I'd say it's between the ZA 135 and the 135L. The ZA's center-sharper wide open compared to the slower L, but the Canon lens is better corrected and, in my opinion, has nicer bokeh. The ZA's heavier and bulkier, but it feels better built (the L feels, to me, like a lot of plastic wrapped around some large glass elements). MF experience is pretty much a draw between the two (excellent on both). And both lose out big time to coming ZF APO 135 for their lack of an aperture ring.
Oct 11, 2012 at 04:49 PM
Steve Spencer Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: On
Other contenders might include the Pentax A* 135mm f/1.8 and perhaps the Minolta MD 135mm f/2 (which is regarded by some as the very best Minolta MD lens).
With the latest and greatest tech from Zeiss, I don't think there is any 135 can compete with the upcoming APO. Before that, I guess I would go with the ZA 135 (too bad it's not SSM). The ZA Sonnar has both the color and resolution to be the king atm.
I don't think you can consider any of the older lenses like the 135/2 Rokkor and 135/1.8 Takumar. The samples from both have much higher CA than you'd see in any "modern" lenses, and that usually doesn't fit into being the "best" in most peoples minds. But "best" is subjective of course... If you're being more clinical, then I imagine the new 135/2 Zeiss wins easily, followed by the 135ZA.
I picked up the ZA back in July to replace my 70-200. I've yet to get a photo I'm really pleased with from it. It just feels too long to me most of the time... not to say it's been fruitless though.
I know this isn't really what is being asked, but if I were to pick a kit and lens to use at that focal length, I'd go with the ZA, because the IBIS would be really useful at 135mm.
p.1 #11 · Best Full Frame Fast 135mm for 35mm DSLR
GoGoGoGo wrote:
.., I have been wondering, what is the king of this focal length?...
I have no idea which lens is king here, but I'd suggest the old Contax 135/2.0 has a place in the top 5 or so mainly due to it's rendering of OOF areas. It has very soft bokeh but with high sharpness, even wide open, and is probably ideal as a portrait lens as it's very slightly soft at MFD, but sharper at infinity. It does have some purple fringing with high contrast subjects when wide open so this is probably it's major fault.
p.1 #12 · Best Full Frame Fast 135mm for 35mm DSLR
I would like to call attention to the minolta/sony 135 2.8 stf. Manual focus and slower than the others (4.5T); nothing can compete with it for isolating subjects and very smooth bokeh.
p.1 #13 · Best Full Frame Fast 135mm for 35mm DSLR
mogul wrote:
I would like to call attention to the minolta/sony 135 2.8 stf. Manual focus and slower than the others (4.5T); nothing can compete with it for isolating subjects and very smooth bokeh.
It doesn't isolate as well as the faster lenses as you are still working with the f2.8 DoF instead of f1.8-f2. It does have super smooth bokeh, far too smooth IMHO. Main use for it is its ability to smooth out backgrounds which cause issues with the faster lenses (really busy and close backgrounds). It's the ultimate flower lens IMHO, but somewhat limited outside of that.
