Review Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8 / 135 T * (C / Y)

According provided by lens Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8 / 135 T * (C / Y) huge thanks to Bogdan.

Review Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8 / 135 T * (C / Y)

Review Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8 / 135 T * (C / Y)

Nowadays Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8 / 135 T * is one of the best representatives of 135 / 2.8 class lenses. I visited the review AEJ version the lens. Modifications of Carl Zeiss 135 / 2.8-3.5 lenses can be found here.

For snapshots, I used Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8 / 135 T * on Canon EOS cameras using adapter C / Y-EOS.

Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8 / 135 T *

Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8 / 135 T * with extended built-in telescopic hood when focusing on MDF

Sonnar 2.8 / 135 T * made in Japan, weighs almost 600 grams, almost all of metal, very pleasant to the touch. Has a built-in metal telescopic hood. In the installed position, the hood holds normally and does not sink back.

I noticed that several lenses have an unblacked chamfer (see), which should affect the deterioration of contrast. For a lens of this class, this is a bit strange.

Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8 / 135 T *

Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8 / 135 T *

Sonnar 2.8 / 135 uses a special coating of its lenses - T*which allows the lens to be comfortable enough to handle strong light sources in the frame. The diameter of the thread for light filters is 55 mm.

Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8 / 135 T *

Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8 / 135 T *

The focus ring is very wide, rubberized, rotates 180 degrees. Focusing is easy and enjoyable. It’s just a pity that the minimum focusing distance is already 1.6 m, and the maximum magnification is about 1:12. For example, at Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Sonnar 3,5 / 135 with Exakta mount and MC Sonnar 3,5 / 135 Carl Zeiss Jena DDR it is only 1 meter.

Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8 / 135 T *

View Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8 / 135 T *

The diaphragm consists of only 6 petals (this is not for you Pentacon 2.8 / 135 with 15 petals), at F / 4 and F / 5.6, the petals form notches (resulting in a circular saw shape). At f / 16 and f / 22, the blades produce an uneven hexagon :(. On cameras with a Contax / Yashica mount, automatic aperture control works (device 'blinking' or 'jumping' aperture). The aperture control ring is rubberized - a trifle, and nicely. There is also a depth of field scale and an infrared shift mark.

The notches in the bokeh that appear on the F 4 and 5.6 apertures

The notches in the bokeh that appear on the F 4 and 5.6 apertures

The lens creates good image quality, with nice bokeh (only at F / 2.8), contrast and color reproduction. Distortion chromatic aberration and vignetting go by the wayside. I can’t say that there is something unique in the image, Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8 / 135 T * (C / Y) just does a good job.

Here link to the archive with the originals - 555 MB, 46 RAW photos from a Canon 5D full-format camera.

The Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8 / 135 T * has 5 elements in 4 groups in its optical design, usually referred to as 'Ernostar', it differs from the 'Sonnar' design used in Soviet long-focal Jupiter lenses (4 elements in 4 groups).

Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8 / 135 T *

Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8 / 135 T * on the CZK

Comparison of Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8 / 135 T * (C / Y) with MS Jupiter-37A 3,5 / 135 you can see here... Additionally, you can look at the reviews of the older brothers - Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Sonnar 3,5 / 135 with native Exakta mount and Carl Zeiss Jena DDR MC Sonnar 3,5 / 135 in a black case and landing thread M42. Pity now do not produce affordable autofocus 135-current with aperture of the order of 2,8-3,5.

Catalog of modern Carl Zeiss lenses can look at this link.

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Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8 / 135 T * (C / Y) is a good 'working' lens :)

Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram

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Comments: 63, on the topic: Overview of Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8 / 135 T * (C / Y)

  • Alexey

    Arkady please review 140 / 2,8 Carl Zeiss.

  • Alex m

    I have more questions than comments: Are there any craftsmen who rearranged the native shank on the m42, the question is, so to speak, “selfish”. I have Sigma SD-10, SD-15 cameras, I have no family lenses, the Art series is expensive- I want to get by with a little blood and buy Japanese Contax / C. Zeiss T * and rearrange to m42, and use on the camera using the M42-SA adapter. There are practically no adapters from other systems to Sigma.
    I do not consider new versions of ZS (m42 mount), it's dumb!
    PSSigma is so clearly not popular in Ukraine that even Uv.Arkady has no reviews of Sigma cameras.

    • Pokemon

      Sigma on Foveone and in the Russian Federation is not particularly popular.
      There are no lenses. Batteries and boosters / battery packs cannot be found.

  • Alex

    I have an ef mount, most likely the lens was redone earlier, but I'm not sure about it

  • Egor

    Yes, he is a magic lens! On the open course. I have the most beautiful works, everything is with him. Bokeh gives wonderful on the open. Astrophoto is clear in the open, no distortion! Against the sun - yes it is easy. Enlightenment T * is very good ..

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