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About
Lens model: Soligor 135mm F/2.8 Tele-Auto
At a glance: Despite the fact that this lens currently sells for very little on sites like ebay, it's a real gem with excellent tonal contrast, great bokeh, and superb sharpness.
Our score: 7/10
First Impressions
The Soligor 135mm F/2.8 Tele-Auto might not be a household name among modern photographers, but for those with a penchant for vintage glass, it’s a well-kept secret. Unboxing this lens, the first thing that struck me was its sheer weight and solid construction. This lens doesn’t just feel sturdy; it feels like it could withstand a war. The all-metal body, smooth focus ring, and tactile aperture ring are hallmarks of a bygone era when lenses were built to last.
It’s a hefty piece of glass, no doubt about it. Holding it in your hand, you immediately get a sense of the craftsmanship that went into its design. The lens has a certain presence, a heft that reassures you that it’s going to deliver something special. The length is typical of a 135mm lens from the period, making it a bit of a challenge to balance on smaller mirrorless cameras, but that’s nothing an adapter and a firm grip can’t handle.
Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Model | Soligor 135mm F/2.8 Tele-Auto |
| Type | Prime |
| Focal length | 135mm |
| Focal format | Full-frame |
| Magnification | 0.11x |
| Max aperture | f/2.8 |
| Min aperture | f/22 |
| Aperture Blades | 8 |
| Angle of view | 18° |
| Optical formula | 4 Elements in 4 Groups |
| Minimum focal dist. | 1.5m (4.9ft) |
| Filter thread size | 55mm |
| Lens hood | Built-in retractable |
| Mount type | Varies (commonly M42, PK, FD) |
Features
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Focus ring | Manual |
| Autofocus | No |
| Image stabilization | No |
| Optical coating(s) | Yes - Single-coated |
| Front element rotation | Yes |
| Internal focusing | No |
| Lens extension while focusing | Yes |
| Focus hold/lock button | No |
| Physical aperture ring | Yes |
| De-clickable aperture | No |
| Architecture | SLR |
Image Quality
The Soligor 135mm F/2.8 Tele-Auto is a lens that delivers surprising results, especially given its age and the price you can acquire one for today. This lens is a classic telephoto, and it shows in the images it produces. At f/2.8, you can expect a soft, almost dreamy look, which is perfect for portraits where you want to isolate your subject against a beautifully blurred background.
Stopping down to f/5.6 or f/8 sharpens things up considerably, giving you the kind of clarity you need for detailed shots, whether you’re capturing a landscape or shooting wildlife. The colors are rendered with a subtle, slightly muted tone that adds a touch of vintage character to your photos. Contrast is decent, though it can benefit from a bit of tweaking in post, especially in high-contrast scenes.
One thing to note is that this lens does have some issues with chromatic aberration, particularly in high-contrast situations. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s something to be aware of, especially if you’re planning to shoot in bright, sunny conditions.
Sharpness
Sharpness is where the Soligor 135mm F/2.8 Tele-Auto surprises the most. While it’s not going to rival modern glass, it holds its own, especially when stopped down. Wide open, the center sharpness is good, with a noticeable drop-off towards the edges. But once you hit f/5.6 or f/8, the entire frame sharpens up nicely, making this lens a great choice for portrait work or any situation where you need to isolate your subject with a bit of telephoto compression.
Bokeh
This lens truly shines when it comes to bokeh. The 135mm focal length, combined with the f/2.8 aperture, creates a shallow depth of field that melts backgrounds into a smooth, creamy blur. The bokeh is soft and pleasing, with highlights rendered as gentle orbs that help to focus attention on your subject. It’s the kind of bokeh that adds a touch of magic to portraits and close-ups, giving your images a dreamy, almost painterly quality.
Build Quality
If there’s one area where the Soligor 135mm F/2.8 Tele-Auto stands out, it’s build quality. This lens is a tank. The all-metal construction gives it a heft and solidity that you just don’t find in today’s lenses. The focus ring is beautifully damped, allowing for precise adjustments, and the aperture ring clicks solidly into place with each stop.
The built-in retractable lens hood is a nice touch, and it’s something I wish more modern lenses included. It’s always there when you need it, and it does a decent job of reducing flare, which is particularly important given the lens’s single-coating.
However, it’s important to remember that this lens lacks any kind of weather sealing, so you’ll want to be careful when using it in adverse conditions. Dust and moisture could potentially find their way into the lens, so it’s best to keep it protected.
Manual Focus Performance
Manual focusing with this lens is a dream. The focus throw is long, which allows for very precise adjustments. This is particularly important for a lens of this focal length, where even a small adjustment can mean the difference between a sharp image and one that’s slightly out of focus. The smoothness of the focus ring makes it a pleasure to use, whether you’re shooting portraits, landscapes, or even video.
Feature Breakdown
This lens is as straightforward as they come. It’s a fully manual telephoto prime, with no autofocus, no image stabilization, and no modern conveniences. But what it does offer is a quality build and solid performance. The single-coating on the optics isn’t as advanced as modern multi-coatings, so you’ll need to be mindful of flare, especially when shooting into the light.
The retractable lens hood is a standout feature that helps mitigate some of the flare issues. The eight-blade aperture also contributes to the pleasing bokeh this lens produces, making it a great choice for portraiture.
Optical Construction
The optical design of the Soligor 135mm F/2.8 Tele-Auto is relatively simple, with 4 elements in 4 groups. This simplicity helps to keep the lens compact and relatively lightweight for its focal length. The single-coating on the elements is adequate, though it does leave the lens a bit more susceptible to flare and ghosting compared to modern lenses with advanced coatings. Still, the optical performance is solid, particularly when stopped down a bit, and the lens can produce some truly beautiful images.
What Could Be Better
No lens is perfect, and the Soligor 135mm F/2.8 Tele-Auto has its quirks. The single-coated optics mean that flare and ghosting can be an issue, particularly in bright, direct light. The lens also suffers from some chromatic aberration, especially in high-contrast scenes, which might require some correction in post-processing.
The lack of modern conveniences like autofocus or image stabilization might be a downside for some, but for those who enjoy the manual focus experience, it’s more of a feature than a flaw. However, the biggest downside is probably the weight. This lens is solidly built, which means it’s not the lightest option out there. If you’re planning to carry it around all day, you’ll definitely feel it by the end of the day.
Conclusion
The Soligor 135mm F/2.8 Tele-Auto is a lens that offers a lot of bang for your buck. It’s a vintage telephoto that can still deliver excellent results, especially if you’re willing to work with its quirks. Priced between $50 and $100 on the second-hand market, it’s an affordable way to get your hands on a well-built, solid-performing lens that’s a pleasure to use.
This lens isn’t for everyone. If you need autofocus or image stabilization, you’ll need to look elsewhere. But if you appreciate the process of manual focusing and the unique character that vintage lenses bring to your images, the Soligor 135mm F/2.8 Tele-Auto is worth considering. It’s a lens that invites you to slow down, to think about your shots, and to enjoy the art of photography.
If you’ve got your own experiences with this lens or questions, drop them in the comments below. Happy shooting!
Equipment
The images of this lens were captured using a Samsung Galaxy Note 9
