Home

Please support mflenses.com if you need any graphic related work order it from us, click on above banner to order!
SearchSearch MemberlistMemberlist RegisterRegister ProfileProfile Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages Log inLog in

A Good 135mm Lens for Nikon
Post new topic   Reply to topic
Home   Manual Focus Lenses
View previous topic :: View next topic  


PostPosted: Sat Feb 22, 2014 5:52 pm    Post subject: A Good 135mm Lens for Nikon Reply with quote
Hi,

I am looking at my lens collection and trying to bring it down from 70 lenses to 15. That means I'll be having lots of nikon and tamron MF lenses for sale, but that is a different thread and for a different part of the forum.

What I noticed going through my lens list is that I have 3 135mm..

Jupiter 37-A 135 3.5 Zenit M42 Screw Mount (no infinity focus)
Nikon 135 2.8 Nikkor-Q
Nikon 135 2.8 AIS

It doesn't seem like any of these are decent enough to keep (maybe the Jupiter 37-A). If I do sell them I'd like to get a much better Nikon 135mm lens. I looked at Bjorn website and as far as Nikon MF this is as good as it get. While keeping it under $500 is there another recommended 135mm lens that is better than I have that can be adapted to work for Nikon?


PostPosted: Sat Feb 22, 2014 5:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
What's wrong with them? Are you after a faster lens or something sharper? Problem is, most 135mm lenses are perfectly sharp anyway Very Happy


PostPosted: Sat Feb 22, 2014 6:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
ManualFocus-G wrote:
What's wrong with them? Are you after a faster lens or something sharper? Problem is, most 135mm lenses are perfectly sharp anyway Very Happy


I'll test them again, but Bjorn site had them at 3.5-4. I wante 4.5-5 rating. I am looking for the sharpest and best bokeh for that range within price reason. If these are the best there is then I'll keep them, but if there is something better I'll trade up. There is nothing actually wrong with them. They do their job well.


PostPosted: Sat Feb 22, 2014 7:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I have first two.

The J37A has a T2 Nikon mount. Both are super performers. I would say the two are equal on APSC but the Nikkor Q is best on full frame.

I'd get rid of the Nikkor If I had to make the decision as the Jupiter can be used on my Nikon, Pentax or Minolta with a t-mount.

Ignore these arbitary ratings, test them yourself.


PostPosted: Sat Feb 22, 2014 7:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Next step up is probably the Zeiss Sonnar 135/2. Personally I would ignore other people's reviews and stick with whatever performs best for you in the real world.


PostPosted: Sat Feb 22, 2014 7:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Edited

Last edited by bernhardas on Mon May 09, 2016 9:18 am; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Sat Feb 22, 2014 7:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Edited

Last edited by bernhardas on Mon May 09, 2016 9:19 am; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Sat Feb 22, 2014 8:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
ManualFocus-G wrote:
What's wrong with them? Are you after a faster lens or something sharper? Problem is, most 135mm lenses are perfectly sharp anyway Very Happy

+1 I have oldest 135mm f2.8 Nikkor I am happy with it.


PostPosted: Sat Feb 22, 2014 9:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
bernhardas wrote:
ManualFocus-G wrote:
Next step up is probably the Zeiss Sonnar 135/2. Personally I would ignore other people's reviews and stick with whatever performs best for you in the real world.


Any offers for usd 500??????


I didn't say it was under $500, I said it's probably the next step. I think the Sonnar 135/2.8 is very nice, and has decent pop, but doesn't really perform any better than other 135mm lenses in my experience. I prefer to use the 135/3.5 CZJ Sonnar or the Pentacon 135/2.8 preset.


PostPosted: Sat Feb 22, 2014 11:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Nikon AIS 135/2.8 is a wonderful lens, I'd give it no less than 4.5 / 5


PostPosted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 12:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Ditto re other peoples ratings - try on your own.
And theoretical sharpness is not a realistic measure of value or utility.

I have great respect for the Nikkor-Q 135/2.8


PostPosted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 4:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
*sigh* I really love all my lenses and I wouldn't normally sell any of them. I am selling them to break the 'collector' bug. I am near 70 in my set and I am STILL BUYING. I am thinking the best way to stop this current addiction to playing with and acquiring lenses is to just sell almost everything I got and just keep the best of my lot. Now that I read the responses my collector bug is kicking in and saying - 'keep all three and get the other 2 being recommended here'. I am just hopeless *big big sigh*.

It is the fault of my work really Rolling Eyes I make my money translating and republishing old books and as an author in my particular niche you get respect for how many rare works you have as a reference, so I had books in the thousands and hundreds of manuscript and now it is carrying into my photography.


PostPosted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 5:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
There is an easy way to break the collector bug. Set a price limit lower than the average market price. You will buy the item only if it is within the limit. For example, the CONTAX 135mm F2.8 has average price of $180-250. You can set a limit of 125(50% of 250). Then, you will not able to buy the lens more than 95% of the time.


PostPosted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 6:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
luisalegria wrote:
Ditto re other peoples ratings - try on your own.
And theoretical sharpness is not a realistic measure of value or utility.

I have great respect for the Nikkor-Q 135/2.8


What is a realistic measure in this case?


PostPosted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 6:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
After testing the lenses:

135mm Nikon-Q
135mm AIS
Auto Mepro 135mm
Jupiter 37 135mm

- the Jupiter 37 has a real nice 3D pop and excellent rendering of skin tone and sharpness. The bokeh is 'eh' kinda crazy.
- the Nikon-Q is better than the AIS and has real smooth creamy bokeh. It is also pretty sharp.

I think if I am keeping I'll be keeping the Q and Jupiter


PostPosted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 7:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
I would sell all three of those and buy a Nikkor 135mm f3.5 AIS. It is a fabulous lens that flies under the radar.


PostPosted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 8:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
gaeger wrote:
I would sell all three of those and buy a Nikkor 135mm f3.5 AIS. It is a fabulous lens that flies under the radar.


You think the slower 135mm f3.5 is better than all of the faster ones?


PostPosted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 8:49 am    Post subject: iq Reply with quote
That woudnt be the first time that slower lenses are the better ones in terms of iq.


PostPosted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 9:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
In terms of bang for the buck, it's no contest. And a correction: I meant a 135mm f3.5 AI, NOT Ai-S.











Last edited by gaeger on Mon Feb 24, 2014 5:00 am; edited 2 times in total


PostPosted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 10:06 am    Post subject: Re: iq Reply with quote
lowersaxonguy wrote:
That woudnt be the first time that slower lenses are the better ones in terms of iq.


I agree. I've tested slower lenses better than faster ones in terms of IQ. My comment wasn't very clear. I was asking if the slower version of the Nikon 135 was better IQ then the faster ones I've mentioned. The metion of speed was only to identify the lens in question. The Nikkon 135mm-q and AIS and Jupiter 37A all have good reputation. He was recommending I sell them to get the 135mm 3.5 AI. This wold mean the 3.5 AI was better than the other editions. It may very well be an excellent value for one's dollar, if one had no 135mm, but if I own already 3 of them, to sell them and get this edition, it means this edition produces substantially better quality images then its later brethern.

I was curious if such tests were conducted.


PostPosted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 1:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Like Philslizzy said, the Jupiter 37A has an interchangeable mount. You can adapt it to Nikon mount and have infinity focus if you like.


PostPosted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 2:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Edited

Last edited by bernhardas on Mon May 09, 2016 9:19 am; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 2:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
bernhardas wrote:
I have to emphasise my recommendation for the Zeiss CY 135 2.8.


Emphasis not needed berhardas. You already sold me on it in the first post. I'll just have to wait for my pocket to comply with my decision.


PostPosted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 2:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
bernhardas wrote:

At 2.8 just shot 10 min ago: NO contrast or color correction. Look at that green of the grass and the collar.


Amazing dog and amazing shot. Maybe it was good I didn't announce how sold I was earlier, I would have been denied such an awesome shot Smile


PostPosted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 4:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Edited
Post new topic   Reply to topic
Home   Manual Focus Lenses
Page 1 of 1