Showcase Rotar (Fujita) 135mm f4.5

[gnarlydog australia]

I am fascinated by the small size of some lenses and while I can get hold of compact C-mount one that complement well the Micro 4/3 system I was still was a take-along 135mm.
My Vivitar (Komine) 135mm f2.8 is a great vintage lens but I rarely take with me because it's so bulky and heavy
Then I came across the Fujita 135mm f4.5, apparently the smallest 135mm produced for 35mm film cameras.
But really, this thing surely was not going to be any good, right?
Look at it... it's a miniature toy.
Here shown next to a Oly E-P5 with a 50mm C-mount lens (hood is 52mm diameter)

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DV181322 by gnarlydog, on Flickr

I was eager to do some test to see if really this thing can actually produce an acceptable image.
While so many lenses perform really well close-up they usually are challenged on infinity focus.
So, wide open at f4.5 here is a distant image

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DV181323 by gnarlydog, on Flickr

and here at F5.6

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DV181314 by gnarlydog, on Flickr

While my M.Zuiko will blow this thing out of the water when it comes to sharpness, that is not the point.
So some mandatory bokeh test reveals a pleasant out of focus render

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DV181337 by gnarlydog, on Flickr

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DV181327 by gnarlydog, on Flickr

The lens seems to be identical in appearance to Fujita 135mm f4.5 and pretty close also to Duo Tamron (Twin-Tele) 135mm f4.5. There is speculation that Fujita made these lenses and were labelled for different markets.
If one looks around evilBay one can be had for very little money.

One thing I don't like it's the awful look when mounted on a standard M42 adapter: the adapter is disproportionally too thick and negates all the beauty of a compact lens.
Needless to say I will make a DIY adapter appropriate in diameter to suit the lens better.

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DV181319 by gnarlydog, on Flickr

Here shown with a 43mm lens hood and base M42 adapter for Micro 4/3

 

[barry]

Nice find!

You wouldn't happen to know what the smallest adaptable f/2.8 lens near 135mm would you?

 

[gnarlydog australia]

Nice find!

You wouldn't happen to know what the smallest adaptable f/2.8 lens near 135mm would you?

yeah, I know what you mean: something a bit faster?
Not sure, but in my search some said that the Rokkor (Minolta) seems to be the smallest, however looking at the dimensions it seems that is only marginally smaller than other ones

 

[barry]

yeah, I know what you mean: something a bit faster?
Not sure, but in my search some said that the Rokkor (Minolta) seems to be the smallest, however looking at the dimensions it seems that is only marginally smaller than other ones

Thanks... I have the 1977 version of the Rokkor, it seems pretty compact and has a collapsing hood.
The later versions might be a little lighter, but I don't remember right now.

I also recently got a Vivitar, m42 mount iirc... I need to compare them.

 

[gnarlydog australia]

Thanks... I have the 1977 version of the Rokkor, it seems pretty compact and has a collapsing hood.
The later versions might be a little lighter, but I don't remember right now.

I also recently got a Vivitar, m42 mount iirc... I need to compare them.

please do compare them as I have the Vivitar too and not sure if there are more compact 135mm f2.8 out there

 

[barry]

please do compare them as I have the Vivitar too and not sure if there are more compact 135mm f2.8 out there

Ok... my Rokkor 135mm (1977 version):
17.9oz (~507g) by my postal scale; reportedly 513g / 18.3oz by Minolta 135mm 1:2.8 (SR/MC/MD). Length is just over 3.75".

My Vivitar is over 1/4" shorter (under 3.5" total with hood collapsed and filters & caps off)...
12.9oz by my postal scale (~366g)
Unfortunately, the focus ring's plastic is splitting, and looks like it will soon crack all the way down and probably fall off. I guess rubber bands or grip tape could be used if desperate.

It's raining today, so I still haven't done any image comparisons.

BTW, the 1981 version of the Rokkor is 373g and smaller than my version.
Minolta 135mm 1:2.8 (SR/MC/MD)
(see the last pic on the page)

 

[gnarlydog australia]

Unfortunately, the focus ring's plastic is splitting, and looks like it will soon crack all the way down and probably fall off. I guess rubber bands or grip tape could be used if desperate.

if rubber bands won't work would silicon putty (like Sugru) applied to the substrate work? I also have seen on evilBay replacement parts texturized rubber rings with different diameters/widths

 

[barry]

if rubber bands won't work would silicon putty (like Sugru) applied to the substrate work? I also have seen on evilBay replacement parts texturized rubber rings with different diameters/widths

Maybe... Will it stuck to smooth metal?

 

[gnarlydog australia]

Maybe... Will it stuck to smooth metal?

once the metal is cleaned (I use acetone to make sure) Sugru (or any silicon) will stick like the proverbial sh*t to a blanket
However it can be removed mechanically with a razor blade

 

[gnarlydog australia]

with a hint of motion blur (slow shutter speed of 1/50sec) in very flat light and this lens still seems to be doing OK
wide open at f4.5

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Red on Rotar_c by gnarlydog, on Flickr

 

[gnarlydog australia]

Rotar 135mm f4.5 mounted with commercial (Fotga) M42 adapter on E-M1

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Rotar on E-M1_c by gnarlydog, on Flickr

I find the off-the-shelf adapter a misfit with the diameter of the barrel not matching the one on the lens.
So a fabricated my own DIY one to have a more suitably sized one. Here shown next to a Vivitar (Komine) 135mm f2.8 for size comparison (on the left, also with M42 adapter)

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Rotar vs Vivitar 135mm_c by gnarlydog, on Flickr

 

[gnarlydog australia]

I had a bit of trouble getting the focus sharp on fast subjects but worked OK on static ones
shot wide open at f4.5

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Noisy Miner on Rotar_c by gnarlydog, on Flickr

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Lillies on Rotar_c by gnarlydog, on Flickr

 

[barry]

please do compare them as I have the Vivitar too and not sure if there are more compact 135mm f2.8 out there

Since this thread is about the Rotar, I'm posting my comparison at Best 135mm f/2.8 adapted lens?