135mm is rarely seen on Leica M cameras, and not many people use it. Those who do use it are usually seeking for lightweight and inconspicuous equipment, or pursuing large aperture and extreme blurring. Well, the last point is where the 135mm really shines. Whether to use 135mm or not has nothing to do with using a rangefinder camera. Leica’s cheapest tool for achieving blur is right there, and the reality is reasonable, and the price is reasonable.
Leica M135 2.8:
I was surprised to see someone using an M9 with an M135 2.8 while window shopping in a camera store. I tried it out and, due to the magnification of my glasses, focusing was not difficult, and the eyeglass version using a 90mm frame magnified by 1.4 times made framing even more comfortable than the 90mm lens.
Leica design:
This lens was designed by Mandel and produced in Germany and Canada. It was initially available in the S7 mount, and later in the E55 mount. It is said that there is not much difference between the two. I have always believed that Leica design is the most cost-effective, regardless of cost, and the origin is not that important.
Workmanship:
The workmanship and materials used in this lens are top-notch, and the feel is very Leica. Although it is cheap, there is no sign of cutting corners. The term “cheap” refers to the second-hand price, as it is still quite expensive when purchased new.
Weight:
The Leica M135 2.8, combined with an eyepiece, is quite heavy at 775g, comparable to the 700g of the Noctilux 50/0.95. If you hang it around your neck, it will quickly cause neck problems, so, like the Noctilux, it is best to hang it around your neck and hold the lens with your left arm.
Focusability:
There are two aspects to the claim that 135mm is difficult to focus:
First, the focus travel is long, and the framing range is small, making it easy to lose sight of the subject when trying to capture a candid moment.
Second, the relative size of the yellow spot focus of the non-eyepiece 135mm 2.8 is small, and due to the shallow depth of field, it is easy to miss focus. With the eyepiece version, there is no such problem due to the magnifying glass.
Due to the long focus travel, it always takes too much time to focus, making it unsuitable for capturing candid moments. The tripod mount hole on the M135 2.8 indicates that this lens is more suitable for still photography or fixed-point photography, such as landscape photography.
Brand Name: LEICA Filter Size: SERIES VII RETAINING RING Focus Type: MANUAL FOCUS (ONLY) Lens Mount: LEICA M Lens Type: TELEPHOTO / LONG Max Focal Length: 135MM Min Focal Length: 135MM
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