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Archive 2014 · Which compact 135mm for concert with A7?

  
 
gobears
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Which compact 135mm for concert with A7?


Going to the "Not So Silent Night" concert 12/12 - 12/13 in Oakland, California - 12 bands spread over 12 hours & 2 nights. I will be getting in relatively close but not in the "mosh pit", and want to bring my A7 with a telephoto lens.

The arena olny allows lenses <= 3 inches or 76mm in length.

Ideally, I would want a 135mm F2, F2.5 or F2.8.
Or, a 105mm F2, F2.5 or F2.8.

Even better would be to have Optical Image Stabilization, but I don't see that happening.
Budget would be $300 or less, though I could stretch to $600.
I would love to bring my Sony Zeiss 135mm F1.8, but its way too big!

Any thoughts on the best lens

Some candidates:
(1) Pentax-A 135mm F2.8 (76mm)
(2) Olympus 135mm F3.5 (76mm)
(3) Tamron 28mm-200mm F3.5-F5.6 (76mm)
(4) Nikon 105mm F2.5






Edited on Nov 18, 2014 at 03:09 PM · View previous versions



Nov 18, 2014 at 02:54 PM
TheEmrys
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Which compact 135mm for concert with A7?


Since you have an AF with Sony, have you considered the Minolta AF 135/2.8? Its only real downside is the CA, but its an awful easy amount to remove. It can be had for ~$240. I personally love the Mino 100/2. Its a couple of mm longer than the 55/1.8. Its truly tiny. Other good, MF lenses to consider are the MC/MD Rokkor 135/2.8 or the CY 135/2.8. The CY has good character to it, but for some reason I find it lacks a bit of that Zeiss bite to it. Its hard to explain. The color is good, the coatings control flare and all, but there is something about it that says to me "$300 is the most this lens is worth for good reason."


Nov 18, 2014 at 03:01 PM
gobears
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Which compact 135mm for concert with A7?


All of those 135mm F2.8 would be good candidates except they are all just past 76mm in length.
With adapter, way past 76mm, but I plan to bring the adapter in a separate bag, so it does not add to length.

The Minolta 100mm F2 would be a dream lens, but out of my budget.

BTW, I am also wondering what ISO & Shutter I will need in the arena.
I am thinking ISO 6400, 1/150s shutter, F2.8 aperture.



Nov 18, 2014 at 03:12 PM
taemo
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Which compact 135mm for concert with A7?


a Canon FD 85 1.8, 100 2 or 2.8 are 63mm long




Nov 18, 2014 at 03:19 PM
SoulNibbler
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Which compact 135mm for concert with A7?


Depends strongly on the venue... But here in Austria I find with stage and crowd lights I can shoot most venues with 1600 iso and f3.5-4 at 1/125-250. So good behavior near wide open might be the determining factors. As far as recommendations, I don't have any small favorites.


Nov 18, 2014 at 03:28 PM
gobears
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Which compact 135mm for concert with A7?


In that case, the 135mm F3.5 or F4.5 models might be fine, and the longer reach will be very handy.
And, I really only care about center sharpness.




Nov 18, 2014 at 03:38 PM
gobears
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Which compact 135mm for concert with A7?


The Minolta Rokkor MD 135mm F3.5 is 73mm and seems to get some love, at least more than the Olympus OM 135mm F3.5. They can be had for $50.

http://minolta.rokkor.de/lens/tele/135md35side808.jpg



Nov 18, 2014 at 03:44 PM
molson
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Which compact 135mm for concert with A7?


The Pentax 120mm f2.8 is only 63mm long, if you can find one...


Nov 18, 2014 at 04:11 PM
gobears
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Which compact 135mm for concert with A7?


Thanks for the tip on the Pentax 120mm F2.8.

Just found out that the Canon FD 135mm F2.8 is 78mm long, and has a great reputation.
I think they will not measure down to 2mm differences.

So, that is my leading candidate at this moment.



Nov 18, 2014 at 04:14 PM
jim bennett
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Which compact 135mm for concert with A7?


You can count on one thing at the venue, the security folks checking cameras won't have a ruler on hand and will make their determinations on if you are allowed to bring a certain camera/lens combination purely on gut instinct or what they normally do...in most cases. You just never know what you might get away with, or find that a camera you wouldn't expect to be a problem could turn out to be an issue. Sucks but its really variable even with the same venue and different security folks. Generally speaking a compact camera and most mirrorless cameras wont elicit any eyebrows but the larger the camera and lens the more sideways they look at it.


Nov 18, 2014 at 04:30 PM
gobears
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Which compact 135mm for concert with A7?


Good point about the security check being very subjective.
The A7 is pretty low profile.

For the lens, a 135mm F2.8 might elicit more attention than a lightweight compact 135mm F3.5
I already have some Minolta MD lenses & adapter, so maybe I will just go with the MD 135mm F3.5.
Its 49mm filter size, lightweight, compact.

Then, I could bring my 35-70 F3.5 MD in case I get close and for friends who are accompanying me and just use one adapter.

However, reviews on the 135mm F3.5 are mixed, some say its great, others say low contract. I guess I can clean up low contrast in post though...



Nov 18, 2014 at 04:59 PM
gobears
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Which compact 135mm for concert with A7?


Ok, its decided, I have ordered the Minolta 135mm F3.5 MD (latest version).
There are 2 opinions here (in German) which put this lens as good as the 135mm F2.8 which is highly regarded.
The lens is very small, compact & light.

Thanks for the feedback.

Of course more opinions would be interesting just for curiosity's sake.




Nov 18, 2014 at 06:18 PM
gobears
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Which compact 135mm for concert with A7?


The link to the German reviews (this site is a treasure trove of Minolta information):

http://artaphot.ch/minolta-sr/objektive/172-minolta-135mm-f35



Nov 18, 2014 at 06:19 PM
TheEmrys
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Which compact 135mm for concert with A7?


gobears wrote:
The Minolta 100mm F2 would be a dream lens, but out of my budget.



Considering you have the CZ135/1.8, which is my dream lens, I would graciously trade you my 100/2, straight across.



Nov 18, 2014 at 08:34 PM
ken.vs.ryu
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Which compact 135mm for concert with A7?


Have you tried Clear Image Zoom? I was surprised at how well it worked during my nephews soccer game with my contax 90mm.

Here's a quick test.

http://sonyalphanex.blogspot.com/2014/11/sony-a7-clear-image-zoom-test.html



Nov 19, 2014 at 12:49 PM
Peire
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Which compact 135mm for concert with A7?


Minolta MD 135/3.5 is a very good and a compact lens.Jena Tessar 135/3.5,Soviet Jupiter 37A 135/3.5,Rollei 135/4 Tele Tessar and EBC Fujinon 135/3.5 m42 are of comparable size and weight.But Pentax M 135/3.5 is the smallest and lightest of them all.


Nov 19, 2014 at 03:00 PM
shirozina
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Which compact 135mm for concert with A7?


Interested in this thread. Looking for a small compact 135 for travel. Have a Leica 135 2.8 R which is very good but it's very heavy. Olympus 135mm 2.8 is lighter but not quite as good. 3.5 version OK. Just ordered a couple of Rokkor 3.5's (one shorter than the other) for less than £50 total on Ebay.


Nov 19, 2014 at 04:37 PM
jcolwell
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Which compact 135mm for concert with A7?


If f/3.5 is OK for you, then have a look at the SMCP-M 135/3.5. At common apertures, it's on par with my Canon EF 135/2L.


Nov 19, 2014 at 06:46 PM
shirozina
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Which compact 135mm for concert with A7?


First Rokkor has arrived - as big and heavy as the OL 2.8 version. Resolution OK but serious CA at the edges. Want also to be able to use these lenses for video on an A7s so CA is a problem.


Nov 21, 2014 at 04:08 AM





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