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SMC Pentax 135mm F2.5 Review RSS Feed

SMC Pentax 135mm F2.5

Sharpness 
 9.4
Aberrations 
 8.0
Bokeh 
 9.2
Handling 
 9.0
Value 
 9.3
Reviews Views Date of last review
71 371,077 Fri February 2, 2024
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Recommended By Average Price Average User Rating
100% of reviewers $175.34 9.27
SMC Pentax 135mm F2.5

SMC Pentax 135mm F2.5
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SMC Pentax 135mm F2.5
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Description:
The Pentax 135mm F2.5 is Pentax's second-fastest 135mm lens, weighing in at 500g. It's famed for its excellent image quality.



SMC Pentax 135mm F2.5
© www.pentaxforums.com, sharable with attribution
Image Format
Full-frame / 35mm film
Lens Mount
Pentax K
Aperture Ring
Yes (no A setting)
Diaphragm
Automatic, 8 blades
Optics
6 elements, 6 groups
Mount Variant
K
Check camera compatibility
Max. Aperture
F2.5
Min. Aperture
F32
Focusing
Manual
Min. Focus
150 cm
Max. Magnification
0.11x
Filter Size
58 mm
Internal Focus
No
Field of View (Diag. / Horiz.)

APS-C: 12 ° / 10 °
Full frame: 18 ° / 15 °
Hood
PH-R58*
Case
Dedicated hard case
Lens Cap
Plastic clip-on
Coating
SMC
Weather Sealing
No
Other Features
Diam x Length
68 x 86 mm
Weight
500 g
Production Years
1975 to 1985
Engraved Name
SMC PENTAX 1:2.5/135 (early version), smc PENTAX 1:2.5 135mm (later version)
Product Code
23840
Reviews
User reviews
Notes
Plastic clip-on hood, shared between 135/2.5, 200/4, 85-210/4.5.
Variants
Two variants were produced, only differing in the engraved name:
SMC PENTAX 1:2.5/135 (early version),
smc PENTAX 1:2.5 135mm (later version)
Features:
Manual FocusAperture RingFull-Frame SupportDiscontinued
Price History:



Add Review of SMC Pentax 135mm F2.5
Author:
Sort Reviews by: Date | Author | Rating | Recommendation | Likes (Descending) Showing Reviews 1-15 of 71
Pentax Forever!

Registered: February, 2016
Location: Würzburg, Lower Franconia
Posts: 7

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: February 2, 2024 Recommended | Price: $90.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Amazing build quality, good sharpness wide open, 3D, lively colors
Cons: Fringing wide open, handling (all manual operation)
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 6    Bokeh: 10    Handling: 7    Value: 10    Camera Used: K-1   

Of all the 135mm lenses I have owned, this is the most interesting (with the FA 135mm being the best overall). Fantastic vintage build quality, heavy, smoothly operating aperture and focus rings. It does not come with a retractable hood, so be prepared to purchase a 58mm diameter screw-on hood, but look for a smaller one or you will see some vignetting (I got a metal one off eBay that is only 22mm high and it fits perfectly).

The handling is a little difficult wide open, since you need to work with catch-in focus to nail it. However, catch-in focus means that the part of your composition that is supposed to be sharp must be in the center, which kind of ruins the composition idea. Alternatively, use live view to focus, which works well for me, too. If you want to use this lens stopped down, you need to work in M mode (green button mode), which adds to the somewhat clumsy handling. So, this one is by no means an action lens. Use it wide open in A or TAV mode for portraits or anything that should get the famous 3D pop. High contrast areas will show pretty bad CAs wide open, but most of those can be easily fixed in post.

With all that being said, I enjoy the slowed down work with that lens. You will be rewarded with amazing color rendering, super-smooth bokeh, and this very special vintage look of your pictures.

Wide open:




f4:


f11:



Panorama, composed of 8 vertical shots, post-processed in LR:
   
New Member

Registered: September, 2017
Location: Vladimir
Posts: 4

4 users found this helpful
Review Date: May 5, 2023 Recommended | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Sharpness, 3D, beautiful bokeh, retro charm
Cons:
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 10    Handling: 8    Value: 10    Camera Used: Nikon Z6   

This lens called a "masterpiece maker". It is true. There are SMC coating for great colours and contrast, sharp enough, 3D-effect, beautiful Pentax bokeh, 2.5 lens aperture.



   
Senior Member

Registered: June, 2020
Location: Guangdong
Posts: 173

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: February 18, 2023 Recommended | Price: $130.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Well-built, fast, looks nice, sharpness
Cons: None
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 10    Value: 9    Camera Used: K-50   

TBH I don't have much to say about this lens right now 'cause I have high expectations for it on a new FF DSLR from Pentax.

Sometimes the aberrations get annoying but no big deal as the object is stunning.

So far, so good. This is not legendary compared to the A* 135mm/1.8, yet it gets you to fall in love with shooting right away...I am not sure whether it adapts to all K series lenses; this beauty inherited the most outstanding aperture ring mechanism. It's dope, to just listen to the hinge jointing sound.

It'll be such a waste, I think if you are going to put it on an APS-C body.
   
Pentaxian

Registered: April, 2009
Location: Madrid, Spain
Posts: 10,852

3 users found this helpful
Review Date: January 20, 2023 Recommended | Price: $60.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Excellent build, excellent image quality, sharp wide open, reasonably fast
Cons: Quite large and heavy
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 9    Value: 9    Camera Used: K-3, Fujifilm X-T20, Lumix S5   

I do not often use lenses as long as 135mm but in the last year or so I have come to use them more and this is certainly my favourite. The build is typical K series - very solid, large, heavy and with smooth focus. Overall it's a pleasure to use.

Image quality is fantastic. It's plenty sharp wide open for portraits, low light or for subject isolation, and stopped down it's great for landscapes or sunset and sunrise shots. I'm particularly impressed with the portraits I've got from it since my change to FF mirrorless, which has allowed me to focus this lens much better than I could on the K-3. On mirrorless I've used it wide open in low light and when I nail the focus (which is not too difficult with the Lumix S5) it produces great results. On an APS-C DSLR getting focus just right in those conditions is much harder so take that into account if you're considering a purchase for such use.

Compared to the most common Pentax 135mm, the M series f/3.5, it's far, far superior. My second favourite, the Tokina RMC 135/2.8, is good but the K is much better wide open: sharper and without the colour fringing. It's sharper than the M 120mm f/2.8 wide open, though much heavier.

Altogether it's the best ~135mm lens I've ever used.

Some samples:

These were all taken wide open.


Amaral
by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr


Croc
by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr


Angel
by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr


Dressed in white III
by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr


Peacock
by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr

And this one stopped down a little


Sunrise I
by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
   
Pentaxian

Registered: April, 2007
Location: Toronto/Victoria
Posts: 460

3 users found this helpful
Review Date: August 28, 2021 Recommended | Price: $60.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Nicely built, sharp, relatively fast
Cons: Fair bit of CA
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 7    Bokeh: 7    Handling: 9    Value: 9    Camera Used: K1 II   

I sold my first "SMC 1:2.5/135" version around 14 years ago but recently found another "smc 1:2.5 135mm" one. Both performed identically, which is to say it's a very good lens as long as you know to watch for CA in the form of blue/red regions around bright areas (especially towards the edges and corners), and green/purple in areas out of focus.

It is beautifully constructed like other K lenses, but is also manual focus and manual aperture. The diaphragm is 8 bladed.

While generally sharp even at wide apertures, stop down to F5.6-8 for better quality to the edges if you're doing landscapes, etc. This was less of an issue on my old K100D but noticeable at 100% on FF.

Also be mindful of the minimum focus distance. The newer F or FA 135mm f2.8 is much more versatile in this respect.

I was able to find mine locally for under $100 CAD. I'm not sure I'd pay significantly more before looking at other used options like a 100mm macro or F/FA 135mm.
   
Pentaxian

Registered: November, 2012
Location: Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany
Posts: 6,688

4 users found this helpful
Review Date: September 9, 2020 Recommended | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Handling, sharpness, image quality
Cons: Aberrations
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 6    Bokeh: 10    Handling: 10    Value: 10    Camera Used: K-1 mII, K2, K1000   



Two versions were introduced, one in 1975 and a second in 1977 which differ only in the name plate. Mine is the older version with "SMC PENTAX 1:2.5/135" on the nameplate. The newer version appears to differ only in the name, which adds "MM" at the end. The lens has 6 elements in 6 groups and 8 aperture blades. Minimum focus distance is 150cm (59 inches) with a maximum magnification of 0.11x which can of course be enhanced with diopters or extension tubes. Speaking of diopters, the front filter threads are 58mm. The lens is 86mm long (3.4 inches) and weighs 500g (1.1 pounds).
The lens is somewhat heavy but handles very well on the K-1 full frame DSLR. On lighter or smaller cameras, it may be slightly front heavy, but on my all metal film units it handles well. Focus action is well damped as the lens extends when focusing close. The aperture ring goes from f/2.5 to f/32 with half-stop indents between all but the last two apertures, each click stop is audible and clear. There is a focus distance window at the top that crops out of range measurements, showing only those distances that should be in focus at available apertures.



The lens is sharp wide open and fairly easy to focus with the stock K-1 focus screen. Image quality improves as you stop down, where sharpness increases and aberrations decrease. Aberrations are easily noted at wide apertures or high contrast areas, however Lightroom's latest "defringe" function works excellently at removing this defect. Just use the eyedropper on the worst parts of the image and watch it disappear!
What to use this lens for? Anywhere a medium telephoto lens has an application. It's a great travel lens and a decent single-lens solution to shooting candid street photos or architecture. I use the lens for all purposes, including portraits, outdoor photography including macros and landscapes, pet portraits, and miscellaneous things like architecture and still life photography.

Rating the lens on a scale of 1-10 for Sharpness, Aberrations, Bokeh, Handling, and Value.

The lens deserves a 9 for sharpness. I'll give it a 6 for aberrations and only because they are easily correctable in Lightroom. Please remember that this lens was introduced 30 years before digital SLRs, and the problem does not show itself as readily on film. Smooth transitions and pleasing out of focus areas garner the lens a 10 for bokeh. I personally like the beefy feel of the lens and enjoy using it, so it gets a 10 for handling. The lens is an exceptional value also, usually setting you back $200 plus or minus $50, so I'd call that a 10 for value. Overall, that averages exactly 9.0. The lens is almost as old as I am and still very competent on a DSLR, and of course it is fun to use on film too.

Thanks for reading, and please leave a comment on my site!


Wide open example (on K-1 mII)

See more here. Thanks for reading and looking!
   
New Member

Registered: June, 2020
Posts: 2

3 users found this helpful
Review Date: June 25, 2020 Recommended | Price: $140.00 | Rating: 6 

 
Pros: Colors, bokeh, resolution after f4, object separation from background (3D look)
Cons: Hard to use for close-up, color fringing in some situation
Sharpness: 7    Aberrations: 4    Bokeh: 7    Handling: 9    Value: 7   

I bought this lens a month ago, paid it 140 USD (imported it from Japan). It is in mint condition. Focus is soft and precise, aperture blades are dry and clean.

Below are few pictures. Second is using Kenko 2X extender.





   
Veteran Member

Registered: September, 2017
Location: Medellín
Posts: 1,322

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: December 23, 2019 Recommended | Price: $260.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Separation, bokeh, f/2.5-32
Cons:
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 10    Value: 10    Camera Used: Film cameras, K-5   

I paid a little more for the later version, which included the original case, caps, clip-on plastic hood and a B+W protective filter. Definitely shoot it with the hood on if the sun, or bright lights are in the frame or just outside of it while shooting high contrast scenes. It really benefits from it. Then again, some veiling can be used creatively, too. A longer 58 mm collapsible rubber lens hood works well, too. Compared to the Takumar (Bayonet) it's a world of difference. The coatings and better optical design really are worth the price. It's a lens that really shines in low light wide open.
   
Site Supporter

Registered: November, 2015
Posts: 824

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: October 14, 2019 Recommended | Price: $125.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: beautiful bokeh , super sharp
Cons: none
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 10    Handling: 10    Value: 10    Camera Used: K3   

my favorite lens or one of favorite . excellent image quality and beautiful bokeh .
photo straight from camera jpeg with out PP
   
Loyal Site Supporter

Registered: June, 2013
Location: Utrecht
Posts: 250

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: October 11, 2019 Recommended | Price: $75.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Sharp, bokeh, beautiful rendering, build quality
Cons: Abberations wide open
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 10    Handling: 10    Value: 10    Camera Used: K2 to K1ii   

Most is said about this lens, it's sharp and has a "special" rendering and bokeh. Yes, there is some fringing at the edges and corners wide open, but from F4 this almost disappears.

Because of the narrow DOF wide open, while the sharpness is already there, manual focusing goes quick and accurate.

I compared this with the M135 F3.5. At wider apertures the K is sharper (much sharper in the corners on full frame), stopped down the M comes close. Big difference is the amount of aberations, the M shows noticeably more purple fringing at the edges and corners. On APS-C the differences are less.

I always use the metal hood from the Takumar era for the K 2.5, it never comes off...

All pictures here K1ii :





Following pictures develloped in RAW, day light AWB, auto settings, no sharpening





   
New Member

Registered: November, 2014
Posts: 3

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: March 29, 2019 Recommended | 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   

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

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: December 28, 2018 Recommended | 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   

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: 226

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: August 28, 2018 Recommended | 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   

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

4 users found this helpful
Review Date: January 26, 2018 Recommended | Price: $150.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: COLOR rendering and iQ, 3D pop at 2.5
Cons: Manual but easy with k1 and the smooth ring
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 7    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 8    Value: 10    Camera Used: K1 K5   

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

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
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: 309

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: October 27, 2017 Recommended | 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...
Add Review of SMC Pentax 135mm F2.5



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