Originally posted by Quicksand How is that lens wide-open? I have been looking for something in a fast 135, and that one has crossed my radar screen a few times.
I had a Super Takumar 135mm f/2.5 but got fed up with its chromatic aberration so I got rid of it. It was a disaster in high-contrast scenes, all purple and green edges.
general review:
Wide open, no question abt the sharpness - its very usable in that regard. I've compared it with the M 135 f3.5, which is well known for being sharp wide open, but not really that surprising given its modest widest aperture at 3.5. The Viv S1 is definitely comparable. The earlier shot of the shadow of the jasmine flower (picture 3 in the first post) was taken wide open.
The lens is not all sweetness and light tho - I have two complaints abt it:
One problem with the lens wide open is the CA if you shoot direct into the light, which does result in funny purple fringing effects. This is not unexpected given that the multicoating tech is not that advanced on old lenses. However, this can be managed with creative composition, i.e. don't shoot directly into very brightly lit areas. Given your concerns, this may be a show-stopper tho.
Second, the lens also suffers from flare issues, which may be because of the wide front element (the lens takes 72mm filters). The built in hood's not that helpful, since its quite shallow. It would be good to invest in a (third party) screw on hood for it, if you want. I haven't really done so, preferring to use cards / hands to shade the lens.
Other then these two shortcomings, I absolutely love the lens - its a wonder to use, and is built like a rock. I find myself reaching for it more than the vt 125mm, more because of the handling rather than the IQ. Also, No worries abt knocking this lens ard a bit - it's built to handle such use!
Here's a few more from the lens:
the funny CA in this one, wide open:
Another wide open shot:
A night shot:
Is your Super Tak 135 / 2.5 the K mount version? Reviews of the K mount version haven't been very good at all, but the common gripe is more on the softness rather than the CA.