Sony 135mm F2.8 T4.5 STF A-mount lens review by QuietOC
 QuietOC#45763 date: Sep-30-2021 | |
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| sharpness: 4 color: 5 build: 4 distortion: 4 flare control: 4 overall: 4.2 | tested on:
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| ownership: | I used to own this lens |
| compared to: | Sony FE 85 F1.8 Tamron SP 85 F1.8 USD Canon EF 85 F1.8 USM Minolta MD 85 F2 Sony 85 F2.8 SAM Tamron SP 90 F2.5 Macro Canon EF 100 F2 USM Minolta AF 100 F2 Minolta MC 100 F2.5 Minolta AF 100 F2.8 Macro D Minolta AF 100 F2.8 Macro RS Cosina 100 F3.5 Macro Sony FE 100 T5.6 STF GM OSS Minolta AF 135 F2.8 Pocket Rocket Canon EF 135 F2.8 Soft Focus Vivitar 135 F2.8 Close Focusing Minolta MD 135 F3.5 |
| price paid: | 575 USD (used) |
| positive: | Smooth out-of-focus 9 and 10 bladed apertures Hood and storage bag included |
| negative: | CA/purple fringing Mushy corners Heavy Heavy extending focus Heavy breathing T4.5 Aperture control opposite direction of FE lenses No focus distance encoder No lens compensation |
| comment: | I won this via an eBay auction from a private seller. Very nice copy with full retail packaging. Minolta originally released this lens in 1999 along with the 200 F4 APO Macro G and the Alpha 9Ti film camera. Just a year before the ADI system and SSM. As of 10/2021 Sony is still selling this lens for $1,400. "Made in Japan" I was expecting it to be an overcorrected lens whose faults would be mitigated by the apodization element. It seems more of undercorrected design. I was surprised by the amount of color fringing at T4.5. It has more chromatic aberration than the little Minolta AF 135 F2.8. It is darker wide-open than the little Minolta stopped down to F4.5. It does have a tighter angle-of-view than that lens, especially at close focus. It reminds me of the Vivitar/Komine 135 F2.8 Close Focusing, though that lens has half as many elements. It may handle better on a more massive A-mount body. I didn't like using it on the LA-EA adapters. I passed it on to someone else who hopefully enjoys it more. |
; 36MPrating summary
- total reviews: 45
- sharpness: 4.88
- color: 4.96
- build: 4.82
- distortion: 4.84
- flare control: 4.73
- overall: 4.85