I did a shoot-off today with the following lenses on the K-1:
SMC Pentax 135mm 3.5
Tair 11A 135mm 2.8
Pentacon 135mm 2.8
Hanimex 200mm 3.3
My primary motivation was that my Sigma 70-200 APO bricks my K-1, and I need something fast-ish, FF, and workable on the K-1.
The tests were front-lit, side-lit, and back-lit, mostly looking for PF, bokeh of OOF point sources, color, handling etc.
It's not even worth posting images - they all performed in the same league, more or less.
But for splitting hairs, here are some comments:
If I were shooting video and needed tele for something (titles? compression?) the Hanimex looks more cinematic. But in some conditions it's bokeh can be harsh. But only in some conditions.
For handling, I'd prefer not to use the M42 to K mount ring. As much as I thought the Tair was magic, which it can be at 1:1 on APS-C, futzing around during lens changes can be tough under time constraints.
The Pentacon has the build quality of a fine watch.
The Pentax SMC 3.5 - even though it's not 2.8, is solid as a tank and worth whatever you've paid for yours. And the difference between 3.3 and 2.8 is nearly zip.
If I had to rank them:
1) Pentacon (overall quality, image, handling)
2) Pentax (overall handling, quality)
3) Tair 11A (razor sharp at any f-stop, not built like a tank, more like a bunker. It's double the weight of the others
4) Hanimex 200mm (at f/3.3, it's max, it's nice but for portraits you be yelling at your subject the'd be so far away :P
But I don't have to rank them. The Tair has a stop-less aperture. The Pentax is K-mount. The Hanimex does have a bit more reach. The Pentacon feels like a $2000 lens. So no eBay posting this month
Last edited by noser; 05-08-2016 at 04:14 PM.
Reason: Not so sure on the Pentacon bokeh... must test more!