This Old Lens: Yashica 135mm f/2.8… Again.

Have owned this lens before. Then, in a misguided attempt at photography logic (laughable) I sold it. Something, something I do not use it and the Contax ZEISS 50mm f/1.7 stays on the camera all of the time…

Then I proceeded to pay much more for other lenses that I also did not use often… None of which do I own anymore. So, after a quick run through a roll of film with my Contax 137 MA Quartz recently I decided to recify this prior error in judgment. Especially once I saw that these lenses were still dirt cheap.

Yes, I said lenses. I applied this same “logic” to a 28mm lens also.

For starters (and ease) I will cut and paste from my 2018 post and then show the new images. I wanted to make sure this good deal of a lens actually worked. And it did. <Engage cut and paste.>

I love a good deal.

Recently picked up one heck of a deal in a camera. Seems appropriate to find deals when it comes to lenses for it. I typically get three primes when I purchase a film system. A normal. A portrait. A wide. This is the portrait. The Yashica 135mm f/2.8.

Why did I buy it?

$72…
- Now $52.
Has a built-in hood…
- A few variations were made, and the one I received this time did not have a hood.
Looked nice enough in the KEH listing.
- Same.
Having a Contax Zeiss C/Y mount variant I was looking forward to seeing what Yashica could do.
- I now know they are every bit as good.

Then I received it. Nice. Better built than Takumar 135mm lenses I have owned and on par with the nicer of my other film portrait lenses regardless of price.

Great feel in hand and on the focus and aperture rings.

Again another winner photo wise also. gin hit the big three:

Great color.
Sharp wide open.
Pleasing out of focus areas.

I’ll keep it short. That is it. That is just about all I need.

I only took a few images with this lens before.

I did not mention this above, but I bought this kit as a distraction while coping with my Father’s declining health. In fact these sample images were taken while visiting him during one of his hospital stays in the months leading up to his passing in early 2019. That may also be why I let the lenses go so soon. 2018 pics.

Welp… That bit of slightly jarring throwback sorted.

The film.

Lomography 100. A favorite of mine. Developed with Cinestill CS41.

The replacement lenses arrived yesterday so along with finishing another roll of film I decided to test these newly received lenses out. Used the same roll of film to test both lenses. Here is the half dedicated to this lens.