[ILoveVerdi]

Now that I've lost this in a bargain e-bay auction attached to a spotmatic, I'm curious to know what you all know about it in terms of quality. Anyone have any examples of this lens in action? That's rhetorical since I'm sure someone here has it

But I won a 25 dollar Vivitar 135 2.8 on ebay, and it is crazy good in my opinion.

From what I have seen there are a lot of very decent 135 lenses out there for cheap. And few real losers, so just keep looking. I also picked up a TAIR 135 2.8 and I like it even better than the vivitar... of course it was 70+ with shipping.
(but it is huge by comparison).

[Ratmagiclady]

I had one on my Miranda stuff as a kid. I'm afraid I'd be hard-pressed to identify any surviving negs as having been shot with that lens, but I was pretty fond of it, with the caveat that the coating was nothing to write home about. Well-built, felt nice, ... Flattering people lens, (it wasn't what I'd call razor-sharp, either, but OK. ) I'd certainly put a more serious hood than the built-in on there if you were to shoot color with it.

[ILoveVerdi]

But I won a 25 dollar Vivitar 135 2.8 on ebay, and it is crazy good in my opinion.

From what I have seen there are a lot of very decent 135 lenses out there for cheap. And few real losers, so just keep looking. I also picked up a TAIR 135 2.8 and I like it even better than the vivitar... of course it was 70+ with shipping.
(but it is huge by comparison).

I believe I've seen your TAIR thread, actually =). And I don't mind huge: if convenience were an issue I'd use autofocus and zooms. Actually I'm looking for something to replicate the focal length of my Voigtlander 90 on film (just got a K1000), so 135 is pretty much that.

$70 for a great lens though?! Hard to believe these days. I blame inflation.

---

Last edited by ILoveVerdi; 06-04-2009 at 05:15 PM.

[ILoveVerdi]

I had one on my Miranda stuff as a kid. I'm afraid I'd be hard-pressed to identify any surviving negs as having been shot with that lens, but I was pretty fond of it, with the caveat that the coating was nothing to write home about. Flattering people lens, (it wasn't what I'd call razor-sharp, either, but OK. ) I'd certainly put a more serious hood on there if you were to shoot color with it.

Thanks for the reply! I won't fret if I happen to win one next time then, though it seems if I want 135 I should be focusing elsewhere.

For the $10 it would have been if the auction ended 2 hours earlier I wasn't going to care too much =)

[Ratmagiclady]

Thanks for the reply! I won't fret if I happen to win one next time then, though it seems if I want 135 I should be focusing elsewhere.

For the $10 it would have been if the auction ended 2 hours earlier I wasn't going to care too much =)

I'm having some fun with a Takumar Bayonet 135 2.5. (It's one of those where they stuck the Takumar name on a budget line of non-SMC-coated lenses, to many loud groans from Pentax people.

If you can find a 'Beck,' those are supposed to be really good. And some of the ones store-branded for Underground Camera were actually pretty nice, ....if you're looking for something to be like a Voigtlander, I dunno, maybe a Pentax-M? They were a really popular focal length, there's just scads of 135s out there.

I believe I've seen your TAIR thread, actually =). And I don't mind huge: if convenience were an issue I'd use autofocus and zooms. Actually I'm looking for something to replicate the focal length of my Voigtlander 90 on film (just got a K1000), so 135 is pretty much that.

$70 for a great lens though?! Hard to believe these days. I blame inflation.

If I was flat out looking for a great 135 2.8 I would try and find the Vivitar with the 28 serial #. Like I said it was 25 bucks M42 with the A/M switch.

Here are my first test shots with it.

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

Like happens too often when I am on a lens buying frenzy (LBF), I got this lens then a week or so later the TAIR came in. So I really need to go back and use the vivi some more.
But if you can find the TAIR for a good price and like the Preset Aperture style lenses it is a winner.

[ILoveVerdi]

If I was flat out looking for a great 135 2.8 I would try and find the Vivitar with the 28 serial #. Like I said it was 25 bucks M42 with the A/M switch.

Here are my first test shots with it.

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

Like happens too often when I am on a lens buying frenzy (LBF), I got this lens then a week or so later the TAIR came in. So I really need to go back and use the vivi some more.
But if you can find the TAIR for a good price and like the Preset Aperture style lenses it is a winner.

Hmm, very nice Vivitar shots! I'll keep my eye out for that lens.

Is Preset Aperture just the primary/secondary aperture rings? I did some research, it seems kind of wacky but I doubt I'd have a hard time getting used to it. It sounds kind of like a way to stop-up while focusing and not have to move the camera or remember how many clicks in order to stop down to the final aperture?

[ILoveVerdi]

I'm having some fun with a Takumar Bayonet 135 2.5. (It's one of those where they stuck the Takumar name on a budget line of non-SMC-coated lenses, to many loud groans from Pentax people.

If you can find a 'Beck,' those are supposed to be really good. And some of the ones store-branded for Underground Camera were actually pretty nice, ....if you're looking for something to be like a Voigtlander, I dunno, maybe a Pentax-M? They were a really popular focal length, there's just scads of 135s out there.

I'm kind of, err, in love with the voigtlander. But I've grown accustomed to its 135mm equivalence, and since I'm starting out on film, I figured a real 135mm might be in order.

I'll check out your suggestions! Thanks!

[casualcollector]

Now that I've lost this in a bargain e-bay auction attached to a spotmatic, I'm curious to know what you all know about it in terms of quality. Anyone have any examples of this lens in action? That's rhetorical since I'm sure someone here has it

Depends on which Soligor 135/2.8 you are considering. Like almost every other importer, Soligor bought different lenses from different makers at different times. Top that with the fact that lens makers updated their designs periodically. There are probably a dozen different Soligor 135/2.8.

[redneckwes]

First time poster, long time lurker.

I switched my Beck 135/2.8 out of the case in favor of the Focal 135/2.8 I got with my Craigslist K1000. The focal seems to be sharper and better made.

I suppose I had to get over the "K-mart" lens stigma sooner or later.

I'm waiting on a SMC-M 135/3.5 from e-bay to try next.