[vitalsax]

Gosh i miss the 135mm in my bag or that is just me?

[creampuff]

Gosh i miss the 135mm in my bag or that is just me?

Unfortunately most people today probably are more accustomed with zooms... there's the DA 50-200mm, DA* 50-135mm, DA 55-300mm and DA* 60-250mm that can cover the missing prime between the DFA 100mm and the DA* 200mm. But having a small compact fixed focal length in the line-up is always a plus.

[and]

one thing i like primes for is the ability to be faster than zooms, a 135 f2.8 wouldnt bee very interesting but lets have a 135 f2 like canon and nikon or even a 135 f1.8 like sony

[MrApollinax]

Primes and Pentax specifically? Sigma and Tamron have offerings in this range.

[GaryM]

Pentax definitely needs a prime lens between 100mm and 200mm. The big question is, should it be large and fast (DA*) or smaller and slower (DA Limited)? A DA*135/2 would be highly desireable (and expensive too, no doubt), but a small DA 135/4 Limited that was sharp wide open would be a great travel lens.

I was never a huge fan of the 135 on a cropped sensor cam.... until recently.

I now have an great little 135 F2.8 Vivitar (komine) that I picked up for $25 bucks.

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/post-your-photos/55486-vivitar-135-f2-8-true-love.html

And my new favorite lens a russian Tair 11a - 135mm 2.8 that I got for a song

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/post-your-photos/56241-true-happiness.html

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/post-your-photos/58094-tair-135mm-pentax-m-50-f4-macro.html

And believe it or not a third one, for someone who was not a fan of the 135mm length... The Carl Zeiss 135 F4 Super-Dynarex

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/58954-carl-zei...35-images.html

So I am now a believer in the 135mm length... And I now understand why you would want Pentax to address the hole in the prime line-up....
Of course I could never afford it even if they did...
And with all the wonderful used 135mm mf primes out in the world already... at a very cheap price/performance ratio, I dont understand why everyone who wants one does not have a great 135 in their bag already...

[Marc Sabatella]

I suppose it goes without saying - but if it bears saying once, it bears repeating:

If you want that focal length, there are any number of really good and inexpensive options out there, if you don't need the camera to focus it for you. The M135/3.5 is very good, very inexpensive, and wonderfully compact. You can get even better IQ and up to a stop more speed by giving up a little in the price and size/weight department.

[pasipasi]

F135/2.8 is pretty awesome on my K20d so I wonder why won't they make a modern version of this lens.

[Lowell Goudge]

I have an old SMC 135 F2.5 it is a great lens, but.......

i just got a vivitar 85mm F1.4, (KA mount) so I thought I would put my 1.7 x AF TC on it.

tell me what you think. The first is a little soft, but the second?

both actually look better in full resolution

first shot is wide open, second shot is stopped down 2 stops.

[ilya80]

Gosh i miss the 135mm in my bag or that is just me?

I have 135mm in my bag

[Venturi]

+1 for both a 135mm prime and a constant zoom for the 135-300 range.

If they make it 35mm compatible that'd be even better!

[Peter Zack]

I'd like one as well 135mm f1.8 or similar 150mm. The world has gone zoom 'happy' and I suppose Pentax is concerned that something like this would have a limited audience. Especially since there are some excellent, fast zooms that cover this range.

The ideal lens IMO for prime shooters would be something like the Sony 135 F2.8 [T4.5] STF SAL-135F28. Bit slower than I'd want but the IQ and bokeh from this lens is second to none.

For now I'll enjoy my Tak 105 and 135mm which are still great lenses.

Lowell, not too bad considering the TC can produce funky bokeh at times.

[Lowell Goudge]

Peter

I've got the 105F2.8 and 135F2.5 also.

I thought the 85 would be a great addition as an ultra low light lens, and still give the length if I wanted it with the TC. Kind of an experiment as to whether I would take the 85+TC in place of the 135, and add something for low light in a 3 lens travel kit.

It is still a little soft on it's own, even at 85mm, but it sharpens up very nicely when you stop it down, as can be seen by the second photo.

I think what is seen is the lens, and the TC does not take anything away.

edit note, just a little adjustment in contrast curve, and some sharpening on the wide open shot above

[danielchtong]

I should have used my FA135mm more. Pentax should have reissued another 135mm

This was at F4

[fs999]

Why not a DA* 150mm f:2.8 Macro ?
It is exactly between 100 and 200