| Latest Review Posted | SMC Pentax-A* 135mm F1.8
The A*135/1.8 was released in 1984 and remained in production until 1989. The A*135/1.8 is a one-off historical lens that rivaled or exceeded any 135mm lens available at that time.
Optics:
Superb optics, even wide open! The A*135/1.8 features a fixed rear element extension (FREE) focusing system, which corrects various types of aberrations at all shooting distances. The A*135/1.8 also produces a very nice bokeh.
Focal Length:
How times have changed! Back in the film days the 135mm focal length was one of the “big three” primes that everyone had in their kit. (28mm & 50/55mm were the others) Every lens manufacture had at least one 135mm lens in their lineup and many times had various slow and fast version of this prime. Pentax was no different and when the A*135/1.8 was released in 1984, you could also buy the K135/2.5, A135/2.8 and the M135/3.5. Things changed in the 1990’s when faster and better zooms were available and the 135mm focal length started to die off along with many others in the 85mm to 200mm range. The FA135/2.8 was the last 135mm prime that Pentax made and it went out of production in 2000. Whether Pentax ever makes a 135mm prime again is anyone’s guess. That’s a shame as it’s one of the most versatile of the short telephoto focal lengths. I’ve owned a 135mm prime since 1975 and use it for everything including close-up flower shots, portraits/statues, wildlife, building detail work & landscapes.
Build:
They don’t build them like they u... |
