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Rank these FSU 135mm zeiss copy lenses
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 12, 2014 5:15 am    Post subject: Rank these FSU 135mm zeiss copy lenses Reply with quote

All things considered, which is the best
Carl Zeiss Jenna Sonnar 135/f4 (silver)
Pentacon Auto 135/f2.8
Jupiter-11 135/f4
Tair-11 133/f2.8 (silver)

I have recently acquired the Exakta CZJ and I am beginning to think it is the best despite being a little slow.

How would you compare them to something like the Konica Hexanon 3.2?


PostPosted: Sat Jul 12, 2014 9:51 am    Post subject: Re: Rank these FSU 135mm zeiss copy lenses Reply with quote

These are all different lenses.

CZJ Sonnar 135/4 is a vintage lens, with less contrast and less sharpness compared to the later MC Sonnar 135/3.5. The Hexanon 135/3.2 would be a sharper lens than the Sonnar 135/4. Jupiter-11 is a copy of this lens, and may have a slightly lower contrast and sharpness compared to the original (this may attribute to copy variation though).

Pentacon Auto 135/2.8 can be good; if you are getting the Auto version (6 aperture blades), make sure to get the MC one for slightly better colors and contrast. Its older version with 15 aperture blades is often called the Bokeh Monster.

However, in my opinion, the real bokeh monster here would be Tair-11. It has a softer background rendering and offers a lot of aperture blades. Not the sharpest lens of the bunch, but a very pleasing portrait lens.

In other words, if you need a portrait lens, go for the Tair. If you want a general use 135mm lens, go for the Pentacon.


PostPosted: Sat Jul 12, 2014 10:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

They're all very good, you can't go wrong with any of them. I have all of the ones you listed (except that my jena sonnar is zebra), and if I was forced to choose i'd probably go for the tair, because of the character, even if it is probably the less sharp of the lot.
Just to mix things up a bit more, you should also consider the jupiter 37.


PostPosted: Sat Jul 12, 2014 10:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

In what way is the Tair 11 a Zeiss copy ?


PostPosted: Sat Jul 12, 2014 10:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

+1 to what aoleg says

You have a higher chance to score good (clean and healthy) Konica copy, nevertheless healthy Pentacon competes with lenses priced 10 times higher. Regarding the coating, true difference brings Prakticar version of 2.8/135mm. But mostly in terms of coating resistance to damage. IMHO classic coating does job better.