[manntax]

I recently acquired a lens that has become a bit of mystery to me. The lens has no brand markings on it - the only text there says :

AUTO TELE-
1:2.8 f = 135mm

And on the bottom there is a tiny text engraved saying :

LENS MADE IN JAPAN

The lens is in M42 mount with switch marked A M, for either auto and manual aperture control.

Having some other nice 135mm lenses I wouldn't bother at all - if only this one hasn't been this darn good !
It has beaten hand down my Tokina 135mm 2.8 - as Tokina used to have a little bit of softness at 2.8 - this one here is just sharp ! Also some other lenses I had - mostly strange branded and also SMC M 135 has failed to compete against this unknown and unbranded lens. The colors are great and the bokeh is fantastic ! Furthermore - it focuses down to 1.35m and has awesome build quality - but still is very light at the same time , 360g. Additionally it has got some sort of coatings - both front and the back are having strong bluish tint - especially rear element, plus the lens has good resistance to flare as shots against the sun still were good with only slight loss in contrast.

So all in all - quite a sleeper if you ask me - and I got it in nearly immaculate condition!
I just need to solve this mystery - what lens is that, can someone point me into any direction ?
Below are photos of the lens , and then samples taken with my K10D.




Below are samples taken with my K10D - all @ 2.8 - shoot as JPG in camera and resized in irfanview ( right click on each sample and select show image - or similar option - so you can review the image in full resolution - which is about 1800+ pix wide ).




Last shot was either shoot @2.8 or @4 - not sure as I forgot to note and exif doesn't contain aperture in this case - but a hint is there in that I shoot it at ISO 100 and 1/1250s. - quite fast and there was a lot of clouds - so quite possible that I shoot it also at 2.8 !!

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Last edited by manntax; 09-27-2013 at 08:54 AM. Reason: added links to imaged and thumbnails

[pearsaab]

some awesome shots!!! nice lens!!!!

[Ole]

A prototype perhaps, that somehow found its way out of the lab? Hence the omission of the brand name, which should have been engraved after the dash?

[manntax]

some awesome shots!!! nice lens!!!!

Exactly ! I was like WHAAT ? when I saw how good it performs - and no brand on it - how come ?

A prototype perhaps, that somehow found its way out of the lab? Hence the omission of the brand name, which should have been engraved after the dash?

That I didn't consider indeed - could be the case. I mean I dont mind unknown - or strangely branded glass - but having not put ANY brand on it - who would want to release such anonymous lens ?

here is another quick example with my boy, today at late afternoon. The sun was shining on oposite wall hence the yellowish light. Shoot @ 2.8 :

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Last edited by manntax; 09-27-2013 at 08:53 AM.

[Ole]

That lens is a keeper, name or no name!

[pearsaab]

wow...it's a definite keeper!!!

[thornburg]

Can you show us the other side of the front ring? I'm guessing it's a serial number, but maybe there will be some clue there.

[manntax]

That lens is a keeper, name or no name!

wow...it's a definite keeper!!!

Yeah, I figured that already - this unbranded fellow has beaten up badly my Tokina AND SMC Pentax M 135 3.5. Tomorrow I'll see a friend who has Pentacon MC 135 2.8 so I will try how this one compares. Anyways already amazed - and the only question I have is : who made it ??

[pearsaab]

keep is posted....thanks for sharing!!

[manntax]

keep is posted....thanks for sharing!!

Thanks for looking at Photography is all about sharing after all

Can you show us the other side of the front ring? I'm guessing it's a serial number, but maybe there will be some clue there.

There you go mate, the serial number there only : 131001

[elliott]

What size is the filter ring? How many aperture blades?

It is showing some slight resemblance to my Suntar, but the barrel design is different. They both go to 100ft/30m, infrared mark at f4, the M/A markings directly under the aperture markings and the switch on the opposite side right by the "LENS MADE IN JAPAN" engraving.

[manntax]

What size is the filter ring? How many aperture blades?

It is showing some slight resemblance to my Suntar, but the barrel design is different. They both go to 100ft/30m, infrared mark at f4 and the M/A markings directly under the aperture markings.

The lens has 6 aperture blades and the filter size is 55 mm. I was thinking about this serial number. usually first two numbers shows a year or producer , on vivitars there is also next week of production. so if we take 13 for producer, perhaps 1 - or 10 - would be the week, then last number left is either 01 or 001 - that would perhaps make some sense with that prototype theory. And since the lens was for in-house use - perhaps no one bothered to polish the design of front plate with brand name. Perhaps it was even done somewhere and then was going to be branded differently - just guessing now.

[elliott]

That is a match to my Suntar as well.

[manntax]

That is a match to my Suntar as well.

How about the IQ wise - is it also surprisingly good ? Can you post a photo if it ?

[elliott]

How about the IQ wise - is it also surprisingly good ? Can you post a photo if it ?

I never really got along with it, the image quality not bad, I think the lack of close focus ability is part of it and the fact that I haven't bought a suitable hood for it yet.

Terrible cell phone pictures because the K-5's battery is charging:





Like I said, the barrel design is different, but there are similarities. It does have a slight blue tint to the glass as well, but it is hard to capture with my phone.