Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 135mm f/3.5

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A cheap, plentiful 4-element/3-group Sonnar that is sharp from f/3.5 and focuses to about 1 m, closer than most vintage 135s. Zebra-barrel copies (1967–75) are single-coated; the later black MC version has better flare resistance and a slide-out hood. Six straight blades. Weight depends on version (published figures run from roughly 366 g to 432 g), so none is given here. It shares the 49 mm filter size with the Flektogon 35 and Pancolar 50, handy for a matched set.

Key specs

Focal length

135 mm

Max aperture

f/3.5

Mount

M42 screw

Image circle

Full frame

Close focus

1 m

Filter thread

49 mm

Field of view by sensor

Full frame

15.2° horizontal · frames like 135 mm on full frame

Super 35

10.5° horizontal · frames like 195.2 mm on full frame

Micro Four Thirds

7.3° horizontal · frames like 280.9 mm on full frame

What it goes on

Auto-aperture M42 with a manual stop-down/A-M control, so a plain glassless adapter to EF or mirrorless works. Long ~300° focus throw is pleasant for pulling focus. Earlier f/4 Sonnars and some 135/3.5s exist in Exakta and Praktica B mounts — check the mount before buying.

• Canon EF camerasWith adapterALEXA 265, ALEXA 35, ALEXA Mini LF, Pocket Cinema Camera 6K G2 +14 more

  M42-EOS flanged ring. Cheap and common. Pick a flanged ring that presses the auto-aperture pin. On full-frame EF DSLRs a few lenses (Helios 44-2, some Takumars) can catch the mirror at infinity.

• Sony E camerasWith adapterRonin 4D-6K, Ronin 4D-8K, Alpha 1 II, Alpha 7 IV +13 more

  Novoflex · K&F Concept · Fotodiox. 27.5 mm of room — a plain mechanical adapter. Manual focus and iris.

• Canon RF camerasWith adapterEOS C400, EOS C50, EOS C70, EOS C80 +10 more

  Novoflex · K&F Concept · Fotodiox. 25.5 mm of room — a plain mechanical adapter. Manual focus and iris.

• L-Mount camerasWith adapterCinema Camera 6K, PYXIS 12K, PYXIS 6K, Ronin 4D-6K +6 more

  Novoflex · K&F Concept · Fotodiox. 25.5 mm of room — a plain mechanical adapter. Manual focus and iris.

• Micro Four Thirds camerasWith adapterMicro Studio Camera 4K G2, Pocket Cinema Camera 4K, Lumix BGH1, Lumix GH6 +1 more

  Novoflex · K&F Concept · Fotodiox. 26.2 mm of room — a plain mechanical adapter. Manual focus and iris.

• Nikon Z camerasWith adapterKOMODO-X 6K S35, V-RAPTOR [X] 8K VV, V-RAPTOR XE

  Novoflex · K&F Concept · Fotodiox. 29.5 mm of room — a plain mechanical adapter. Manual focus and iris.

• Leica M camerasWith adapter· by flange mathsALEXA 265, ALEXA 35, ALEXA Mini LF, Ronin 4D-6K +1 more

  17.7 mm of room for a plain ring. Check rear-element and mirror clearance before buying.

• LPL camerasWith adapter· by flange mathsALEXA 265, ALEXA 35, ALEXA Mini LF, URSA Cine 17K 65

  1.5 mm of room for a plain ring. Check rear-element and mirror clearance before buying.

See every camera this lens fits →

Sources: japb.net, phillipreeve.net, kamerastore.com