Impressed by the SMC-F 135/2.8 IF

pasipasi · 01-27-2009, 11:49 AM

I got this lens in the mail last week and it has stayed mounted on the K20d since then. I love how it performs wide open and when stopped down even a bit, it's almost too sharp. It even focuses to 70cm, 1:4 macro. Here's a shot at f3.5:

And here's a center and a corner crop (keep in mind that this is a ISO 800 shot):

Here's some other shots from the past week:

f3.5 ISO 2500

Wide open ISO 1600

More shots: Flickr: pasipasi's stuff tagged with smcpf135mmf28if

blende8 · 01-27-2009, 02:05 PM

Yes, great!
I have the FA equivalent and I like it.
Very fast AF.
Very well corrected lens.

Btw. I was once in Oulu actually, on a congress, about 20 years ago.
But the only things that I remember are that I couldn't sleep, because it was May and very bright. Also I remember a famous "Shouting Club" (cool!) and very many mosquitos.
But grand nature of course ...

axl · 01-28-2009, 03:40 PM

quite a few are impressed with it when they come across one.
I wish I'd come across one, I'd happily trade it for my Hoya 135/2.8
seems really great performer and on APS-C it has FOV of roughly 200mm with f2.8. Sound great indeed....
BR

arpaagent · 01-28-2009, 03:54 PM

I would really really like to get a copy of this lens. Had a chance a couple months ago but chickened out on the bidding process...sigh...don't see them very often unfortunately.

I'm still on the lookout.

danielchtong · 01-28-2009, 04:23 PM

Originally posted by pasipasi

I got this lens in the mail last week and it has stayed mounted on the K20d since then. I love how it performs wide open and when stopped down even a bit, it's almost too sharp. It even focuses to 70cm, 1:4 macro. Here's a shot at f3.5:

Congratulation that you have a keeper. Buying old lens has always the risk. But you did well.
I have the FA version which is not as rare as the F version.
Recently posted some image

From FA135mm - Photo.net Pentax Forum

Keep posting as I have not been using it as frequently as I should

Daniel

danielchtong · 01-28-2009, 04:26 PM

Be careful about using it for portrait. For less than perfect model, it can be overly sharp even at F4. You sometimes have to tone down the sharpness

Daniel

**GaryM** · 01-28-2009, 04:43 PM

I really want an FA135, but they're hard to find and go for a high price used. I would love to see Pentax release a new lens in this focal length, at least f2.8 in speed.

01-27-2009, 11:49 AM	#1
pasipasi Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Oulu Photos: Gallery Posts: 532	Impressed by the SMC-F 135/2.8 IF I got this lens in the mail last week and it has stayed mounted on the K20d since then. I love how it performs wide open and when stopped down even a bit, it's almost too sharp. It even focuses to 70cm, 1:4 macro. Here's a shot at f3.5: And here's a center and a corner crop (keep in mind that this is a ISO 800 shot): Here's some other shots from the past week: f3.5 ISO 2500 Wide open ISO 1600 More shots: Flickr: pasipasi's stuff tagged with smcpf135mmf28if

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01-27-2009, 02:05 PM	#2
blende8 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Bremen, Germany Photos: Albums Posts: 1,521	Yes, great! I have the FA equivalent and I like it. Very fast AF. Very well corrected lens. Btw. I was once in Oulu actually, on a congress, about 20 years ago. But the only things that I remember are that I couldn't sleep, because it was May and very bright. Also I remember a famous "Shouting Club" (cool!) and very many mosquitos. But grand nature of course ...

01-28-2009, 03:40 PM	#3
axl Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,183	quite a few are impressed with it when they come across one. I wish I'd come across one, I'd happily trade it for my Hoya 135/2.8 seems really great performer and on APS-C it has FOV of roughly 200mm with f2.8. Sound great indeed.... BR

01-28-2009, 03:54 PM	#4
arpaagent Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Raleigh, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 803	I would really really like to get a copy of this lens. Had a chance a couple months ago but chickened out on the bidding process...sigh...don't see them very often unfortunately. I'm still on the lookout.

01-28-2009, 04:23 PM	#5
danielchtong Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 885	Originally posted by pasipasi I got this lens in the mail last week and it has stayed mounted on the K20d since then. I love how it performs wide open and when stopped down even a bit, it's almost too sharp. It even focuses to 70cm, 1:4 macro. Here's a shot at f3.5: Congratulation that you have a keeper. Buying old lens has always the risk. But you did well. I have the FA version which is not as rare as the F version. Recently posted some image From FA135mm - Photo.net Pentax Forum Keep posting as I have not been using it as frequently as I should Daniel

01-28-2009, 04:26 PM	#6
danielchtong Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 885	Be careful about using it for portrait. For less than perfect model, it can be overly sharp even at F4. You sometimes have to tone down the sharpness Daniel

01-28-2009, 04:43 PM	#7
GaryM Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Montclair, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 426	I really want an FA135, but they're hard to find and go for a high price used. I would love to see Pentax release a new lens in this focal length, at least f2.8 in speed.