{"id":23491,"date":"2020-03-22T17:48:53","date_gmt":"2020-03-22T16:48:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/?p=23491"},"modified":"2026-03-24T13:11:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T12:11:08","slug":"review-zhong-yi-mitakon-135mm-1-4-speedmaster","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/review-zhong-yi-mitakon-135mm-1-4-speedmaster\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Zhong Yi Mitakon 135mm 1.4 Speedmaster"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/h1>\n
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Zhong Yi Mitakon 135mm 1.4 Speedmaster on Sony A7rII<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Zhong Yi Mitakon 135mm 1.4 Speedmaster is a very rare and also unique big aperture portrait lens. So far only ~100 have been made and trying to find useful information on it is more than difficult, so with this review I will try to change that.<\/p>\n

Sample Images<\/h1>\n
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Sony A7III | Zhong Yi 135mm 1.4 | f\/1.4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Sony A7III | Zhong Yi 135mm 1.4 | f\/1.4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Sony A7III | Zhong Yi 135mm 1.4 | f\/1.4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

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Sony A7III | Zhong Yi 135mm 1.4 | f\/1.4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Sony A7III | Zhong Yi 135mm 1.4 | f\/1.4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

135mm f\/1.4?<\/h1>\n

There has been a 135mm f\/1.5 lens<\/a> made by Soligor back in the day, but apart from that the latest fast 135mm lenses top out at f\/1.8. The jump from f\/1.8 to f\/1.4 is a pretty significant here: while your 135mm f\/1.8 lens can be built with a 75 mm diameter front element a 135mm f\/1.4 needs a 96 mm front element, which puts it in the same league as the 200mm f\/2.0<\/a> devices, which is also true for the weight of the lens.<\/p>\n

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Zhong Yi Mitakon 135mm 1.4 Speedmaster and Canon EF 200mm 2.0 L IS<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

So a 135mm f\/1.4 will always be a niche lens only few are willing to carry while the Sony FE 135mm 1.8 GM<\/a> is a pretty reasonable lens by comparison.<\/p>\n

Canon has also patented a 135mm f\/1.4 lens for their RF system<\/a>, but it remains to be seen whether it will ever be released – and at what price.<\/p>\n

Disclosure<\/h1>\n

I bought the lens used from a shop but unfortunately after a few days noticed that there is a mechanical defect, namely that the focus ring became detached from the internal mechanics, meaning, I could still turn the focus ring but then nothing happens. Therefore I had to return the lens very soon and wasn’t able to use it as long as I usually do before writing a review.<\/p>\n

Specifications \/ Version History<\/h1>\n

In late 2015 the Zhong Yi Mitakon 135mm f\/1.4 Speedmaster was announced. It had to be preordered and there was a limited production run of about 100 pieces in different mounts.
\nIn late 2018 it was announced<\/a> that the lens will be re-released under the “Medium One Optical” brand and a Japanese shop<\/a> offers it as preorder item with an expected delivery time of 2-3 months. All traces of this lens on the Zhong Yi homepage have disappeared.
\nI am reviewing the original Zhong Yi version in Canon EF-mount here which has the following specifications:<\/p>\n