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Archive 2020 · Hiking 135mm

hanay78
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Hiking 135mm

Hello,

what is the hikers 135mm best friend? I am mostly interested in beautiful colors and contrast for landscapes at f/5.6.

Digging out on the web, I found some lenses, looking for slow, light and small objectives. Any comments, thoughts... you may suggest are very welcome, as I do not see an obvious choice for my hikes

Here are the results of my small investigation.

Lens f Weight (grams)
---------------------------------------------------
MD-II 3.5 265
Pentax-M 3.5 270
MD-III 3.5 285
Olympus 3.5 290
Topcor 4 305
nFD 3.5 325
Aporis 2.8 340
Olympus 2.8 360
Tele-Tessar 4 370
Hexanon AR 3.2 390
Nikkon AIS 3.5 409
Canon LTM 3.5 425
Apo-Telyt 3.4 453
Tele-Elmar 4 505

To my surprise the rangefinder's lenses are not lighter than its SLR counterparts, at least some of them. Looking for information I found out, that for those lenses some reviews, or at least information, exist,

Lens Reference
---------------------------------------------------------
MD-II http://artaphot.ch/minolta-sr/objektive/172-minolta-135mm-f35
Pentax-M https://phillipreeve.net/blog/135mm-legacy-shoot-out-smc-pentax-m-f-3-5-vs-canon-nfd-f-3-5-vs-panagor-f-2-8/
MD-III https://lens.ws/minolta-md-135mm-f3-5/
Olympus https://phillipreeve.net/blog/olympus-e-zuiko-135mm-f-3-5-a-review/
Topcor
nFD https://phillipreeve.net/blog/canon-nfd-3-5-135-a-review/
Aporis https://phillipreeve.net/blog/review-ms-optics-aporis-135mm-2-4-fluorit-mc/
Olympus https://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/olympusom1n2/shared/zuiko/htmls/135mm.htm
Tele-Tessar https://olypedia.de/index.php?title=Zeiss-Objektive_f%C3%BCr_das_Rollei-QBM-Bajonett_(Teleobjektive)
Hexanon AR http://www.buhla.de/Foto/Konica/Objektive/e135_32.html#:~:text=The%20Hexanon%20AR%20135%20mm,to%20front%20or%20stray%20light.
Nikkon AIS https://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/nikkoresources/135mmnikkor/135mm35.htm
Canon LTM https://www.pebbleplace.com/reviews/rangefinder/canon_135mm_ltm/index.html
Apo-Telyt https://phillipreeve.net/blog/review-leica-apo-telyt-m-135mm-3-4/
Tele-Elmar https://phillipreeve.net/blog/review-leica-135mm-4-0-tele-elmar/

After finding the lenses, I watched some photographs for each lens in Flickr.

General comments:

a) I would say that among legacy light ones, say under 400 grams, they have somehow what I would qualify as 80s look, somehow significantly less nice colors and contrasts than modern offerings. I got the impression that Hexanon and Canon nFd were maybe the most attractive ones, although not the lightest. Nikkor would also belong into this group. This is of course just based on some photographs and therefore not conclusive.

b) Aporis looks optically nicer, but requires focusing at selected f-number and is almost not available. Price is high with 1800€. Copy variation seems also to be an issue.

c) Tele-elmar and Canon LTM: surprisingly heavy for the f-number they offer, though slim. Is the difference of weight between Tele-Elmar and Batis, so significant, to prefer Tele-Elmar?

d) Apo-Telyt: very expensive. Heavy for the f-number it offers. Is the price and weight worth when compared with Batis?

Would it be better to get the Batis and accept the weight getting excellent, native, optics?

I look forward to hear your comments

Thank you very much and stay healthy!

Nov 08, 2020 at 04:41 AM

DavidBM
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Hiking 135mm

(1) You would expect rangefinder 135mm lenses to be heavier than SLR ones, since at this focal length there is no advantage in not having to clear a mirror box, but the shorter flange focal distance means the housing has the be longer and heavier. Of course an adapter for a rangefinder lens is a little smaller and lighter.

(2) Based on limited comparison I actually think the Batis is a step above the apo telyt, as well as faster. Of course it’s heavier. But not much.

(3) If you re talking serious hiking, I personally would go with one of the lighter ones. 135mm lenses tend to be pretty good, and while they won’t be as great as the heavier ones, most are still good.

Nov 08, 2020 at 04:50 AM

QuietOC
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Hiking 135mm

The Minolta AF 135mm F2.8 (365g) is much better optically than the MD 135mm F3.5. It is internal focus and focuses quickly with the LA-EA4. It is supported by the LA-EA5 on the A7R4.

Nov 08, 2020 at 05:49 AM

hesb
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Hiking 135mm

I am a big fan of this FL. For portraits my sigma is hard to beat... but it is heavy. For landscape, I have used the sigma the batis and the NFD 135 canon 2.8.

I have to say that I think I have a golden copy of the canon... which was better at 5.6 in terms of sharpness than my batis which was decentered whereas the canon was perfect.

Color rendition is on the warm side and need a bit more post than the batis which is beautiful in terms of colors and micro contrast. A good copy of the batis might be really nice, but I was not lucky enough with my batis lenses!!!

At 2.8 it is really soft though... really needs f4 or F5.6 to be a really good landscape lens.

Nov 08, 2020 at 06:05 AM

Olaf G
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Hiking 135mm

The Pentax-M is very cheap and quite good.

Nov 08, 2020 at 01:40 PM

doc4x5
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Hiking 135mm

Nothing can beat the Batis 135, with the possible exception of the GM 135. It is a genuine reference lens for full frame cameras. I use mine whenever I can, it is very sharp, even wide open and stopped down just a bit in the landscape it is nothing short of amazing. Its weight is manageable and its maximum aperture is perfectly adequate for my use, especially in the landscape. I'm fortunate to own some nice primes and the Batis 135 is up there with the best.

Nov 08, 2020 at 02:54 PM

Bertrick
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Hiking 135mm

What doc4x5 said. +1

Nov 08, 2020 at 03:17 PM

TheEmrys
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Hiking 135mm

A good one to consider is the Minolta 135/2.8 with the MD coatings and the 4/4 design. It is different from other MD 135's because it has a straight distance ring vs. the later tapered ring. It is a pretty great lens.

https://www.addieleman.nl/minolta/minolta-other-lenses.htm

But the Batis is easily a better lens, but it is quite a bit larger and heavier. But the Minolta AF 135/2.8 is a pretty great lens. But you need a heavier adapter. It definitely has some CA.

Nov 08, 2020 at 03:50 PM

DaveFP
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Hiking 135mm

135? Hiking? Landscape?

I researched them all.

IMHO:

The best 135 on a Sony body is the Canon 70-200/4 III IS.

Nov 08, 2020 at 04:00 PM

freaklikeme
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Hiking 135mm

From that list, I'd go Pentax if flare resistance were critical, the MD III if OOC color and contrast were critical, or the Nikon for the best color aberration control along with decent color and contrast. In general, though, these three are more alike than they are different. None of them will match the overall resolution and correction of the APO-Telyt, much less the Batis, and it's not an insignificant difference, regardless of aperture. If you're comfortable investing the cash in the Leica, it's the best compromise between overall raw performance and size. If you'd rather put the cash somewhere else, all the others are capable of making beautiful landscapes if you're mindful of their quirks.

Nov 08, 2020 at 06:57 PM

trogdon
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Hiking 135mm

I’d say look at the Contax 100mm f3.5, lighter than a 135mm and it’ll be higher quality too. Not losing much in terms of field of view and getting a more compact lens that performs better

Nov 08, 2020 at 07:03 PM

tsdevine
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Hiking 135mm

The SMC Pentax 150/4 K is very good too. I know this is longer than you're looking for, but just throwing it out there.

-Tim

Nov 08, 2020 at 07:12 PM

chris9
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Hiking 135mm

There are even more choices:

1) Elmar 135mm/f4 more tiny than Tele Elmar and only 405g
https://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/135mm-f4.htm

2) Minolta 75-150mm/f4 438g
https://phillipreeve.net/blog/review-minolta-md-zoom-75-150mm-14/

3) Olympus 100mm/f2.8 230g
https://phillipreeve.net/blog/review-olympus-om-zuiko-mc-100mm-12-8/

Nov 08, 2020 at 08:55 PM

Fred Miranda
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Hiking 135mm

I went with the 135/4 Tele-Tessar and didn't regret. It's amazingly sharp from wide open even to the corners on the A7R4. I bought it for less than $300 in mint condition. Highly recommended.
PS: Use it on both Sony A7R4 and Leica M10.

Nov 08, 2020 at 09:10 PM

DavidBM
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Hiking 135mm

Fred Miranda wrote:
I went with the 135/4 Tele-Tessar and didn't regret. It's amazingly sharp from wide open even to the corners on the A7R4. I bought it for less than $300 in mint condition. Highly recommended.
PS: Use it on both Sony A7R4 and Leica M10.

The Zeiss Rollei or the Contarex one?

Or is this a typo and you mean tele Elmar?

Nov 08, 2020 at 10:02 PM

nhsonyshooter
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Hiking 135mm

For hiking I'd just get the 28-200 and call it a day

Nov 09, 2020 at 06:31 AM

ikit
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Hiking 135mm

With adapters my fdn135/3.5 and om 135/3.5 weight almost 400g each. OM is a bit smaller, FDn looks a bit sharper (24mp).
I'm going to make them a direct comparison and choose one for hiking.
I like to pair them with FE24-70/4.
Batis as I read is great but I don't see myself taking it on a hike. I have STF100 and, as I love it and its rendering, I've never taken it further than 1km from my car

I accept heavier telezooms on hikes but usually they can't be replaced by anything lighter like the batis can.

Nov 09, 2020 at 07:55 AM

liftedspirit
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Hiking 135mm

I know you didn't include the Batis as one of your potential options, but others have spoken highly of it, as would I if it hadn't already been said. So instead, I'll post some images from the Batis. I can't see it ever leaving my kit as it offers great pop, resolution, enough speed for me and fantastic weight for what it offers for me as primarily a landscape photog who hikes for the majority of images I make.

Nov 09, 2020 at 12:54 PM

nehemiahphoto
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Hiking 135mm

liftedspirit wrote:
I know you didn't include the Batis as one of your potential options, but others have spoken highly of it, as would I if it hadn't already been said. So instead, I'll post some images from the Batis. I can't see it ever leaving my kit as it offers great pop, resolution, enough speed for me and fantastic weight for what it offers for me as primarily a landscape photog who hikes for the majority of images I make.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50584143321_c787771915_b.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50583402608_f87b68a10d_b.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50584263187_cba799b3a9_b.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50584143476_25b733e9f6_b.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50584261117_cec23f70ed_b.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47670739272_8520f01f35_b.jpg

That pen ultimate photo of the industrial sunset is gorgeous. Great work.

Nov 09, 2020 at 01:01 PM

hanay78
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Hiking 135mm

@DavidBM@ I agree about Batis being better than the apo-telyt. It is also native, and 1000€ cheaper (compared with a used leica).

About 135 and no advantage for rangefinders. I have read this before but somehow I do not understand it. This would be equivalent to the fact that native rangefinder lenses would have the most rear element significantly recessed, equivalent to the effect of adapter. In many cases, it is like that (Apo-Telyt and Aporis as far as I know), but, this is not in the case of Batis which have its rear element relatively close to the sensor.

Which one do you prefer for the lightest ones?

@QuietOC, @trogdon, @chris9, @tsdevine thanks for the alternative lenses suggestion. I will research them as i did with the others

@Fred Miranda It was my mistake. I was only aware of Tele-Tessar for Rollei. There is also for Contarex as @DavidBM@ mentioned and even another for Contaflex. Which one do you like?

@ikit You raise a real issue in your comment. Legacy light 135 + adapter roughly 400g. Batis 614. Apart for the money, going for a legacy option has sense? On the other side, I have a Loxia 85, which have a similar weight, and I think twice before bringing it to a long walk

But, this, of course, in 85mm is my fault, as for this focal there are known lightest options!

@liftedspirit great work! thanks for the photographs!

Thank you all for your answers!

Nov 10, 2020 at 03:45 AM

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