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WNG555
Joined: 18 Dec 2014
Posts: 784
Location: Arrid-Zone-A, USA
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 Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2015 8:14 pm Post subject: Mamiya/Sekor SX 135mm f/2.8 shooting 'Wide Open'. |
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WNG555 wrote:
With the debate raging to multiple pages in the 'Wide Open shooters' thread....
thought I'd share my results with this lens at f/2.8. There doesn't seem to be a thread regarding this lens, although it's been referenced as a top 135mm prime in other discussions.
(Disclaimer: I'm not a "I only shoot Wide Open." guy!) 
The Mamiya SX line is supposedly their in-house effort, replacing the Tomioka-made AUTO line.
I came across two SX lenses for cheap from an estate sale of a staff photographer for a newspaper.
These lenses were in storage for over 30 years. They're stuck at wide open aperture, thus the good deal.
They were tossed aside awaiting service.
But I decided, WTH, let's see what they can do wide open!
So, to play devil's advocate, if you don't feel wide open shots are good photography, better hit the BACK button.
I'm a fan of the 135mm focal length for Sony APS-C.
This Mamiya SX didn't disappoint. It produced some of the best wide open results according to my subjective tastes.
I understand why some state it's their favorite 135mm. FYI, it's a 5 elements in 4 groups formula.
The results were with an M42/NEX adapter that properly clears the SX lens' flange. No physical altering to the lens was done.
I was squealing like a school girl surprised with kittens when I saw them for the first time on the monitor. 
 DSC03829b_Mamiya-Sekor SX 135mm f2.8 by wNG 555, on Flickr
 DSC03828_Mamiya-Sekor SX 135mm f2.8 by wNG 555, on Flickr
 DSC03826a_Mamiya-Sekor SX 135mm f2.8 by wNG 555, on Flickr
 DSC03830a_Mamiya-Sekor SX 135mm f2.8 by wNG 555, on Flickr
My favorite result...
 DSC03824_Mamiya-Sekor SX 135mm f2.8 by wNG 555, on Flickr
 DSC03814_Mamiya-Sekor SX 135mm f2.8 by wNG 555, on Flickr
 DSC03818_Mamiya-Sekor SX 135mm f2.8 by wNG 555, on Flickr
 DSC03821_Mamiya-Sekor SX 135mm f2.8 by wNG 555, on Flickr
 DSC03816_Mamiya-Sekor SX 135mm f2.8 by wNG 555, on Flickr
 DSC03822_Mamiya-Sekor SX 135mm f2.8 by wNG 555, on Flickr
Basically SOOC jpegs, with a few adjusted for exposure to my liking. They were all shot under exposed to deal with the bright sunlight.
Ah me like lens! 
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"The eyes are useless when the mind is blind."
Sony ILCE-6000, SELP1650, SEL1855, SEL55210, SEL5018. Sigma 19/30/60mm f2.8 EX DN Art.
Rokinon 8mm f3.5 Fish-Eye, 14mm f2.8 IF ED UMC. Samyang 12mm f2.8 ED AS NCS Fish-Eye.
And a bunch of Manual-Focus Lenses
My Flickr |
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Pontus
Joined: 18 Dec 2011
Posts: 1471
Location: Jakobstad, Finland
Expire: 2016-08-25
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| Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2015 9:42 pm Post subject: |
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Pontus wrote:
Very nice results, obviously a very high quality lens. Nothing wrong with the photographer either 
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Follow this link for my FOR SALE list (partially updated 19.11.2015) |
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WNG555
Joined: 18 Dec 2014
Posts: 784
Location: Arrid-Zone-A, USA
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| Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2015 10:17 pm Post subject: |
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WNG555 wrote:
| Pontus wrote: |
| Very nice results, obviously a very high quality lens. Nothing wrong with the photographer either |
Thanks Pontus! I'm just a humble photog with so much still to learn, so the compliment is much appreciated!
_________________
"The eyes are useless when the mind is blind."
Sony ILCE-6000, SELP1650, SEL1855, SEL55210, SEL5018. Sigma 19/30/60mm f2.8 EX DN Art.
Rokinon 8mm f3.5 Fish-Eye, 14mm f2.8 IF ED UMC. Samyang 12mm f2.8 ED AS NCS Fish-Eye.
And a bunch of Manual-Focus Lenses
My Flickr |
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papasito
Joined: 09 Jan 2015
Posts: 1658
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| Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2019 1:51 pm Post subject: |
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papasito wrote:
A famous magazine had a test of some 135 lenses (Zeiss, Nikon, Leica, etc) and the rolleinar 135/2,8 for rollei (the mamiya SX rebranded) was in the top 5.
I have a SX one. A very good lens.
Like the hexanon 3,2, two winners |
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D1N0
Joined: 07 Aug 2012
Posts: 2491
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| Posted: Sat May 14, 2022 2:50 pm Post subject: |
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D1N0 wrote:
One coming my way with a very used camera attached. Seller Pic.
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pentaxian |
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caspert79
Joined: 31 Oct 2010
Posts: 2917
Location: The Netherlands
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| Posted: Sat May 14, 2022 6:07 pm Post subject: |
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caspert79 wrote:
| papasito wrote: |
A famous magazine had a test of some 135 lenses (Zeiss, Nikon, Leica, etc) and the rolleinar 135/2,8 for rollei (the mamiya SX rebranded) was in the top 5.
I have a SX one. A very good lens.
Like the hexanon 3,2, two winners |
It was number 2 actually, Zeiss was nr 1, Leica nr 3. Yes, this is an excellent lens and one of the best bargains around. I find the build quality of the SX lenses very nice as well. |
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kiddo
Joined: 29 Jun 2018
Posts: 1120
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| Posted: Sat May 14, 2022 6:31 pm Post subject: |
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kiddo wrote:
Not really a bargain nowadays, build quality is pretty much as Zeiss , even though is easier to take apart than Zeiss. |
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D1N0
Joined: 07 Aug 2012
Posts: 2491
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| Posted: Sat May 14, 2022 8:40 pm Post subject: |
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D1N0 wrote:
Well this one was 1850 Yen. Seller didn't name the lens in the listing, just that it was 135mm.
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D1N0
Joined: 07 Aug 2012
Posts: 2491
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| Posted: Mon May 23, 2022 3:33 pm Post subject: |
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D1N0 wrote:
| papasito wrote: |
A famous magazine had a test of some 135 lenses (Zeiss, Nikon, Leica, etc) and the rolleinar 135/2,8 for rollei (the mamiya SX rebranded) was in the top 5.
I have a SX one. A very good lens.
Like the hexanon 3,2, two winners |
Can you tell me which magazine and/or if it is available anywhere online?
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pentaxian |
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Alsatian2017
Joined: 05 Mar 2018
Posts: 237
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| Posted: Mon May 23, 2022 5:55 pm Post subject: |
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Alsatian2017 wrote:
| D1N0 wrote: |
| papasito wrote: |
A famous magazine had a test of some 135 lenses (Zeiss, Nikon, Leica, etc) and the rolleinar 135/2,8 for rollei (the mamiya SX rebranded) was in the top 5.
I have a SX one. A very good lens.
Like the hexanon 3,2, two winners |
Can you tell me which magazine and/or if it is available anywhere online? |
There were two tests published in ColorFoto (german), one in the early 1980s and the other a few years later. Here's the summary of the first test (sorry, resolution is very low...) I've only got ta very low resolution PDF, but basically, among 43 tested lenses, the Mamya SX was among the best 135 ers, together with Nikon Nikkor Ai 135 mm f/2,8, Pentax SMC 135 mm f/2,5 and Canon FD 135 mm f/3,5 SC. Top performers : Contax Zeiss Sonnar 135 mm f/2,8 T*, Leitz Elmarit-R 135 mm f/2,8 and Minolta MD 135 mm f/2,8. Strangely, the Konica Hexanon 135 mm f/3,2 was not among the favorites (sharpness drop on the borders), even though my own sample is perfect wide open even in the corners.
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caspert79
Joined: 31 Oct 2010
Posts: 2917
Location: The Netherlands
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| Posted: Mon May 23, 2022 6:25 pm Post subject: |
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caspert79 wrote:
| Alsatian2017 wrote: |
| I've only got ta very low resolution PDF, but basically, among 43 tested lenses, the Mamya SX was among the best 135 ers, together with Nikon Nikkor Ai 135 mm f/2,8, Pentax SMC 135 mm f/2,5 and Canon FD 135 mm f/3,5 SC. Top performers : Contax Zeiss Sonnar 135 mm f/2,8 T*, Leitz Elmarit-R 135 mm f/2,8 and Minolta MD 135 mm f/2,8. Strangely, the Konica Hexanon 135 mm f/3,2 was not among the favorites (sharpness drop on the borders), even though my own sample is perfect wide open even in the corners. |
Very strange indeed. I’ve meticulously tested my 135mm lenses and in the corners is actually where the Hexanon 135/3.2 excells. Wide open and at f/4 better corners than all my other classic 135mm lenses, including Nikkor ai 135/2.8, Elmar 135/4, Sonnar 135/3.5.
Center performance not really great wide open and at f/4, but once stopped down to f/5.6 it is pretty much perfect. |
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D1N0
Joined: 07 Aug 2012
Posts: 2491
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| Posted: Mon May 23, 2022 7:18 pm Post subject: |
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D1N0 wrote:
| Alsatian2017 wrote: |
| D1N0 wrote: |
| papasito wrote: |
A famous magazine had a test of some 135 lenses (Zeiss, Nikon, Leica, etc) and the rolleinar 135/2,8 for rollei (the mamiya SX rebranded) was in the top 5.
I have a SX one. A very good lens.
Like the hexanon 3,2, two winners |
Can you tell me which magazine and/or if it is available anywhere online? |
There were two tests published in ColorFoto (german), one in the early 1980s and the other a few years later. Here's the summary of the first test (sorry, resolution is very low...) I've only got ta very low resolution PDF, but basically, among 43 tested lenses, the Mamya SX was among the best 135 ers, together with Nikon Nikkor Ai 135 mm f/2,8, Pentax SMC 135 mm f/2,5 and Canon FD 135 mm f/3,5 SC. Top performers : Contax Zeiss Sonnar 135 mm f/2,8 T*, Leitz Elmarit-R 135 mm f/2,8 and Minolta MD 135 mm f/2,8. Strangely, the Konica Hexanon 135 mm f/3,2 was not among the favorites (sharpness drop on the borders), even though my own sample is perfect wide open even in the corners.
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Thx very interesting I'm tempted to go look for the worst performers I had never even heard of Optigon. Perhaps for a reason.
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pentaxian |
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Alsatian2017
Joined: 05 Mar 2018
Posts: 237
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| Posted: Mon May 23, 2022 7:51 pm Post subject: |
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Alsatian2017 wrote:
| caspert79 wrote: |
| Alsatian2017 wrote: |
| I've only got ta very low resolution PDF, but basically, among 43 tested lenses, the Mamya SX was among the best 135 ers, together with Nikon Nikkor Ai 135 mm f/2,8, Pentax SMC 135 mm f/2,5 and Canon FD 135 mm f/3,5 SC. Top performers : Contax Zeiss Sonnar 135 mm f/2,8 T*, Leitz Elmarit-R 135 mm f/2,8 and Minolta MD 135 mm f/2,8. Strangely, the Konica Hexanon 135 mm f/3,2 was not among the favorites (sharpness drop on the borders), even though my own sample is perfect wide open even in the corners. |
Very strange indeed. I’ve meticulously tested my 135mm lenses and in the corners is actually where the Hexanon 135/3.2 excells. Wide open and at f/4 better corners than all my other classic 135mm lenses, including Nikkor ai 135/2.8, Elmar 135/4, Sonnar 135/3.5.
Center performance not really great wide open and at f/4, but once stopped down to f/5.6 it is pretty much perfect. |
That's my experience as well. |
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Alsatian2017
Joined: 05 Mar 2018
Posts: 237
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| Posted: Mon May 23, 2022 7:54 pm Post subject: |
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Alsatian2017 wrote:
| D1N0 wrote: |
Thx very interesting I'm tempted to go look for the worst performers I had never even heard of Optigon. Perhaps for a reason. |
One might be tempted to do so.
The Optigon lenses were in fact relabelled Makinon lenses. And I can assure You they are really very bad |
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D1N0
Joined: 07 Aug 2012
Posts: 2491
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| Posted: Mon May 23, 2022 8:07 pm Post subject: |
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D1N0 wrote:
| Alsatian2017 wrote: |
| D1N0 wrote: |
Thx very interesting I'm tempted to go look for the worst performers I had never even heard of Optigon. Perhaps for a reason. |
One might be tempted to do so.
The Optigon lenses were in fact relabelled Makinon lenses. And I can assure You they are really very bad |
I will control myself then. I already have a Prinzflex 200/3.3 made by Makina and even this neighbourhood cat didn't like it.
 Seriously? by The lens profile, on Flickr
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pentaxian |
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iangreenhalgh1
Joined: 18 Mar 2011
Posts: 15685
Expire: 2014-01-07
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| Posted: Mon May 23, 2022 8:42 pm Post subject: |
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iangreenhalgh1 wrote:
My Hexanon 3.2/135 is razor sharp wide open in the centre on a 16mp APS-C sensor. I have a photo of a bee on a flower somewhere taken with it and you can clearly see all the little grains of pollen stuck to the be.
Conversely, I didn't think much of the Mamiya SX 2.8/135, not bad, but nothing special.
Copy variation?
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I don't care who designed it, who made it or what country it comes from - I just enjoy using it! |
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iangreenhalgh1
Joined: 18 Mar 2011
Posts: 15685
Expire: 2014-01-07
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| Posted: Mon May 23, 2022 8:44 pm Post subject: |
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iangreenhalgh1 wrote:
My Hexanon 3.2/135 is razor sharp wide open in the centre on a 16mp APS-C sensor. I have a photo of a bee on a flower somewhere taken with it and you can clearly see all the little grains of pollen stuck to the be.
Conversely, I didn't think much of the Mamiya SX 2.8/135, not bad, but nothing special.
Copy variation?
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I don't care who designed it, who made it or what country it comes from - I just enjoy using it! |
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D1N0
Joined: 07 Aug 2012
Posts: 2491
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| Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2022 11:59 am Post subject: |
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D1N0 wrote:
First test shot. Nice smooth rendering and Bokeh. It doesn't feel super sharp to me but sharp enough (i've only shot wide open because I have yet to fix the aperture pin and also still have to file off the sx ridge)
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pentaxian |
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Ultrapix
Joined: 06 Jan 2012
Posts: 551
Location: Italy
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| Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2022 12:10 pm Post subject: |
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Ultrapix wrote:
| D1N0 wrote: |
First test shot. Nice smooth rendering and Bokeh. It doesn't feel super sharp to me but sharp enough (i've only shot wide open because I have yet to fix the aperture pin and also still have to file off the sx ridge)
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It's definitely sharp, just not too much aggressive |
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D1N0
Joined: 07 Aug 2012
Posts: 2491
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| Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2022 1:21 pm Post subject: |
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D1N0 wrote:
Filed it flat for use on the K-1 and ran into the next problem. Three holes in the aperture ring that will catch on the lens locking pin effectively locking the aperture ring. Will have to fill those up without glueing the ring stuck...
you can see them in this image I stole from the photobucket :p
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pentaxian |
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D1N0
Joined: 07 Aug 2012
Posts: 2491
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| Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2022 11:31 pm Post subject: |
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D1N0 wrote:
Filled the holes up with some chewed up paper as a temporary measure
 Rearviewkeh by The lens profile, on Flickr
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pentaxian |
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