The Lowly 135 Hektor

[MichaelHarris]

She doesn't get any respect:

Ya know........never mind, you never saw these pictures. Gotta keep that price down, gotta keep that price down.

 

[MinorTones]

I was just thinking about the Hektor family of lenses the other day.

I was wondering why they don't get any love so I looked in the gallery with a search for "Hektor" and it seems Memphis loves his 135 Hektor. The 135 doesn't seem like a bad lens at all from what I've seen.

I saw a 28 Hektor with a really really slow aperture and I'm not sure what the 50's aperture is but maybe its because they are slow they aren't liked.

-Mitch

 

[arbib]

Nice sharpness, looks like it may make a nice close portrait lens at F/4.5 or 5.6.
I have been looking on Ebay, don't come up too often, wander why? Maybe it IS a good close portrait lens to have. Not very expensive to buy. About the same as a J9 (85/2) in a LTM. But no need to blow a roll of film to check focusing errors it might have. PLUS the Bessa's should be fine with RF focusing at F/4.5.

Are you giving it some respect now ?? We all need to feel needed once in a while.

 

[MichaelHarris]

Thanks,LOL yup I'm giving it the love. When I first got it and shot a roll I didn't like it. Later I decided to check the rangefinder on my camera and found it was off. Now that's adjusted the lens really does a nice job. I think these were around 5.6.

What's really cool about the lens is they can be found for under 100 dollars. I put a little more into mine, had it CLAed by focal point.

 

[Solinar]

Leitz doesn't usually make a bad lens. In addition to its simple optical formula, the build is real nice and the tripod mount solves the centering problem when mounting a Leica on a tripod.

 

[cnguyen]

The 135mm Hektor - great lens

The 135mm Hektor - great lens

Here are couple pics using the Hektor on my M8. First is full size, second is 100% .

 

[Nando]

I love my 135 Hektor but I don't use it much because of its size. I should try to use it more.

 

[grainhound]

I’ve thought about a 135 for occasional use, especially since they seem to be inexpensive. Just checked KEH & they’ve got a few Hektors, with f4.0 & f4.5 max apertures. Also a couple of f2.8 Elmarits with goggles that turn the M2 90 framelines into 135 framelines (those aren’t cheap). None of the above are under $100, unless you go for KEH “ugly”. My original impulse was the Nikkor 135, which seems to cost less than a Hektor, yet Merciful & Vince C have posted some wonderful shots with the Nikkor. Any opinions about relative merits, or simply merits/shortcomings of any or all of the above?

Edit: a] Don’t mean to hijack the thread. b] As always, Daniel’s shot is excellent & means the Hektor is on the ‘will consider’ list.

 

[peterc]

I really liked my Hektor, but the focusing seized up solid. Any guesses as to how to unseize it?

Peter

 

[d30gaijin]

135 Hektor @ f/4.5 on a Canon D30.

 

[arbib]

Just won a 135 F/4.5 Hektor for $34.00

Just won a 135 F/4.5 Hektor for $34.00

This thread has cost me money to read 😉

I was inspired to bid on a Hektor and give it a spin if I won. My high bid was $45.00.
well I got home today and checked EBay, I had won at $34.00 Plus $7.00 S/H. Not a bad price for an IMPULSE BUY.

Now, Q1:

How much smaller is the RF Area when looking trough the 90 frame. Is it like using the 35 frame for a 40, You know, close enough. Or do I need a shoe Finder for it.?

Anyway, Thanks for the inspiration guys/gals.

 

[d30gaijin]

Congratulations on winning the 135 Hektor. They really are fine lenses. The frame line for the 135 is definitely smaller than the 90 by a bit but you can get by without an external viewfinder if you envision the frame line between the rangefinder patch and the 90mm frame.

Don

This thread has cost me money to read 😉

I was inspired to bid on a Hektor and give it a spin if I won. My high bid was $45.00.
well I got home today and checked EBay, I had won at $34.00 Plus $7.00 S/H. Not a bad price for an IMPULSE BUY.

Now, Q1:

How much smaller is the RF Area when looking trough the 90 frame. Is it like using the 35 frame for a 40, You know, close enough. Or do I need a shoe Finder for it.?

Anyway, Thanks for the inspiration guys/gals.

 

[arbib]

Congratulations on winning the 135 Hektor. They really are fine lenses. The frame line for the 135 is definitely smaller than the 90 by a bit but you can get by without an external viewfinder if you envision the frame line between the rangefinder patch and the 90mm frame.

Don

That is what I thought, a frame in between the RF Patch and 90 Frame...like 1/2 the distance in. .. Will have practice this with some subjects like Buoldings that have some visual aid as part of the structure, till I get the hang of it. Thanks

 

[John Shriver]

For price/performance, I doubt anything beats the Canon LTM 135/3.5. (The Canon 135/4.0 is no lighter, and not as sharp.) But, the Canon is a decent bit heavier than the Hektor.

Myself, I've never been much of a 135mm lens user. I like 90 and 100mm lenses.

 

[d30gaijin]

John,

True words about the Canon 135 f/3.5, a fine performer. I've had a couple of them but could not get past the paranoid part of thinking that sucker was going to rip the front right off my IIIc as heavy as it was.😛

Don

For price/performance, I doubt anything beats the Canon LTM 135/3.5. (The Canon 135/4.0 is no lighter, and not as sharp.) But, the Canon is a decent bit heavier than the Hektor.

Myself, I've never been much of a 135mm lens user. I like 90 and 100mm lenses.