What is this lens - Titan 135mm f1.8 M42?

DanielT74 · Joined: 01 Apr 2011 Posts: 204

I've come across this monster and was wondering if anyone knew who made it and what sort of quality one can expect?

It doesn't look like one of the Spiratone, Raynox Polaris or Sigmatel, so I am lost as to the origin. Comes with 18 aperture blades apparently!

Any help will be appreciated!!!

Spotmatic · Joined: 18 Aug 2008 Posts: 4045 Location: Netherlands

Based on the style it was made by the same manufacturer who made the Vivitar 135mm f/1.5 Professional (look at the tripod mount which is also completely the same):

http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Vivitar_Professional_135mm_f/1.5

DanielT74 · Joined: 01 Apr 2011 Posts: 204

Thanks, Peter!

Any other "educated guesses"?

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

early sigma ?

ForenSeil · Joined: 15 Apr 2011 Posts: 2726 Location: Kiel, Germany.

It's clearly japanese.
I think it's made by Tokina.
Here's my Tokina 200/3.5 (Soligor rebranded) for comparision:

The rifles on the metallic ears for the aperture which can't be seen on this pic are looking identical to the rifles of the aperture ring of the Titan lens.
Some more pics of other versions which could be interesting: http://forum.mflenses.com/viewtopic.php?t=20261&view=previous
(Look at the tripod mount!)
Tokina made also a loth lenses for rebranding and also a lot lenses with T-Mount

Bye the way I just recognized that many Sigma, Konica and some old Minolta prime lenses are also looking also very very very similar to my Tokina. Did Tokina and Sigma copy this style to look like a "real Konica" lens? Or was there maybe an Japanese component supplier who made parts for all them?

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

Perhaps Tokina made lenses to Sigma also, because my Spiratone branded 135mm f1.8 lens look like this.

DanielT74 · Joined: 01 Apr 2011 Posts: 204

Yes, the Tokina above looks very similar!

The built is also a bit similar to some Spiratones but not the overall construction and shape:

http://www.pentaxforums.com/userreviews/spiratone-135mm-f1-8-ys.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ebanator/5770329846/

Looks more like the Soligor at the bottom of this page:

http://forum.mflenses.com/finally-got-me-an-135mm-f1-8-t33823,start,15,highlight,135mm.html

But the one I am looking at seems bigger. Confused

The aperture ring is also further out than the focusing ring which I've only seen on rangefinder glass...

walter g · Joined: 20 Feb 2010 Posts: 2463 Location: NC, USA

These lenses tend to be credited to Sigma, but I bilieve there were 3 manufactorers making the 135 1.8. Sigma, Mitake, and Tokina.

DanielT74 · Joined: 01 Apr 2011 Posts: 204

So the most likely candidate seems to be Tokina, not a company renowned for making fast lenses.

I am doubtful though - does anybody know of their lens made with the aperture ring in the front?

In any case I should have it in a few days and can do some tests to see what it can do!

casualcollector · Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 12:10 pm Post subject:

Aperture rings st the front are common on pre-set lenses like this 135. As for manufacturer, my hunch is Sigma as the focus direction is opposite of standard Tokina practice. Other suspects would be Nittoh, Tomioka or a lesser known maker like Norita.

DanielT74 · Joined: 01 Apr 2011 Posts: 204

I've shot a few images with the Titan. Not a lot because you have to be a titan to use it - it's so massive and heavy. But it is quite a nice lens if one manages to nail the focus! Here's a few images to give you a taste of what it can do - if you own another 135/1.8 it would be interesting to see how similar/different they are:

Night pic - DoF at f1.8 and ISO1600 (on NEX_5N):

Close-up and wide open portrait:

Slightly stopped down:

Ghost2501 · Joined: 26 Apr 2012 Posts: 102 Location: Belgium

Hey, nice results Smile

What is the weight of that lense ?

DanielT74 · Joined: 01 Apr 2011 Posts: 204

Oh, a mere 1365g (that's without the tripod mount and the camera, in case you were wondering).

ForenSeil · Joined: 15 Apr 2011 Posts: 2726 Location: Kiel, Germany.

Today I hold a zoom lens in my hands on a flea market which looked very similar. It was labeled with Raynox Polaris .

DanielT74 · Joined: 01 Apr 2011 Posts: 204

Yes, there was a 135/1.8 made under that label but it looks rather different to this one. The Raynox seems much more stout for instance:

Smoli4 · Expire: 2013-06-07

Phalbert · Joined: 17 May 2009 Posts: 383 Location: Namibia

Hi Daniel. This an old post but let's try. I've been sending PMs, but looks like they don't reach you. Do you still have this lens, and would you sell it ? Please PM me. Thanks a lot !

D1N0 · Joined: 07 Aug 2012 Posts: 2536

kymarto · Posted: Sat May 30, 2020 10:36 pm Post subject:

FWIW here are two images shot with the Spiratone 135mm f1.8. Quality is decent by not terribly sharp

Phalbert · Joined: 17 May 2009 Posts: 383 Location: Namibia

Hi Kymarto, were these shot wide open ?? I find them very good...

Phalbert · Joined: 17 May 2009 Posts: 383 Location: Namibia

[quote="D1N0"][quote="Phalbert"]Hi Daniel. This an old post but let's try. I've been sending PMs, but looks like they don't reach you. Do you still have this lens, and would you sell it ? Please PM me. Thanks a lot ![/quote]

Don't think so. Maybe this is him. https://www.instagram.com/danielt74/ There is also a member by that name on pentaxforums. Hasn't logged in since 2015.[/quote]

Thanks a lot.

kymarto · Posted: Sun May 31, 2020 7:45 pm Post subject:

kds315* · Expire: 2021-03-09

Toby! Have a similar one (Porst 1.8/135mm), quite decent actually, better than expected...