Yashinon DX 135/2.8 - black

luisalegria · Expire: 2018-01-18

I picked this up recently, rather more beat up than the very clean one Tom (Oldhand) showed a few days ago.

Here it is with its stable-mate the 200/4.
This series was the first Yashica-specific range supplied with the then new Yashica 35mm SLR's. Previous to this Yashica was apparently rebranding other makers lenses, notably Tokina, and of course they had at least their macro lens from Tomioka. But the DX lenses were never offered under other brands that I know of, and are unique. They seem to have been introduced in the late 1960's, perhaps 1967, and were sold until the mid-1970's. They can be found in all-black and in mixed chrome/alu and black, and sometimes the 50mm's can be found in all-alu finish. I think the all-black types are later production.

The feature that stands out is the aesthetic product design. The clean, smooth uncluttered lines make these some of the most attractive pieces of camera gear ever made, to my eyes anyway.

The 135/2.8 is otherwise a typical M42 automatic lens of the day, with a M/A switch, close focus of 1.5 meters, and a very long focus throw, 300 degrees at least. Its a 5-element lens, which puts it up a bit over most of its third party contemporaries (and the Nikkor-Q 135/2. Cool

and similar to the first version of the Super/SMC Takumar 135/2.5. Like most of the Yashinon DX line it has a built in hood that alas is not quite as good as that of the 200/4.

Performance - Wide open its competitive with its rivals of the time, as best I can tell, at least in closeup shots, getting detail just about down to the limit of my 16mp APS-C sensor, but maybe not quite there. It seems to suffer a sharpness falloff at infinity however. Stopping down to f/4 makes it as sharp as I can determine at any distance. Bokeh - not quite as smooth as some, though not as jagged as the Takumar 135/3.5. See what you think on sample pictures. No complaints about contrast or colors. There is some slight color fringing visible wide open, cant tell so far if its red or purple.

Samples -

The bird (f/2. Cool

crop -

mo · Expire: 2016-07-30

A nice report of what looks like another great 135 lens.

kenetik · Joined: 02 Mar 2014 Posts: 521

Your bird shot is always so on the money.

Oldhand · Posted: Mon May 26, 2014 6:11 am Post subject:

Beautiful lenses and excellent results Luis.
Thanks for sharing these
OH

uddhava · Expire: 2021-06-21

Nice shots, seems like a nice lens. thanks for the detailed analysis.
In the photo of the man in the window(5th down) looks it looks like the palm tree was cut and pasted on.
Also the photo of the cars looks very unusual due to the angle of the front car.

Oldhand · Posted: Mon May 26, 2014 6:57 am Post subject:

luisalegria · Expire: 2018-01-18

The cars are "low riders" with articulated suspensions. They were dancing.
The tree reverse 3d effect struck me. Its because, partly, of telephoto foreshortening, plus the tree is in sharp focus while the rest actually isn't.

uddhava · Expire: 2021-06-21

uddhava · Expire: 2021-06-21

dimitrygo · Joined: 01 Apr 2009 Posts: 561

Pancolart · Expire: 2013-11-18

This is interesting lens, i just restored a sample and rear has cemented two thick elements which is indication of Sonnar or Tele-Takumar design. I did not open the front system. Anyone can share complete scheme?

papasito · Joined: 09 Jan 2015 Posts: 1659

I found the manual of DX lenses. well what's left of an old manual. Perhaps in Butkus you can find more.

#1

Pancolart · Expire: 2013-11-18

Nice, thanks!

tomasg · Expire: 2014-04-28

Some pics with my "silver" copy:
#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

#9

#10

#11

#12

#13

The first is a picture of a graveyard gate, the writing says: "Visitors, please keep the gate closed" like they can escape....

Pancolart · Expire: 2013-11-18

Splendid results Tomas! Must try my copy.

bluedxca93 · Joined: 19 May 2021 Posts: 67

#1

#2

#3

#4

#4 is the latest one. I love the look it produces and its sharpness its acceptable. Had other 135s from other brands that were much worse..

Paragon19 · Joined: 26 Dec 2021 Posts: 45

Nice results bluedxca93, looks very similar to what I've seen with my silver "non DX" copy. I should shoot it more often, it's one of my better 135mm lenses. It appears in all ways identical to the silver 135mm DX lenses but simply without the DX on the nameplate.

laenee · Joined: 31 Jan 2011 Posts: 369 Location: Shanghai

Good Jobï¼

ManualFocus-G · Expire: 2014-11-24

Wow this lens has some pop! Great samples everyone.

bluedxca93 · Joined: 19 May 2021 Posts: 67

Im still using it. Sharpnes is good , except if you have shaky? hands like me sometimes

bluedxca93 · Joined: 19 May 2021 Posts: 67

Its good and when the weather its better it produces good result. Love to use it, even if its a bit "heavy" sometimes.

Lloydy · Expire: 2022-01-01

I bought a nice black & chrome version a few weeks ago and I'm loving it. It's a great compaion for my matching 50 / 1.4.

Phalbert · Joined: 17 May 2009 Posts: 377 Location: Namibia

I like a lot the pic of the dancing lady. I really do. What was the lens again? ðŸ¤”ðŸ¤
(a bit of fill flash would have made it even better. ðŸ¤·â€â™€ï¸) But ðŸ‘.

D1N0 · Joined: 07 Aug 2012 Posts: 2530

Had one arrive today. Lends itself to sharpening pretty well. Purple fringing with high contrast out of focus transitions, low contrast in bright conditions and cool rendering.

1

Polekeh by The lens profile, on Flickr

2

Quackeh by The lens profile, on Flickr

3

Palletkeh by The lens profile, on Flickr

4

Polekeh 2 by The lens profile, on Flickr

5

The Pond F11 by The lens profile, on Flickr

Mine is the silver and black version btw. Just cosmetics I guess

visualopsins · Expire: 2025-04-11

Nice examples of what the lens can do when images are properly processed.