| Author: | | New Member Registered: November, 2014 Posts: 3 | | Lens Review Date: March 29, 2019 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $183.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | sharp, beautiful colours, outstanding bokeh | | Cons: | tricky to properly focus | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 7
Value: 8
Camera Used: K-5 IIs
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I didn't believe the reviews how unique and wonderful the K series is - I should have. This lens makes outstandingly gorgeous pictures, especially when it comes to colour rendering in bokeh.
My only issue is the handling, and not for the manual focus part. While the size and weight is lovely from the carrying point of view, it's difficult to handle: it is too short to use your palm to support it, too long not to support it, the focal length (135x1.5=202) is way too prone to micro movements to get the subject out of focus wide open.
This results in a lot of images where you think you've tackled a sharp focus, but in reality, it's a teeny bit off - once you do have an actually sharp image to compare it becomes obvious.
Despite this, the lens is recommended, but either have a rock solid hand or consider a tripod.
| | | | | | | New Member Registered: June, 2018 Location: Houghton, Michigan Posts: 1
1 user found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: December 28, 2018 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: N/A
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | wonderful optics and nice bokeh | | Cons: | somewhat strong CAs, especially wide open | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Camera Used: K-1
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This lens is extremely well built and extremely sharp, even wide open. It can be really hard to MF accurately as your DOF will only be a couple inches in a portrait situation. Live view can help this somewhat. The only drawback is somewhat strong CAs, but they are easy to remove in PP.
Higher Res: https://i.imgur.com/6bjkeca.jpg | | | | | Senior Member Registered: July, 2018 Location: Stockholm Posts: 119 | | Lens Review Date: August 28, 2018 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $60.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharpness, bokeh, colour rendition | | Cons: | Weight | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 9
Camera Used: Ricoh XR-1
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This lens was my go to telephoto lens, handled perfect on my camera, I preferred using a winder mounted for speed and handling and that works very well with this lens.
Focusing is smooth and easy to learn to get in focus.
Image quality is great as the brightness of the lens (f/2.5) was good for the time.
I used to pair it with Agfa CT 18 film for wonderful dreamy landscape photography and that was a super lens for getting a bit closer.
Harsh light in the frame was handled very well by Asahi Pentax Super MultiCoating, I always used a hood for maximum contrast.
I recommend this lens in a heartbeat!
| | | | | New Member Registered: January, 2018 Location: Paris Posts: 8
2 users found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: January 26, 2018 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $50.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | COLOR rendering and iQ, 3D pop at 2.5 | | Cons: | Manual but easy with k1 and the smooth ring | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: K1 K5
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Why I bought this lens ?
First when I bought my k1, I found my FA77 short as I was used to shoot with my crop k5 sensor so quite a 115/120mm equiv range
Second I found ( in a poor town market laying on a table aside old kids toys and clothes!) a copy with no front cap, mud on the front element....but 40€!
After cleaning it ....it was in fact in great shape
This old lady as such great optics (plus it’s a pleasure to watch such a big front piece of glass and the build)
On my K1 I shoot only at 2,5 For subject isolation because of such a mix of great IQ/contrast/COLOR rendering which seems very close to my fa77 on k5.
Notice if you want to stp down With this =M mode +use of green button metering And you have to set -0,7 manual exposition correction (because over expo And contraste loss)
IAM not fond of the green button mesuring ... but when I need 3.5 or more I prefer the ease of use of an other old lense in m42 mount with A/M Switch also in 135mm (czj Sonnar, if you don’t know what is clarity check this one, but slower than the K, they are complementary to my taste)
This K2.5 is a gem for the pic rendering with isolation . It’s a fame lens and it deserves it
Don’t worry of the manual focusing even if you dislike, at the first pic at 2.5 you will have big smile.
Knowing this lens now I can tell you it worth easily a 150/200€ bill average with no discussion and suit the k1 lovely
Be careful of the m135 3.5 you can find everywhere on eBay. I bought it 4 years ago for my k5 and resold it 1week after. Absolutely not not the same league.
| | | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: November, 2010 Location: London Posts: 307 | | Lens Review Date: October 27, 2017 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $100.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharpness, Colours | | Cons: | Fringing wide open in certain light | |
Really impressed with this lens though it has taken a while to get used to it as I rarely shoot over 55mm. Yes it is heavy-ish, but beautifully built and a joy to focus when you have an EVF. I love the colours I get out of this lens and actually being able to stand back a bit and compose due to the longer FL is an experience that is growing on me.
Lens is very good at F2.5 but really shines when stopped down to F8.
If you can find it for £100 or less, Id say go for it, as you won't regret it...
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: April, 2015 Location: Lower Saxony Posts: 128
3 users found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: July 24, 2017 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $140.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp and rich contrast wide open, mostly soft Bokeh, long focus screw, colors | | Cons: | OoF little cyan to magenta fringing wide open, sometimes rough Bokeh depending on background | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 9
Camera Used: K-30, K-5 IIs, K-1
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Owning it more than 2 years i rediscovered this lens summer 2017
for its FL, its 8 blade aperture and its plastic rendition
- and it was sticky then on my K-1 for three month - until i found a K 1:1.8/85....
My Dobi Koma
K-1 + K 1:2.5/135; @f/2.5; linked to original out of camera jpg
Mrs 3586
K-1 + K 1:2.5/135; @f/2.5; linked to original ooc jpg
Mrs 3586 II
K-1 + K 1:2.5/135; @f/2.5; linked to original ooc jpg
Lord of the Flies
K-1 + K 1:2.5/135; @f/2.5; linked to original ooc jpg.
Halfshadowfax
K-1 + K 1:2.5/135; @f/2.5; linked to originl ooc jpg.
...and 257 more ooc shots with this lens @f/5.6...a german doberman show 2017.08.06; a flickr album... | | | | | Senior Member Registered: October, 2011 Location: British Columbia Posts: 180
2 users found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: July 17, 2017 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $180.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp wide open, pleasant soft bokeh | | Cons: | Size, flare resistance, bokeh past f/5.6 gets geometric | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 7
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-1 (digital), K-2 (film)
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Superb lens. I'm quite fond of the colours that this lens produces and the bokeh it creates both in the foreground and background are some of the best I've seen from a 135mm lens. It's worth noting, however, that the specular highlights can become rather geometric (octagonal) when stopped down past f/5.6. This lens is not the lightest of the pack when it comes to Pentax 135mm primes, but is hardly a burden to carry. I reach for this lens when I want more compression in the frame than the FA 77mm can grab.
Having owned the M-135mm f/3.5, this K-135mm f/2.5 is quite an upgrade in terms of sharpness, bokeh, and contrast.
Although focusing can be challenging, the lens itself is very sharp wide open. See unsharpened photos below @ f/2.5 with 1:1 crop.
 | | | | | New Member Registered: July, 2017 Posts: 1 | | Lens Review Date: July 5, 2017 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $40.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | built like a tank, compact, sharp wide open | | Cons: | purple color fringing | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: canon 5dc
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Beautiful lens, buttery long focus throw, solid metal and glass and the best bokeh of all my pentax lenses (I have 6)
I was very surprised how sharp it was at f2.5 but when I stopped it down to f5.6.... BOOOM! it seemed to turbocharge my Canon 5dc
Purple fringing is a problem, best to stay away from contrasty shots but many programs can deal with 90% of it
I paid just $40 US so I'm an extremely chuffed ole fellow!
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: December, 2014 Location: Colorado Posts: 421 | | Lens Review Date: April 29, 2017 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $160.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharpness, build, bright aperture, | | Cons: | Difficult to nail focus | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: K1
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I used this lens for some time on K-1. Very nice build. As to sharpness I give it 9.5 which is rounded to 10. The only complaint that I have is the razor-thin depth of field, making it difficult to focus. With some patience, however, you will get amazing photos.
| | | | | New Member Registered: July, 2016 Posts: 4
2 users found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: December 28, 2016 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $180.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Build quality, bokeh, flare resistance, sharpness | | Cons: | CA, long minimum focus distance | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 9
Camera Used: Sony A7s, Sony a6000
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Good lens with excellent build quality and handling. Sharp enough wide open with beautiful bokeh and good contrast and colours. Some CA wide open, and could focus closer than 1.5m, but otherwise excellent.
Check out my detailed review of this lens with lots of image samples at
http://www.theweekendlens.com/pentax-135-f25-smc.html | | | | | Senior Member Registered: November, 2016 Posts: 207 | | Lens Review Date: November 25, 2016 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $50.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Classic Pentax IQ, handling, build | | Cons: | Heavy | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax Kx
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I bought this lens for only 50$ in perfect condition, and although I don't like heavy and long lens overall, I like it very much. Great image quality with a classic color rendering and 3D look, the things I always love from Pentax's ancient lens. Its build is superb and focusing ring, aperture ring are easy to use. It is a pleasure handling this lens every-time I put it on my camera. It is perfect for portraits and long snapshot. I even use it to take some landscape photo, although the long focal limit it a lot. If I have a full frame camera I think I will use this lens most of the time.
The only cons I can think of is maybe its weight and size. I'm a lazy person and I don't want to carry many things when going outside, plus this lens put on my Kx camera looks kind of a weird combination. If you don't mind some weight or if you have a bigger camera this is no problem.
With the price I paid it is an absolute bargain.
   | | | | | Junior Member Registered: December, 2015 Posts: 48 | | Lens Review Date: August 30, 2016 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $100.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Solid build, long focus ring, fast, sharp | | Cons: | color fringing | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax K-50
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I own the early version (engraved 1:2.5/135). It's a super lens, both at use and for the eye.
The focus is smooth and comfortable, but hard to get @2.5. It does render wonderful colors and excellent contrast, but it also produces a lot of color fringing (purple and green).
The focus at infinity seems a little off, as said on another review, and the closest point of focus is somewhat far, I would say 1,8 meter.
But it is sharp, even on the corners @2.5. It sticks with the sharpness through the ring (2.5 to 32), the sharpest being, as far as I can tell, at 5.6 and 8, but it's almost not noticable.
Fantastic build, metal and rubber, I recommend it strongly.
@ F/2.5
Img01
Img02 | | | | | New Member Registered: March, 2016 Posts: 1 | | Lens Review Date: July 6, 2016 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $230.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, Contrast, Amazing Colour and bokeh, Handling | | Cons: | | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: NEX-7
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If you find this lens up to 150$, buy it ! True gem inside lens world.
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: December, 2012 Location: Cirebon Posts: 29 | | Lens Review Date: February 21, 2016 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $180.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | 3D, Natural Color, Build, Clarity, Sharpness | | Cons: | Resolution at infinity | |
(+)
- Feels like FA/DA Limited image quality
- Superb for portrait
- 3D
(-)
- Don't use this lens at infinity.
| | | | | Forum Member Registered: November, 2013 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 74 | | Lens Review Date: November 12, 2015 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $150.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Image and build quality are superb | | Cons: | Fringing wide open | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 8
Camera Used: K50 KS1
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I bought this from eBay a few weeks ago and it arrived in extraordinary condition. It appeared brand new, so I'm assuming it has been either refurbished or I am lucky enough to have a mint condition lens from 40 years ago. Either way, the lens is a testament to quality construction.
I use it primarily on the K50 as it meters well and balances better than on the KS1. I can't add any more than previous reviewers on the optical qualities of this lens. It's a beautiful piece of engineering that will produce stunning images.
A couple of images with minimal post processing. These are not wide open and stopped down to f4 if I recall
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