicely.

Regards.

[DanceWithLight]

Lovely!

[Herbc]

Good stuff- Leica f4 135mm is also a good fit.

[Paulo Bizarro]

Good stuff- Leica f4 135mm is also a good fit.

Yup, but it is a bit dearer:) Also, not sure, but this CZJ focuses really close for a 135mm lens, slightly under 1m.

Thanks for the comment.

[Paulo Bizarro]

Lovely!

Thanks.

[Paul Roark]

... Leica f4 135mm ...

Mint "used" Apo f/3.4 135mm M versions are also available.  Even with the adapter, they drop into old Pentax 135mm cases; nice and compact.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com

[Telecaster]

The M42 CZJ 135mm really is a good lens. Compact & light too for an SLR tele. I got my first one to use on a Contax Aria (via adapter), replacing a Kyocera-made Zeiss 135/2.8, precisely because of the short minimum focus distance. It's been all over the planet with me. Later on I got a second one and have used it with various cameras, including both Sony A7x models I've owned.

-Dave-

[Phil Indeblanc]

Nice!

And since my shooting needs are not always capable from the A7RII system, I rather continue investing in alternate/mainly Canon lenses, than into what I find being slightly limited for my needs, and slightly overpriced..
So this is great to see alternate lenses tested.
Great images !

[David Good]

Good find and shots! That's a comfortable focal length for me as well, I decided to go full manual however with the Rokinon FE135/2, reasonably priced and a joy to shoot with on the A7II. I find I miss A/F less and less now.

[Paulo Bizarro]

Mint "used" Apo f/3.4 135mm M versions are also available.  Even with the adapter, they drop into old Pentax 135mm cases; nice and compact.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com

Hmm, yes, but costing between 2000 and 4000 EUR, not for my pockets:)

[Paulo Bizarro]

Good find and shots! That's a comfortable focal length for me as well, I decided to go full manual however with the Rokinon FE135/2, reasonably priced and a joy to shoot with on the A7II. I find I miss A/F less and less now.

I investigated this one as well, it is a good lens by all accounts. The problem I have is with the new trend of makers only releasing fast lenses, that due to the demand of modern sensors, need huge front elements and lots of special glass. Hence the prime f1.4 GM from Sony, for instance.

Why lens makers do not release slower primes, like f2.8 and f3.5, or even f4, is beyond my understanding. A 135mm f2.8 lens, or f3.5, would round up nicely say the Loxia line, with the compromise of keeping the 52mm filter diameter.

I fondly remember the Canon EF 135 f2.8 Soft lens from 1987, small, and with 52mm filter diameter...

[brianrybolt]

Sony 135mm, f/1.8 A mount lens.  It's excellent although heavy.

[Paulo Bizarro]

Sony 135mm, f/1.8 A mount lens.  It's excellent although heavy.

Sure, but again, not really travel friendly... nor affordable to me.

[Hezu]

Sony 135mm, f/1.8 A mount lens.  It's excellent although heavy.

I don't think that Sony Zeiss 1.8/135 is that good option for E mount cameras as if you want to use AF, you will need LA-EA4 and although it sure provides accurate and quite fast AF, the included SLT AF module has inferior AF points coverage compared to the native sensor-based AF on E mount cameras. And a large and heavy lens with a small and compact camera body is less optimal combination.

But I think the other A-mount 135 mm lens in Sony's repertoire is bit better option for α7 cameras as 135 mm F2.8 (T4.5) STF is bit smaller (not very small though) and offers the unique smooth bokeh. And from second hand market, it is possible to find also the original Minolta version of this lens, which is optically the same despite the small differences in cosmetics. Also there is nothing to worry about AF compability with adapters since this lens is manual focus and from T4.5 to T6.3 you can adjust also the aperture using mechanical aperture ring, so even very simple A-mount to E-mount adapter might work, but if you want to use also other aperture options (and get EXIF information) then I suggest to get Sony LA-EA3 adapter.

[RobertJ]

Believe it or not, the Samyang 135mm f/2 manual focus/manual aperture lens is even more "APO" than the Zeiss 135 f/2 APO lens is.  Meaning, it is actually a bit less prone to CA/fringing.  It's an astonishing performer, and you could buy 4 of them for the price of one Zeiss Milvus 135mm f/2 APO. 

I have the E mount version for my A7rII, and yes, I was actually waiting for the Zeiss Milvus to become available to order before I saw the performance of the Samyang.  I went with the Korean lens instead.  No regrets.

[Paulo Bizarro]

Believe it or not, the Samyang 135mm f/2 manual focus/manual aperture lens is even more "APO" than the Zeiss 135 f/2 APO lens is.  Meaning, it is actually a bit less prone to CA/fringing.  It's an astonishing performer, and you could buy 4 of them for the price of one Zeiss Milvus 135mm f/2 APO. 

I have the E mount version for my A7rII, and yes, I was actually waiting for the Zeiss Milvus to become available to order before I saw the performance of the Samyang.  I went with the Korean lens instead.  No regrets.

Thanks, I know of that lens too. Too big and heavy for my requirements. At 135mm, I am fine with f2.8 to f4 range.