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Topcor RE 135/3.5 Goes to College
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PostPosted: Mon Nov 03, 2014 12:14 am    Post subject: Topcor RE 135/3.5 Goes to College Reply with quote
I've seen some nice examples and read all the praises. Now I can see it for myself and this lens knocks my socks off. Two words come to mind: crisp and faithful. Beyond a little output sharpening, I haven't even been tempted to do any pp in LR/PS with images from this lens. It's just that good across the board SOOC. And this is coming from an admitted Zeiss fanboy. Smile

I haven't set foot on my old college campus in. . . well, let's just say quite a while. But for some reason found myself there on this nice bright day. All shot at f/8, except the last three were wide open. What surprises me is that there were plenty of opportunities for CA, but it didn't happen.

















PostPosted: Mon Nov 03, 2014 12:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
I like that lens, every time someone posts pictures with one it makes me want one. Great pictures, I can see why you're happy with it.


PostPosted: Mon Nov 03, 2014 9:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Nice shots, I was tempted to get one, but I don't think I will, as I'm very happy with the older Topcor R 135/3.5 preset, it's just fabulous.
The RE 200/4(sorry, f5.6) should be much the same as the RE 135/3.5, as my R 200/4 is much the same as my R 135/3.5, which is to say that it's as sharp as I could ever want wide open, and it has great colour fidelity,

Last edited by Lightshow on Tue Nov 04, 2014 3:56 pm; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Mon Nov 03, 2014 9:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
A truly great lens as these samples show, probably my sharpest 135 wide open (and one of the three I kept), with amazing build quality and extremely pleasant rendering. The built-in telescopic hood is a great plus.
The only little issue is a tad of CA at wider apertures in OOF areas, but that can be easily avoided with a bit of attention (with live view).


PostPosted: Tue Nov 04, 2014 2:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
The R. Topcor 135/3.5 is the same formula as the later various Auto-Topcors. I suppose being a preset lens, it's more handy with mount adapters.

I always loved the 100/2.8 so much that the 135/3.5 never got much use.

There is no RE. Auto-Topcor 200/4. It's a 200/5.6. As you can see by the posted reviews, it's not the best of the Topcors.

The R. Topcor 200/4, which isn't too rare, is a better choice. Again, it has the present advantage on adapters.

The Cimko-manufactured RE Topcor 200/3.3 is too prone to incurable haze to recommend, although a good sample isn't bad. You can get it in many mounts under different brand names.


PostPosted: Tue Nov 04, 2014 12:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Is there a few different versions of this lens? Can you post a picture of it please?


PostPosted: Tue Nov 04, 2014 4:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Does anyone here have the R 135/2 ? I've been tempted by it for a long while, been looking for the R 90/3.5 too.


PostPosted: Thu Nov 06, 2014 1:30 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
John Shriver wrote:
It's a 200/5.6. As you can see by the posted reviews, it's not the best of the Topcors.



John: Do you have experience with the 5.6/200 or are you just referring to what has been reported? I read that somewhere too, and I know the technical tests support the notion of lower resolution when compared to other Topcors. However, I do have one and am not at all disappointed. I recently took it and the Rokkor 4/200 out together and find the results remarkable similar with the Topcor having less CA. The Rokkor is highly regarded.


PostPosted: Fri Nov 07, 2014 10:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Wow! Now, I just bought an RE Super body on Ebay for $100. Guess what I'm going to be looking for next! Twisted Evil

These shots are incredibly sharp and detailed. Are they scanned prints, or have you mounted the lens on a DSLR? Enquiring minds want to know!


PostPosted: Fri Nov 07, 2014 2:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
moltogordo wrote:
Wow! Now, I just bought an RE Super body on Ebay for $100. Guess what I'm going to be looking for next! Twisted Evil

These shots are incredibly sharp and detailed. Are they scanned prints, or have you mounted the lens on a DSLR? Enquiring minds want to know!


You're still doing film? Most of what you see in these posts are from digital.


PostPosted: Fri Nov 07, 2014 11:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
moltogordo wrote:
Are they scanned prints, or have you mounted the lens on a DSLR? Enquiring minds want to know!


These were all shot digital with Canon 450D in raw format and handheld. I use an Exakta mount adapter.


PostPosted: Sat Nov 08, 2014 7:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
frenched wrote:
moltogordo wrote:
Are they scanned prints, or have you mounted the lens on a DSLR? Enquiring minds want to know!


These were all shot digital with Canon 450D in raw format and handheld. I use an Exakta mount adapter.


Thanks! Some very fine photography here.

Yes, woodrim, I do all of my black and white on film, and scan prints. That's about 35% of my photography. To me, I'd be lost without a darkroom!

For color, I do digital, shooting both Canon and Pentax.


PostPosted: Tue Nov 25, 2014 8:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I did one comparison roll of 200mm lenses on my Super D, and the RE. Auto-Topcor 200/5.6 wasn't all that impressive. I decided that the RE Topcor (Cima Kogaku) 200/3.3 wasn't bad, and it's light, and meter-coupled. I think I recall that the R. Topcor 200/4 was probably the best, but for the shoot I was comparing for, the speed of the 3.3 was what I wanted. I think I also tested a Komura Uni-Auto 200/3.5 in that round.

I have the R. Topcor 135/2. It's a beast. Even have the right hood, but not the correct lens cap. (Amazed I found the hood separately, and cheap. I doubt I will ever find the correct lens cap.) It is large and awkward. Only done some very cursory test shots with it.


PostPosted: Tue Nov 25, 2014 9:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
John Shriver wrote:
I did one comparison roll of 200mm lenses on my Super D, and the RE. Auto-Topcor 200/5.6 wasn't all that impressive. I decided that the RE Topcor (Cima Kogaku) 200/3.3 wasn't bad, and it's light, and meter-coupled. I think I recall that the R. Topcor 200/4 was probably the best, but for the shoot I was comparing for, the speed of the 3.3 was what I wanted. I think I also tested a Komura Uni-Auto 200/3.5 in that round.

I have the R. Topcor 135/2. It's a beast. Even have the right hood, but not the correct lens cap. (Amazed I found the hood separately, and cheap. I doubt I will ever find the correct lens cap.) It is large and awkward. Only done some very cursory test shots with it.


I'd like to see some from 2/135.
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