Author: | | Site Supporter Registered: February, 2013 Posts: 456 1 user found this helpful | Review Date: October 8, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $250.00
| Rating: 9 |
Pros: | Solidly built, unique bokeh wide open, artist's lens | Cons: | Not a general purpose lens, soft, every aberration known to science | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 6
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 8
Value: 9
Camera Used: Pentax K30 and K5 iis
| | I have the Formula 5 version. This is not the Spiratone 135mm 1.8 reviewed elsewhere although Spiratone, Weltblick, Eyemik and a cast of other characters also rebranded the Mitake. Spiratone 135mm by Mitake will be marked on the front of the lens. The other Spiratone has a different optical design.
For a host of reasons one would not use this lens as your go to 135mm. A reviewer on another site mentioned that the Formula 5 had every known aberration. It is heavy and the aberrations do not clear up until you stop down which means that you can carry a relatively lightweight 135mm lens and get decent shots at 2.8 without the weight.
On the other hand, one can use those aberrations to advantage, producing thoroughly surreal and painterly photos that respond very well to a bit of tweaking in LR. Pictures are better than writing. All shot wide open at 1.8 mostly on a K30. This is a lens you paint with, hence the seeming disconnect between the numbers and the recommendation. It seems other folks are figuring out about this lens. Current prices (October 2017) are much higher than what I paid, ranging from $399-$568 and I've seen higher. IMGP6387-Edit.jpg by David Miley, on Flickr IMGP6352.jpg by David Miley, on Flickr IMGP6397-Edit.jpg by David Miley, on Flickr IMGP4733-Edit.jpg by David Miley, on Flickr
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: December, 2011 Posts: 3,112 | Review Date: December 30, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $220.00
| Rating: 9 |
Pros: | nice bokeh | Cons: | low contrast, but can be PP'ed | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 6
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 10
| | Nice manual lens and on the cheap side for it's data.
Focussing is very smooth and about 180 degrees from end to end.
As DoF is pretty much that of a 85/1.4 if you can handle those lenses manually then you can also use the 135/1.8.
Very good for head only portraits a couple of steps away, allowing less intrusion on the subject and more natural situations.
Stopped down to F4 it is not really worse than the DA*50-135/2.8 and sharpness on APS-C goes right into the edges and corners.
Interestingly it can be stopped down to F16 without loosing significant sharpness compared to F8.
Best thing is the very soft bokeh, for which I bought it:
(the signpost is about 70cm high)
And here a simulation of a full body shot (signpost here is 175cm):
Funny thing is a bit on the big side:
(compared to Sigma 85/1.4)
There are more versions with only M42 mount around, but there is also the PK version (tested here).
Front cap is screw on and the original lens is is also screw on.
As far as I could read the lens was actually manufactured by Tomioka, which fits to the lens engraving "Lens made in Japan".
Solid full metal build. | | | | New Member Registered: December, 2011 Location: Padova Posts: 8 | Review Date: August 18, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $140.00
| Rating: 9 |
Pros: | great bokeh (but distracting for someone), f1.8 | Cons: | big, heavy, prone to flare, 1.7m as minimum distance, not the sharpest lens (but that's ok for me) | Sharpness: 6
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 6
Value: 8
| | I have the K-mount version that is more convenient and confortable to use with a regular film or digital Pentax K camera, in my opinion.
This is a great lens for me. At all apertures shows less contrast and less sharpness then any other prime lenses that I tried, but in real life isn't an issue.
I used this big lens both with film (Pentax Super Program) and digital (Pentax K5) cameras and does always great performances.
Surely it's heavy and big like a monster, but is sturdy like a tank.
It's very prone to flare, so use huge lens hood!!
| | | | Site Supporter Registered: November, 2010 Location: California Posts: 2,223 1 user found this helpful | Review Date: July 26, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $360.00
| Rating: 10 |
Pros: | Sharp, excellent IQ, superfast, easy to use, great bokeh | Cons: | It is a f1.8, so the dof is very thin....if not properly focus, it could look like soft, but it is not soft. | | I just got this lens after I realized I could not afford the Pentax A* 135mm f1.8. This lens is wonderful, it comes in a M42 mount that works wonderfully with the genuine Pentax/M42 adapter (remember, the adapter goes on the camera first, then the lens is easily screwed in or out.) I will be posting some photographs as soon as I have the time. I strongly recommend this lens. Get it before it goes up in price.
-------------- Porst135mmf1.8-Heron by Palenquero, on Flickr Porst 135mm f1.8 - Fountain with finch by Palenquero, on Flickr Porst 135mm f1.8 - Rose Bokeh by Palenquero, on Flickr Sculpture in Laguna by Palenquero, on Flickr Porst135mmf1.8-CandleHolder2 by Palenquero, on Flickr f1.8-Porst135mmf1.8-Caracol by Palenquero, on Flickr Rancho Santa Margarita by Palenquero, on Flickr Porst135mmf1.8-VistaPrimera by Palenquero, on Flickr Porst135mmf1.8-Grapevine by Palenquero, on Flickr Porst135mmf1.8-Colibri5 by Palenquero, on Flickr Porst135mmf1.8-TreeRSM1 by Palenquero, on Flickr
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This is an edit to confirm that I love this lens after several months of using it. Here are some samples, after I went through the learning curve of how to deal with the narrow dof of the lens wide open: Porst135f1.8@f1.8BkgrdFountain-2079 by Palenquero, on Flickr Porst135f1.8@f1.8Tomate-2055 by Palenquero, on Flickr Porst135f1.8@f1.8Beauty1-2032 by Palenquero, on Flickr Porst135f1.8@11GreenTomato-2066 by Palenquero, on Flickr
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: July, 2008 Location: Var, South of France Posts: 1,074 | Review Date: July 28, 2008 | Recommended | Price: $120.00
| Rating: 8 |
Pros: | fast, sharp, smooth, cheap! | Cons: | size, weight, m42 mount... | | Pros : Bokeh is pleasant, focus is smooth.
Cons : fairly strong axial CA wide open on a digital body : everything before the focus plan takes a reddish fringe, and greenish behind.
Apart from this, it's quite sharp and distortion-free on a digital body:
But beware: this is a beast of a lens! On a K10d, my arms were burning after a 15min use... Add a flash, and you'll be ready for the next Olympic games.
Some pics with 35mm films: | | |