Review Rokinon 135mm f/2.0 ED UMC Lens for Sony E Mount Review

[Richard Crowe]

I have the Vivitar 135 f/2.3, but it is bulky on Nex, about 730 g. with adapter. My a6000 is being shipped to me, so I'll try to live with it. More most landscapes, still lifes etc. I do just as well with the Komine made 135 f2.8
I wonder why there are not more autofocus 135 lenses at f/2.8 or 3.5

I might guess that we do not find many 135mm primes with an f/2.8 or f/3.5 aperture is that this area is pretty well covered by the general family of 70-200mm or 300mm zoom lenses.

 

[Richard Crowe]

I might guess that we do not find many 135mm primes with an f/2.8 or f/3.5 aperture is that this area is pretty well covered by the general family of 70-200mm or 300mm zoom lenses.

However, there is a plethora of 135mm lenses with f/2.5 or f/3.5 apertures in M-42 mounts available on eBay for small change. Some have excellent optical characteristics and using an M-42 to NEX mount converter doesn't add much to the weight or cost of the lens.
I just purchased and am waiting for a 135mm Meyer Optix Gorlitz 135mm f/2.8 lens. This is, IMO, not a general purpose lens but has a image rendering which I suspect will make it a very nice portrait lens.
Meyer Optik Gorlitz Orestor 135mm F2.8 images - Google Search:

 

[Mookalafalas]

The Sony 135 F1.8 just dropped. .95KG, which the ad describes as "a lightweight lens". No doubt it is very good. I tremble to think what the price tag will be...

 

[Richard Crowe]

I don't have the Rokinon 135mm f/2 but, I have two M-43 135mm f/2.8 lenses which when adapted with a Kipon focal reducer give me a 135mm f/2.0 lens (no focal length conversion needed) The MF lenses are fine for portrait work but, are pretty hard to use for most other shooting...

 

[Richard Crowe]

I have a couple of 135mm M-42 screw mount legacy lenses which are able to capture decent imagery but, which (for my uses) are best reserved for portraiture. It is a bit difficult for me to revert back to manual focus lenses when shooting moving subjects. However shooting portraits with manual focus is a snap (pardon the pun) with the A6500...

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This portrait was shot using an A6500 with a Meyer Gorlitz 135mm f/2.8 lens adapted with a Kipon Focal Reducer resulting in a 135mm (no APSC conversion needed with the focal reducer) f/2.0 equivalent...