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connloyalist
Joined: 22 Jul 2020
Posts: 345
Location: the Netherlands
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 Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2024 9:53 am Post subject: Pixel peeping my 135mm 3.5 lenses |
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connloyalist wrote:
This morning it is a beautiful, clear and sunny day. A perfect opportunity to do some testing on my 135mm 3.5 / 4.0 lenses  (mostly I wanted to recheck my Minolta MD 135mm 3.5, an MDIIb version)..
So for this comparison I picked the Minolta MD 135mm 3.5, Olympus OM 135mm 3.5 (EDIT: this is a version 2 of the lens, a "blacknose"; single coated), Carl Zeiss Jena 135mm 4.0 (aluminum version, pre-zebra) and a narrow zebra Albert Schacht 135mm 3.5. I would have included my Schneider 135mm 3.5, but being an Edixa lens it doesn't quite focus to infinity for me.
I tested all lenses by taking a picture of a building about 700 meters from my balcony (the building used to be an office building. They stripped it down to bare concrete to turn it into apartments, but ran out of money so it is still grafiti'ed bare concrete). Pics were taken at f/3.5, 4 if available, 5.6 and 8. Camera is an Olympus E-M1 Mk.III. This is a M4/3 camera, so corner sharpness and vignetting isn't really an issue with these full frame lenses.
Sharpness.
In terms of sharpness I anticipated the winner would be the CZJ, in spite of it being 20 or so years older than the MD and OM. As I look at it, wide open it beats everything else. Yes, the CZJ is f/4 while everything else is f/3.5. Stopped down to 5.6 it is a close run thing, but I still give the edge to the CZJ. In second place, the MD. Loser is clearly the Schacht which is much worse.
CA's.
To my eyes, wide open the winner is the CZJ. Slightly to my surprise, in second place the Schacht. MD and OM about the same. Stopped down to 5.6, things change. I would rate the CZJ and MD about the same. The OM and the Schacht both still show some purple fringing here.
Color and contrast.
Here for me the MD is the winner, followed by the Schacht. Both of these show a light blue sky with puffy white clouds, while in the OM and CZJ there is barely a distinction between the sky and clouds and it looks more or less light gray. EDIT: The CZJ and OM are both single coated. The MD is multi coated. Don't know what the Schacht is but considering it is a 1960's lens I assume single coated.
The take away from this for me is that I will be using my Minolta MD more whenever I feel I need a 135mm lens. On the other hand, if sharpness and CA faster than f/5.6 is critical then nothing beats the CZJ.
If anyone wants me to post crops from these pictures, let me know and I will see what I can do
Regards, Christine |
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visualopsins
Joined: 05 Mar 2009
Posts: 11061
Location: California
Expire: 2025-04-11
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| Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2024 3:03 pm Post subject: Re: Pixel peeping my 135mm 3.5 lenses |
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visualopsins wrote:
 I'd love to see the photos and crops if you have the time! |
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connloyalist
Joined: 22 Jul 2020
Posts: 345
Location: the Netherlands
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| Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2024 3:47 pm Post subject: |
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connloyalist wrote:
This is the overall scene. The building is a bit of an eye sore, but makes for a good lens testing subject
This first picture is actually the Minolta MD 135mm @f/5.6. Keep in mind that this is a M4/3 camera, so in full frame terms this is an equivalent focal length of 270mm. The "Super Fine" *.jpg I get out of my camera is too large for the forum, so I had to open the raw file in my camera app and resave it as "Fine" to make it smaller
Next, crops from center of all four camera's, wide open.
Same, at f/5.6
Regards, Christine |
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Doc Sharptail
Joined: 23 Nov 2020
Posts: 1216
Location: Winnipeg Canada
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| Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2024 4:43 pm Post subject: |
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Doc Sharptail wrote:
Contrast is pretty flat on the Schacht. Is it hazed/fungused?
The early single coatings can vary widely in terms of performance.
The two single coated lenses I have here are fairly prone to flare as well, and one is a 135mm.
-D.S.
_________________
D-810, F2, FTN.
35mm f2 O.C. nikkor
50 f2 H nikkor, 50 f 1.4 AI-s, 135 f3.5 Q,
50 f2 K nikkor 2x, 28-85mm f3.5-4.5 A/I-s, 35-105 3.5-4.5 A/I-s, 200mm f4 Micro A/I, partial list.
"Ain't no half-way" -S.R.V.
"Oh Yeah... Alright" -Paul Simon |
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connloyalist
Joined: 22 Jul 2020
Posts: 345
Location: the Netherlands
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| Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2024 5:02 pm Post subject: |
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connloyalist wrote:
| Doc Sharptail wrote: |
Contrast is pretty flat on the Schacht. Is it hazed/fungused?
-D.S. |
One of the elements of the Schacht has a ring of haze around the edge. I actually have two Schacht 135mm 3.5's. The other one is a slightly earlier model. However, the lenses on that are completely clear. Should have used that one in stead. Here is the same scene on that one @5.6.
Regards, C. |
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caspert79
Joined: 31 Oct 2010
Posts: 3225
Location: The Netherlands
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| Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2024 6:46 pm Post subject: |
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caspert79 wrote:
Thanks for sharing your findings. Yes, the Sonnar 135/4 is very sharp. Hard to beat wide open (also in the corners on FF, provided that you have a lens that’s not decentered). The 135/3.5 is about equally good, and you can get a MC version as well. I did quite some testing with different 135’s, and the Sonnars (f/3.5 & f/4) consistently gave excellent results.
Two other lenses to consider:
- The Nikkor ai 135/3.5, which really surprised me and is my current favourite 135. Very sharp and contrasty from corner to corner, and great bokeh.
- The Hexanon 135/3.2. Focuses closer than usual, and once stopped down a little, it gets razor sharp. |
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visualopsins
Joined: 05 Mar 2009
Posts: 11061
Location: California
Expire: 2025-04-11
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| Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2024 9:53 pm Post subject: |
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visualopsins wrote:
 Is that a seabird?
_________________
☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮ like attracts like! ☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮
Cameras: Sony ILCE-7RM2, Spotmatics II, F, and ESII, Nikon P4
Lenses:
M42 Asahi Optical Co., Takumar 1:4 f=35mm, 1:2 f=58mm (Sonnar), 1:2.4 f=58mm (Heliar), 1:2.2 f=55mm (Gaussian), 1:2.8 f=105mm (Model I), 1:2.8/105 (Model II), 1:5.6/200, Tele-Takumar 1:5.6/200, 1:6.3/300, Macro-Takumar 1:4/50, Auto-Takumar 1:2.3 f=35, 1:1.8 f=55mm, 1:2.2 f=55mm, Super-TAKUMAR 1:3.5/28 (fat), 1:2/35 (Fat), 1:1.4/50 (8-element), Super-Multi-Coated Fisheye-TAKUMAR 1:4/17, Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 1:4.5/20, 1:3.5/24, 1:3.5/28, 1:2/35, 1:3.5/35, 1:1.8/85, 1:1.9/85 1:2.8/105, 1:3.5/135, 1:2.5/135 (II), 1:4/150, 1:4/200, 1:4/300, 1:4.5/500, Super-Multi-Coated Macro-TAKUMAR 1:4/50, 1:4/100, Super-Multi-Coated Bellows-TAKUMAR 1:4/100, SMC TAKUMAR 1:1.4/50, 1:1.8/55
M42 Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 2.4/35
Contax Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 28-70mm F3.5-4.5
Pentax K-mount SMC PENTAX-A ZOOM 1:3.5 35~105mm, SMC PENTAX ZOOM 1:4 45~125mm
Nikon Micro-NIKKOR-P-C Auto 1:3.5 f=55mm, NIKKOR-P Auto 105mm f/2.5 Pre-AI (Sonnar), Micro-NIKKOR 105mm 1:4 AI, NIKKOR AI-S 35-135mm f/3,5-4,5
Tamron SP 17mm f/3.5 (51B), Tamron SP 17mm f/3.5 (151B), SP 500mm f/8 (55BB), SP 70-210mm f/3.5 (19AH)
Vivitar 100mm 1:2.8 MC 1:1 Macro Telephoto (Kiron)
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connloyalist
Joined: 22 Jul 2020
Posts: 345
Location: the Netherlands
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| Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2024 10:01 pm Post subject: |
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connloyalist wrote:
| visualopsins wrote: |
| Is that a seabird? |
Yes, looks like a gull. I am about 15km from the sea. I can't tell you the exact species, but we do see gulls around here quite a bit so I am not surprised to see one in the picture
Regards, Christine |
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DaveNJ
Joined: 10 May 2024
Posts: 23
Location: NJ
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| Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2024 12:12 pm Post subject: |
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DaveNJ wrote:
How would a Konica do in this comparison?
Last edited by DaveNJ on Tue Jun 25, 2024 3:15 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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visualopsins
Joined: 05 Mar 2009
Posts: 11061
Location: California
Expire: 2025-04-11
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| Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2024 3:13 pm Post subject: |
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visualopsins wrote:
| DaveNJ wrote: |
| taylorcurran wrote: |
| I would expect the Minolta, Olympus, and Zeiss lenses to provide excellent image quality, with the Zeiss potentially being the best of the three. The Albert Schacht lens is the wild card, and its performance will need to be evaluated through your own testing |
How would a Konica do in this comparison? |
That was AI spam. I edited the quote in your reply to remove the spam link. Don't expect a reply.
_________________
☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮ like attracts like! ☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮
Cameras: Sony ILCE-7RM2, Spotmatics II, F, and ESII, Nikon P4
Lenses:
M42 Asahi Optical Co., Takumar 1:4 f=35mm, 1:2 f=58mm (Sonnar), 1:2.4 f=58mm (Heliar), 1:2.2 f=55mm (Gaussian), 1:2.8 f=105mm (Model I), 1:2.8/105 (Model II), 1:5.6/200, Tele-Takumar 1:5.6/200, 1:6.3/300, Macro-Takumar 1:4/50, Auto-Takumar 1:2.3 f=35, 1:1.8 f=55mm, 1:2.2 f=55mm, Super-TAKUMAR 1:3.5/28 (fat), 1:2/35 (Fat), 1:1.4/50 (8-element), Super-Multi-Coated Fisheye-TAKUMAR 1:4/17, Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 1:4.5/20, 1:3.5/24, 1:3.5/28, 1:2/35, 1:3.5/35, 1:1.8/85, 1:1.9/85 1:2.8/105, 1:3.5/135, 1:2.5/135 (II), 1:4/150, 1:4/200, 1:4/300, 1:4.5/500, Super-Multi-Coated Macro-TAKUMAR 1:4/50, 1:4/100, Super-Multi-Coated Bellows-TAKUMAR 1:4/100, SMC TAKUMAR 1:1.4/50, 1:1.8/55
M42 Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 2.4/35
Contax Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 28-70mm F3.5-4.5
Pentax K-mount SMC PENTAX-A ZOOM 1:3.5 35~105mm, SMC PENTAX ZOOM 1:4 45~125mm
Nikon Micro-NIKKOR-P-C Auto 1:3.5 f=55mm, NIKKOR-P Auto 105mm f/2.5 Pre-AI (Sonnar), Micro-NIKKOR 105mm 1:4 AI, NIKKOR AI-S 35-135mm f/3,5-4,5
Tamron SP 17mm f/3.5 (51B), Tamron SP 17mm f/3.5 (151B), SP 500mm f/8 (55BB), SP 70-210mm f/3.5 (19AH)
Vivitar 100mm 1:2.8 MC 1:1 Macro Telephoto (Kiron)
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DaveNJ
Joined: 10 May 2024
Posts: 23
Location: NJ
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| Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2024 3:17 pm Post subject: |
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DaveNJ wrote:
| visualopsins wrote: |
| DaveNJ wrote: |
| How would a Konica do in this comparison? |
That was AI spam. I edited the quote in your reply to remove the spam link. Don't expect a reply. |
Wow that is crazy. Any way I removed his post from my reply to be on the safe side. |
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robin0112358
Joined: 13 Jul 2024
Posts: 6
Location: Ireland
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| Posted: Sat Jul 13, 2024 6:33 pm Post subject: |
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robin0112358 wrote:
Sorry, what was spam? Is there anything I should be looking out for? |
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visualopsins
Joined: 05 Mar 2009
Posts: 11061
Location: California
Expire: 2025-04-11
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| Posted: Sat Jul 13, 2024 6:54 pm Post subject: |
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visualopsins wrote:
| robin0112358 wrote: |
| Sorry, what was spam? Is there anything I should be looking out for? |
The spam reply with link was deleted from this topic. No worries...
_________________
☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮ like attracts like! ☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮
Cameras: Sony ILCE-7RM2, Spotmatics II, F, and ESII, Nikon P4
Lenses:
M42 Asahi Optical Co., Takumar 1:4 f=35mm, 1:2 f=58mm (Sonnar), 1:2.4 f=58mm (Heliar), 1:2.2 f=55mm (Gaussian), 1:2.8 f=105mm (Model I), 1:2.8/105 (Model II), 1:5.6/200, Tele-Takumar 1:5.6/200, 1:6.3/300, Macro-Takumar 1:4/50, Auto-Takumar 1:2.3 f=35, 1:1.8 f=55mm, 1:2.2 f=55mm, Super-TAKUMAR 1:3.5/28 (fat), 1:2/35 (Fat), 1:1.4/50 (8-element), Super-Multi-Coated Fisheye-TAKUMAR 1:4/17, Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 1:4.5/20, 1:3.5/24, 1:3.5/28, 1:2/35, 1:3.5/35, 1:1.8/85, 1:1.9/85 1:2.8/105, 1:3.5/135, 1:2.5/135 (II), 1:4/150, 1:4/200, 1:4/300, 1:4.5/500, Super-Multi-Coated Macro-TAKUMAR 1:4/50, 1:4/100, Super-Multi-Coated Bellows-TAKUMAR 1:4/100, SMC TAKUMAR 1:1.4/50, 1:1.8/55
M42 Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 2.4/35
Contax Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 28-70mm F3.5-4.5
Pentax K-mount SMC PENTAX-A ZOOM 1:3.5 35~105mm, SMC PENTAX ZOOM 1:4 45~125mm
Nikon Micro-NIKKOR-P-C Auto 1:3.5 f=55mm, NIKKOR-P Auto 105mm f/2.5 Pre-AI (Sonnar), Micro-NIKKOR 105mm 1:4 AI, NIKKOR AI-S 35-135mm f/3,5-4,5
Tamron SP 17mm f/3.5 (51B), Tamron SP 17mm f/3.5 (151B), SP 500mm f/8 (55BB), SP 70-210mm f/3.5 (19AH)
Vivitar 100mm 1:2.8 MC 1:1 Macro Telephoto (Kiron)
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