Shoot out: SMC Pentax-M 135mm f/3.5 vs. Canon nFD 135mm f/3.5 vs. Panagor PMC auto tele 135mm f/2.8
In my search for a compact but good budget telelens I came across the SMC Pentax-M 135mm f3.5 and the Canon newFD 135mm f/3.5. Later, I also found a Panagor PMC auto tele 135mm f/2.8 in Canon FD mount. These lenses are cheap, light, and small, but how do they perform?
Disclaimer: I only tested one sample of the Canon and Panagor, and two samples of the Pentax. Since these lenses are old there might be more sample variation than usual, other samples might perform slightly better or worse. Both Pentax samples displayed similar performance.
Specifications
| Specifications | Canon newFD 135mm f/3.5 | SMC Pentax-M 135mm f/3.5 | Panagor PMC auto tele 135mm f/2.8 (FD) |
| Diameter | 63 mm | 63 mm | 61 mm |
| Length | 85 mm | 66 mm | 88 mm |
| Filter diameter | 52 mm | 49 mm | 55 mm |
| Weight (ex. Adapter) | 325 g | 270 g | 411 g |
| Aperture | f/3.5-32 | f/3.5-32 | f/2.8-22 |
| Minimal focus distance | 1.3 m | 1.5 m | 1.5 m |
| Elements/groups | 4/4 | 5/5 | 4/4* |
| Aperture blades | 6 | 8 | 6 |
(*Based on the optical design of this lens for other mounts)
Continue reading 135mm legacy Shoot out: SMC Pentax-M f/3.5 vs Canon nFD f/3.5 vs. Panagor f/2.8
