135mm for my M3

[JoeFriday]

lately I've been feeling a little GAS.. specifically for a 135mm to use on my M3.. the one that seems most interesting is the Elmarit-M 135/2.8 with the 'spectacles'.. does anyone have experience with this lens? or is there another that I should consider as well?

 

[rover]

How often will you use a 135? I grabbed a Canon 135/3.5 for $110 because I know I won't use it a lot. It is pretty good too, so I am pretty happy.

 

[JoeFriday]

nice photos.. I particularly like the first one!

oscar, I doubt I'll be using it on a regular basis, so I don't want to spend a lot (over $200).. but I find that my 90/2 often isn't as tight as I'd like, so who knows

 

[back alley]

the black canon 3.5 is a really great peice of glass, and balnces nicely on the m3.

joe

 

[jdos2]

I carried the Elmarit 135 to Portugal. Small, for a 135 (when compared to the 127mm for my Universal!), and included hood: gave me very good results. Get the one with the goggles that don't fall out of alignment as easily as others do, as the ones that DO seem very fragile.

 

[merciful]

Nikkor.

She'd just finished creating a giant fuss at the doctor's office about her flu shot, I hadn't recently been abusing her.

 

[Kim Coxon]

I would second the opinions on the Canon. It is one of the few Canon lenses that I will not update. Not quite as fast as the Leica but because it is small and light, does't really "need" a tripod and is very good value for the money. More so as it will probably not get a huge amount of use. If I am planing on a shoot that needs a lens that long, I will probably take the Pentax. On the other hand, if I am taking the RF away it's small enough and light enough to put in the bag "just in case".

Kim

 

[JoeFriday]

wow, you guys are coming up with some excellent shots.. and very useful information.. thanks!

 

[wlewisiii]

Another vote for the black Canon 135/3.5. It's a really sweet lens. This one

was shot with it. Couple others that day too. Handles well on the CL though it is almost as big as that 90 Summicron of yours... 😱

William

 

[JoeFriday]

good one, William.. where was that taken?

 

[Rich Silfver]

I know others opinions may differ (and apparently they do as there's a lot of lenses made) - but to me I have accepted that 90mm is the longest that I will ever find 'useful' on a rangefinder. It also stays more true to what I personally want to achieve with a rangefinder camera (getting physically closer).

If I get the urge to acquire something soon it may be a longer lens for my 'blad though like a 150mm 🙂

 

[raid]

Both the Canon and the Nikkor are excellent 135mm lenses. I have both and I love both.

Raid

 

[waileong]

The 135/4 Elmar or Tele-Elmar may be a better choice than the 135/2.8 due to the size, weight and focus accuracy requirements. The 145/2.8 is generally regarded as softer than the 135/4, and ti was not popular because of the size.

 

[Rafael]

I have the Elmarit 135mm f/2.8 and to be honest, I don't use it very often. Don't get me wrong, I think it's a great lens. Maybe it's the size of the lens. Maybe I am simply drawn to the 50 and 35 focal lengths instead. I don't know. But I don't often pack the 135.

All that said, if you are looking for a 135 I don't think you'll be disappointed with the Elmarit. To top it all off, you can probably pick one up quite cheaply.

 

[back alley]

i sold my 135.
it's a great lens (canon 3.5) but i never used it, carried it alot but didn't use it much.

that seems to be happening with my 90 also. maybe i need to discipline myself and only use the 90 for awhile but lately the wider lenses have had the appeal.

joe

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Another vote for the black Canon 135 f/3.5. It is compact, light, and very nice sharp pictures, with excellent blur. I own the Steinhel f/4.5 in LTM, the Contax RF CZJ 135 f/4, and the Canon 135 f/3.5 in LTM; I've handled the Leica 135 f/2.8 Elmarit, the Nikon 135 f/3.5 in Nikon RF mount, the Leica 135 Elmar f/4...

If Contax had made the 135 f/4 Sonnar in LTM, I'd choose it over Canon's, for it is slightly more compact, and of course, takes beautiful Sonnar shots.

For Leica, all things considered, no doubt about it, I say get the black Canon 135 f/3.5.

 

[JoeFriday]

Gabriel, I'll trade you a Contax to M-mount adapter for yours 😉

 

[rover]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Canon-135mm-f3-...0QQihZ005QQcategoryZ30063QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[wlewisiii]

good one, William.. where was that taken?

Brett, that was at the "Town of Burke Burying Ground" just south of Madison. There are a few more shots in an album by that name in my gallery.

William

 

[awilder]

A recent shot with my 135/2.8 Elmarit M: http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=3760642. This is the E55 version, the one with improved goggle construction. The lens is tack sharp even to the edges. Sharper than my previous 135/4 Tele-Elmar because of the goggles aiding in pinpoint focus accuracy. Resolution tests compared to the Tele-Elmar were at least as good.