The Minolta Auto Rokkor-PF 55 mm f/2 is a small legacy standard lens from the sixties. Does this lens still deserve a spot in a modern camera bag?



The Minolta Auto Rokkor-PF 55 mm f/2 is a small legacy standard lens from the sixties. Does this lens still deserve a spot in a modern camera bag?
The Sony FE 35mm 1.4 ZA was the first f/1.4 prime for the Sony FE system. But can it keep up with the latest GM lenses available today? Find out in this review!
Regular readers know I have a soft spot for lenses like the Canon EF 200mm 2.0 L IS. It was introduced in 2008 and is still the latest lens in its class. So how does it stack up compared to the older 200mm 1.8 L? And how does it work with the new real time AF of the gen 3 cameras? Find out in this review!
We rarely review APS-C lenses here, but this tiny ultra wide angle looked so cute that I couldn’t resist to have a closer look at it.
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 | 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