Showcase Zeiss Jena 135mm f3.5 MC

[akulya]

Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 135/3,5 MC for M42

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(E-P1, iso200, 1/60s, f3,5 @ min focus distance ~3')

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(E-P1, iso200, 1/125s, f3,5 @ 20')

 

[akulya]

A few from the Cotswold Wildlife Park

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No PP. All these were taken on apeture priority, ƒ3.5, Auto ISO (200-640), using an E-P1 and manual focus on the LCD.

While this did result in a few misses, it was not an impossible situation. Had the subjects been moving rapidly it would have been impractical, but as it was, it was a relaxed photographic expereince, with time to frame, and focus.

Telephoto is not my usual "thing", so this lens rarely gets used, and had almost been earmarked for sale - I now doubt that I will part with it; any softness is my fault, this lens really bites.

Colour reproduction is excellent, fur and plumage look full and natural. Perhaps due to the relatively simple sonnar formula.

A great lens.

 

[PMCC]

The IQ of this lens is addictive.

 

[PMCC]

Great for landscapes, too. Extremely sharp from F4, lots of resolution.

 

[ManofKent]

I picked up one of these recently for very little, and I think there are few lenses that offer better value:

All hand-held on a GM1:

Minor processing on these two:

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Just a resize - unsharpened and handheld

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And just for a bit of fun - 100% crop from the RAW file - unsharpened handheld shot - not bad detail for a lens that's around 30 years old and based on a pre WWII design... I suspect used on a tripod with more care to focusing it would be better still:

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[T N Args]

Show me the lens!

 

[Speedliner]

Brilliant pictures. Nice lens, nice work everyone

 

[ManofKent]

Show me the lens!

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Excuse the dust - the foam seems to be degrading in the pouch it came in...

 

[T N Args]

That's a nice looking thing, although the adapter's pretty long?

 

[ManofKent]

That's a nice looking thing, although the adapter's pretty long?

I assume M42 adapters are all the same length to ensure focus at infinity - it's roughly 1" deep - don't forget the GM1 is a very small camera.

The lens itself is quite compact for a 135, but quite weighty 15oz ish. The lens was produced for decades so there are plenty of versions floating around. The later MC denoted ons have the best micro-contrast, but the older ones are still good performers.

 

[T N Args]

Yeah my FD 135/2.8 is about 14oz.