lafilm Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 Zeiss 135mm F/2 APO.This $2,100 lens is supposed to be the best 135mm in existence. Basically, an Otus without the name.Anyone on these boards have experience with this lens? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikkor Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 There are so many good cheap 135's out there, I can't think of a reason to spend 2100% on one. andy lee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lafilm Posted October 3, 2015 Author Share Posted October 3, 2015 There are so many good cheap 135's out there, I can't think of a reason to spend 2100% on one.I actually thought a long those lines, until I saw this:http://www.thephoblographer.com/2013/10/11/review-zeiss-135mm-f2-canon-ef/#.VhBKOudHbCQ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikkor Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 I don't think you want a 135mm lens that's so sharp in anything motion related, the rest of lenses are sharp enough and have nice color and bokeh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richg101 Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 Can't beat a 135mm/2, particularly one with no fringing on high contrast areas, and on full frame. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikkor Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 The samyang 135 2 seems to be a good option price/quality wise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damphousse Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 The samyang 135 2 seems to be a good option price/quality wise.It vignettes like crazy on full frame wide open. In other categories it is really good though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kristoferman Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 I get great results from the 135 f2 nikkor ai-s. It's not "cheap" per say, but cheaper than the zeiss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikkor Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 I get great results from the 135 f2 nikkor ai-s. It's not "cheap" per say, but cheaper than the zeiss. I have the 135 2 DC and I love it's rendering until some light brings harsh contrast an CA kills it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy lee Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 and alternate is the Russian Tair 135mm f2.8 is a killer sharp lens that is very very good ..and cheap on ebayI highly recomend it - mine gets alot of use!! Gregormannschaft and Cinegain 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinegain Posted October 5, 2015 Share Posted October 5, 2015 and alternate is the Russian Tair 135mm f2.8 is a killer sharp lens that is very very good ..and cheap on ebayI highly recomend it - mine gets alot of use!!Brussels, 1958 exposed some great gems! Russar MR-2, Mir 1, Tair 11, Tair 3, MTO 500 & MTO 1000. Grand prix worthy! andy lee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zach Ashcraft Posted October 5, 2015 Share Posted October 5, 2015 The Zeiss 135mm 1.8 (A-Mount) is my dream 135! Still dang pricey, and not the best mount really http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/463924-REG/Sony_SAL135F18Z_SAL_135F18Z_135mm_f_1_8_Carl.html andy lee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docmoore Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 Zeiss 135mm F/2 APO.This $2,100 lens is supposed to be the best 135mm in existence. Basically, an Otus without the name.Anyone on these boards have experience with this lens? Thanks.I have the ZF.2 version of the Zeiss 135 F2 Apo and the 55 and 85 Otus lenses also ZF.2.Previously owned just about every ZF.2 lens 21mm and above.The 135 is so good that I cannot imagine it being redone as an Otus lens. It has a superbly balanced manual focus rack and while not at the level of the Otus lenses it is very easy to manually focus with the lens. It balances well on medium sized cameras ... not so well on the A7s size camera without a cage. Fairly heavy but not frontwardly balanced.Bokeh is wonderful ... great Zeiss 3D rendering ... wonderful micro contrast. It is a fairly contrasty lens with Zeiss colors and very white whites buy not overly cool in color.Here is a bit outside on the C100 Mk II : https://vimeo.com/135901284Password is daysend. All of these lenses are expensive but you only need to buy them once ... not every two years like most cameras seem to be turning over. ZF.2 is almost theideal mount as it can mate to most cameras.....Nikon, Sony, Canon, any M43 mount. Bob TheRenaissanceMan 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikkor Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 What about focus breathing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docmoore Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 It exists ... look at the glass globe on the table as I focus ... the bottom left of the screen is the edge of the round tableand you can see a bit of the breathing ... exaggerated a bit at this close range. Not as good as the Otus or I assumeMaster Primes but manageable. Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shield3 Posted October 7, 2015 Share Posted October 7, 2015 Zeiss 135mm F/2 APO.This $2,100 lens is supposed to be the best 135mm in existence. Basically, an Otus without the name.Anyone on these boards have experience with this lens? Thanks.I shoot my son's baseball games with the 1dc + 135 F/2 (stills) all the time. Nothing that won't AF would ever be on my GOAT list. EF 135 F/2 all the way - sharp wide open, light, reasonably priced (~700 used), black (does not draw too much attention), gorgeous bokeh, quick to focus and accepts 1.4x and 2.0 extenders. I've owned 3 of these; all of them worked perfectly on every camera body I've owned. Hell, plus it had a focus limiter too. Just too damn practical. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lafilm Posted October 8, 2015 Author Share Posted October 8, 2015 Thanks for all the replies. Yes I agree you can get a quality 135mm for much less money. But something about that Zeiss.. I have the ZF.2 version of the Zeiss 135 F2 Apo and the 55 and 85 Otus lenses also ZF.2.Previously owned just about every ZF.2 lens 21mm and above.The 135 is so good that I cannot imagine it being redone as an Otus lens. It has a superbly balanced manual focus rack and while not at the level of the Otus lenses it is very easy to manually focus with the lens. It balances well on medium sized cameras ... not so well on the A7s size camera without a cage. Fairly heavy but not frontwardly balanced.Bokeh is wonderful ... great Zeiss 3D rendering ... wonderful micro contrast. It is a fairly contrasty lens with Zeiss colors and very white whites buy not overly cool in color.Here is a bit outside on the C100 Mk II : https://vimeo.com/135901284Password is daysend. All of these lenses are expensive but you only need to buy them once ... not every two years like most cameras seem to be turning over. ZF.2 is almost theideal mount as it can mate to most cameras.....Nikon, Sony, Canon, any M43 mount. BobThanks Bob. Nice vid..do you have anything with the Zeiss with people..moving..walking? I think it does compare to the Otus line. I shoot my son's baseball games with the 1dc + 135 F/2 (stills) all the time. Nothing that won't AF would ever be on my GOAT list. EF 135 F/2 all the way - sharp wide open, light, reasonably priced (~700 used), black (does not draw too much attention), gorgeous bokeh, quick to focus and accepts 1.4x and 2.0 extenders. I've owned 3 of these; all of them worked perfectly on every camera body I've owned. Hell, plus it had a focus limiter too. Just too damn practical.Shield3, only stills? (of course it excels at it)..have you used the lens for video?..If so what are your thoughts? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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