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Tele-Xenar 135mm f/3.5 vs Nikkor Ai 135mm f/3.5
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PostPosted: Thu Jun 20, 2024 8:33 am    Post subject: Tele-Xenar 135mm f/3.5 vs Nikkor Ai 135mm f/3.5 Reply with quote
An infinity comparison between the two lenses. For the corner shots, the house was focused on in the center, and then placed into the corner, so it gives a reliable idea how the lens performs from corner to corner.

comparison by devoscasper, on Flickr

The Tele-Xenar shows quite good performance, especially considering its age, but the Nikkor beats it. I tested the Nikkor against the Sonnar 135/4 before, and have to come to the same conclusion: the Nikkor is a very strong performing lens from wide open. Performance doesn't really improve when stopping down, and corners look actually better (saturation) at wider apertures. While all the rave is about the Nikkor Ai(s) 135mm f/2.8, the f/3.5 Ai is the one to get IMO.


PostPosted: Thu Jun 20, 2024 5:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Like 1 small

Thank you!


PostPosted: Thu Jun 20, 2024 5:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Interesting. Thank you.

I you can share a picture how the xenar lens looks would be educative. 🙏


PostPosted: Thu Jun 20, 2024 5:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
pabeu wrote:
Interesting. Thank you.

I you can share a picture how the xenar lens looks would be educative. 🙏


It’s the one like shown in this article:
https://allphotolenses.com/lenses/item/c_3204.html


PostPosted: Fri Jun 21, 2024 8:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Question: How did you get the Edixa Schneider to focus to infinity? Do you have a short M42 adapter? (I am assuming you did this on a mirrorless camera).

EDIT: Yes, Sony A7RII

Regards, Christine


PostPosted: Fri Jun 21, 2024 8:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
connloyalist wrote:
Question: How did you get the Edixa Schneider to focus to infinity? Do you have a short M42 adapter? (I am assuming you did this on a mirrorless camera).

EDIT: Yes, Sony A7RII

Regards, Christine


Hi Christine,

I have no issues using a standard K&F M42 adapter.


PostPosted: Fri Jun 21, 2024 9:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
caspert79 wrote:

Hi Christine,

I have no issues using a standard K&F M42 adapter.


Interesting. I will have to retest my K&F M42 adapter for this, but in my memory it shows the same problems focusing to infinity with edixa lenses as my Novoflex adapter does. Perhaps crop sensor camera's are more sensitive to this?

Regards, Christine


PostPosted: Fri Jun 21, 2024 1:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
connloyalist wrote:
caspert79 wrote:

Hi Christine,

I have no issues using a standard K&F M42 adapter.


Interesting. I will have to retest my K&F M42 adapter for this, but in my memory it shows the same problems focusing to infinity with edixa lenses as my Novoflex adapter does. Perhaps crop sensor camera's are more sensitive to this?

Regards, Christine


I don't know. Maybe it depends on the generation of the lens? Does yours have any protruding pins on the backside? Mine doesn't and fits perfectly on the adapter. Register distance seems the same as my other M42 lenses.


PostPosted: Fri Jun 21, 2024 2:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
caspert79 wrote:

I don't know. Maybe it depends on the generation of the lens? Does yours have any protruding pins on the backside? Mine doesn't and fits perfectly on the adapter. Register distance seems the same as my other M42 lenses.


Mine is of the generation of Schneider lenses that I think came after the zebra's. It is all black with two thin chrome rings around the barrel of the lens. Narrow piece of fake leather around the base near the mount. It does have an aperture stop down pin, as well as an A <> M switch. Serial number 10 xxx xxx.

It is a very nice sharp lens, if your subject is closer than infinity. Not by much, mind you. Stopping it down to f/16 or so is enough to just about get infinity sharp

Regards, Christine


PostPosted: Fri Jun 21, 2024 2:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
connloyalist wrote:
caspert79 wrote:

I don't know. Maybe it depends on the generation of the lens? Does yours have any protruding pins on the backside? Mine doesn't and fits perfectly on the adapter. Register distance seems the same as my other M42 lenses.


Mine is of the generation of Schneider lenses that I think came after the zebra's. It is all black with two thin chrome rings around the barrel of the lens. Narrow piece of fake leather around the base near the mount. It does have an aperture stop down pin, as well as an A <> M switch. Serial number 10 xxx xxx.

It is a very nice sharp lens, if your subject is closer than infinity. Not by much, mind you. Stopping it down to f/16 or so is enough to just about get infinity sharp

Regards, Christine


Yeah, I did some snapshots at closer by subjects, and it does look nice and sharp. Mechanically it's also very nice, and it has a nice round bokeh. It certainly can be useful.


PostPosted: Fri Jun 21, 2024 3:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Did anyone find any difference in rendering among the 4/3 and the 4/4 versions of the Nikkor 135/3,5?


PostPosted: Fri Jun 21, 2024 4:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
papasito wrote:
Did anyone find any difference in rendering among the 4/3 and the 4/4 versions of the Nikkor 135/3,5?


I didn’t but it would be interesting to see. If I happen to find a cheap pre-ai one, I may buy and test it.


PostPosted: Fri Jun 21, 2024 6:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
caspert79 wrote:
papasito wrote:
Did anyone find any difference in rendering among the 4/3 and the 4/4 versions of the Nikkor 135/3,5?


I didn’t but it would be interesting to see. If I happen to find a cheap pre-ai one, I may buy and test it.


I'm interested too!
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