Review by A. Schacht Ulm Edixa-Mat-Travenar-A 1:3,5/135

For the provided lens A.Schacht Ulm Edixa-Mat-Travenar-A 1: 3,5/135 many thanks the store ManualLensUA (look at telegram), where you can find many used ones. lenses for different systems, including similar lenses with M42 mounting thread.

In short

A.Schacht Ulm Edixa-Mat-Travenar-A 1:3,5/135 is a short telephoto from the film era of the early 60s. It is considered a good solution for portrait photography. Optically has problems. Has good resolution at F/3.5 in the center of the frame, comparable to classic MC JUPITER-37A 3.5/135.

• A.Schacht Munchen Travenar 1:3,5/135, metal case, for Leica R, M39
• A.Schacht Ulm Travenar 1:3,5/135, metal case, for Exakta
• A.Schacht Ulm R Travenar 1:3,5/135, metal case, for M39
• A.Schacht Ulm R Travenar 1:3,5/135, metal case, for Exakta
• A.Schacht Ulm R Travenar 1:3,5/135, zebra, three rings, for Exakta
• A.Schacht Ulm Travenar 1:3,5/135 R, zebra, three rings, for Exakta
• A.Schacht Ulm Praktina-IIA-S-Travenar 1:3,5/135 R, zebra, three rings
• A.Schacht Ulm Edixa-Mat-Travenar-A 1:3,5/135, zebra, for M42 (from this review)
• most likely there were other versions/subversions

Main technical characteristics of A.Schacht Ulm Edixa-Mat-Travenar-A 1:3,5/135:

Name of instances from review	A.Schacht Ulm 313720 Edixa-Mat-Travenar-A 1:3,5/135
Basic properties	Lens designed for full frame film cameras Manual focus only A – AUTO - automatic iris control A / m – aperture operating mode switch A.Schacht – Albert Schacht, founder of the optics company of the same name (former Carl Zeiss employee) Ulm – the city in which the lens was manufactured Metal case
Front Filter Diameter	49 mm, metal thread for filters
Body materials	All parts of the lens housing are made of metal
Focal length	135 mm
Diagonal viewing angles	18° for full frame cameras
Zoom ratio	1 x
Designed by	for film cameras
Number of aperture blades	6 straight (not rounded) petals
Tags	markings on the focusing ring with focusing distance in meters and feet, there are marks for 1.5, 2, 2,5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 20, 50 meters (white marks m) + 5, 6, 8 , 10, 12, 15, 20, 30, 60, 150 feet (yellow ft markers) + infinity marker Ring with aperture values, there are marks for F/3.5, 4, 4.5 (dot only) 5.6, 6.3 (dot only), 8, 9.6 (dot only), 11, 16, 22, 32 other intermediate values ​​cannot be set M/A – aperture control mode switch, made in the form of a slider and window DOF scale for all aperture values, in the form of moving red sectors, like an “elevator door” Infrared Label LENS MADE IN Germany
Diaphragm	from F/3.5 to F/32. The lens has an aperture control ring. Aperture blades are not blackened
MDF (minimum focusing distance)	1.5 meters
The weight	388 grams (measured, only the lens itself, without a leash)
Optical design	4 elements in 4 groups. The lens does not use special optical elements. The image is clickable.
Lens hood	Must screw into the front filter thread
Period	Produced since 1960
Manufacturer country	LENS MADE IN Germany (Lens made in Germany)
Price	New do not sell. In a variant B. at. 50-150 cu

The lens originally had a built-in shutter button. The shutter button on the lens also functions as a depth-of-field checker and can be easily pressed while looking through the viewfinder. The button can be easily removed (we're talking about this ). In the review, the lens is shown without this button.

Assembly, control, focus

A.Schacht Ulm Edixa-Mat-Travenar-A 1:3,5/135 made with high quality. The filter diameter is only 49 mm. The focusing and aperture control rings are metal, with large ribs. The lens uses a zebra design - the edges of the rings are black and white.

The aperture control ring is very wide, comfortable, and rotates with pronounced clicks. The aperture blades are not blackened (which is very bad) and there are only 6 of them. The lens has a switch between manual and automatic aperture control modes. The switch is made in the form of a slider and is located near the bayonet mount. The switch has its own window, which displays either the green letter 'A' or the red letter 'M' (This is the first time I've seen a window like this for this switch.).

The focus ring rotates approximately 315 degrees (almost a full rotation). During focusing, the front lens (along with the filter threads) moves forward, but does not rotate.

On the body there is a focusing distance scale in meters and feet and a depth of field scale. The depth of field scale is completed in the form of moving red sectors, like an “elevator door”.

Sample photos (Full Frame)

The pictures in the gallery were taken with a camera Canon EOS 5D (Full Frame, 13 MP), which has already become a “digital classic,” and an adapter M42 -> Canon EF. All photos for this review were prepared by Natalia (Instagram). All photos in this review are shown without processing, according to the principles ZEROJPEG.

Jpeg source photos download / watch this link (20+ photos, Google Drive gallery).

Some examples on Nikon D40 here.

How to use with modern cameras?

Lenses with mounting thread M42 (M42 X 1 / 45.5), such as the lens from this review, are very easy to use on almost any modern digital camera (both SLR and mirrorless), for this it is enough to choose the right adapter (adapter). You do not need to carry out any additional steps to modify the lens.

The cheapest adapters can be found at Aliexpress.com... There are adapters (adapters) with a chip that provide more convenience during shooting, usually chips are used to confirm focus and / or metering exposure, and form the correct EXIF. The chip does not affect the image quality in any way.

For some SLR cameras (for example, with the Nikon F-mount), you need to use adapters with a corrective lens, which allows you to focus correctly at all focusing distances. For any mirrorless cameras, such a lens is not needed, and the adapter is a simple decorated hollow metal tube with an appropriate mount.

For SLR cameras

1. Canon: For cameras Canon EOS with bayonet mount EF / EF-S need an M42-Canon EOS adapter, such an adapter with a chip can be found herewithout chip here.
2. NIKON: For cameras Nikon DX / FXas well as for cameras Fujifilm и Kodak with a Nikon F mount, you need an M42-Nikon F adapter, you can buy such an adapter without a lens and a chip here, with a lens without a chip herewith chip without lens here, with lens and chip here. Why a lens? Why chip?
3. PENTAX: For Pentax cameras with K mount, you need an M42-Pentax K adapter, you can buy such an adapter here.
4. SONY/MINOLTA: For cameras with a Sony / Minolta A mount, you need the M42-Sony A adapter, you can find such an adapter without a chip at this linkwith a chip at this link.
5. OLYMPUS/PANASONIC/LEICA: For cameras with a 4/3 bayonet mount (not to be confused with Micro 4/3!) You need an M42-4 / 3 adapter, you can buy such an adapter here.

For mirrorless cameras

1. SONY: For cameras with 'E'/'FE' mount series SonyNEX и Sony Alpha you need an adapter M42-Sony E (aka M42-Sony Nex), you can find it at this link. An autofocus adapter is also available for these cameras. Techart PRO Leica M - Sony E Autofocus Adapterwhich can be found at this link.
2. OLYMPUS / PANASONIC / KODAK / XIAOMI: For cameras with a bayonet mount Micro 4/3 (Micro 4:3) you need an adapter M42-Micro 4/3, you can find it at this link.
3. CANON M: For cameras with Canon EF-M mount need adapter M42-Canon M, it can be found at this link.
4. CANON R and RF-S: For cameras with Canon RF mount need adapter M42-Canon R, it can be found at this link.
5. Nikon 1: For cameras Nikon 1 Series need adapter M42-Nikon 1, you can find it at this link.
6. Nikon Z: For cameras Nikon Z series (FX/DX) need an adapter M42-Nikon Z, it can be found at this link.
7. FUJIFILM X: For cameras with mount X need an M42-Fuji X adapter, you can find it at this link.
8. FUJIFILM GFX: For medium format cameras G-mount need M42-Fuji GFX adapter, you can find it at this link.
9. SAMSUNG: For cameras with NX mount, you need an M42-Samsung NX adapter, you can find it at this link. There are no adapters for the NX mini camera yet.
10. PENTAX: For Q-mount cameras, you need an M42-Pentax Q adapter, you can find it at this link.
11. SIGMA / PANASONIC / LEICA: For cameras with L mount you need an M42-Leica L adapter, you can find it at this link.
12. LEICA: For cameras with a bayonet mount Leica M need adapter M42-L / M, you can find it at this link.

If you have any questions on compatibility and adapters - ask in the comments (comments do not require any registration at all).

Results

A.Schacht Ulm Edixa-Mat-Travenar-A 1:3,5/135 – vintage 135-thread, with its own strengths and weaknesses

10 main advantages

1. quality assembly
2. stylish zebra design
3. small filter diameter
4. unusual depth of field scale similar to an “elevator door”
5. convenient focusing ring with a very large pitch
6. convenient aperture control ring with pronounced clicks
7. ease of adaptation to modern digital systems
8. switch for manual or automatic iris control
9. good resolution at open and closed apertures in the center of the frame
10. beautiful bokeh

10 main disadvantages

1. only 6 aperture blades (there are versions of Travenar 1: 3,5/135 with 16 aperture blades)
2. only F/3.5 (often similar lenses have F/2.8)
3. heavy weight (almost 400 grams)
4. aperture blades are not blackened
5. aperture blades form notches at F/4, F/4.5
6. it is difficult to determine the version/subversion and year of production of a specific instance
7. no multi-coating, lens bevels are poorly blackened
8. a hood that is screwed into the thread of the front filter must be used
9. big problems when working in backlit and side light, significant loss of contrast (example)
10. strong chromatic aberration

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