135mm users -how do you use it, how do you like it?

[yelofngr]

hello all-

i am thinking of picking up a 135mm lens for use on a film rangefinder. i mostly like to do street shooting /photography.

i am new to this focal length - i'm more used to 40mm/50mm shooting which usually places me about 10-20 ft away from things. how far back can i expect to be with a 135mm lens while getting my subjects full body to waist up in frame usually? will i become a sniper?

does anyone use 135mm for street photography? how do you like it? how do you usually use this focal length? how does it compare to 85mm/90mm or even 75mm for you?

thanks!

 

[Gary E]

hello all-

i am thinking of picking up a 135mm lens for use on a film rangefinder. i mostly like to do street shooting /photography.

Will i become a sniper?

thanks!

In short, yes. Especially with that long lens sticking out of your small RF camera 😛

Personally, I too use and favor the 40/50 FL for street shooting. I found my limit to be 90mm (75mm a bit better), but I once tried the 135/4.5 Hektor in the streets and found it too far out of the crowd to be useful (the crowds got in the way; unless you're high up above them).

 

[Austerby]

I use my 135/4 Tele-Elmar on both my M3 and M8. I've used it in urban settings - not so much for classic street photography but it has its uses for picking out elements of the urban landscape, isolating and emphasising an individualistic view that is not possible with a wider lens. I wouldn't use it in a busy street if I wanted to capture street interactions, eg at a market.

Get one, try it for yourself and see what happens.

 

[raytoei@gmail.com]

hey...i used my hektor 135 recently .

This was captured on the hektor 135mm at F4.

Developer used is the Microdol-X, film is Acros 100 rated at 200 iso.

 

[menos]

I don't use the 135 for candids. I specifically bought a 135 Telyt for motor sports and used it just for that up to now.

I feel pretty disconnected with such a long lens from the scene, to capture something meaningful (but this is of course just my feeling about it).

These are with a 135 on the M8.2:

I greatly prefer a 50 or 90mm for head and shoulders. One reason might also be, that such photos are mostly done in low light, where a 135 is simply too slow and too long.

 

[yelofngr]

great shots guys. thanks for sharing

 

[Neare]

You could consider going halfway with an 85mm/90mm - there are some great lenses under that focal length. Faster lenses too as well.

 

[menos]

You could consider going halfway with an 85mm/90mm - there are some great lenses under that focal length. Faster lenses too as well.

And even faster, bargain lenses at that too 😉
Oh and many 135 comments rave about the 135 f4 being not much lesser than the newer APO Telyt, which costs an arm and a leg by comparison.
Some vintage 135 lenses can be had for less than 100 EUR as well - not much to make wrong for a test drive there ;-)

 

[Michael Markey]

I have just picked up a 135/4 Canon Serenar V5.
The intention is to use it for equestrian activities.
Pleased with it so far although up to now I have been using it sans proper mount and also without a hood. I now have both.
Prior to purchase I tried a J11 in the streets of Manchester.Ok for picking out details as already noted but too tight for most street applications.I was very impressed though how good that lens was .
Prior to the 135 I was using a 90 Elmarit for the long stuff.