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| Helios 135mm f/2.8 (Sigma/Quantaray) |
2017.11.05 - Revised
2020.04.14 - Re-written, re-uploaded video
2021.08.16 - Updated with new info, re-edit video
2022.08.15 - Updated
Candid portrait of people crossing the road
Subjects were approximately 3 meters away
Helios 135mm f/2.8
(aka "Quantaray Auto MC 135mm f/2.8")
Maker - Possibly Sigma
Year - 1975(?)
Focusing - Fully Manual, non-AF
Minimum Focusing - 1.5 meters
Focus Throw - 260 degrees
Filter Thread - 52 mm
Aperture Run - f/2.8 to f/22
Iris Blades - 6 (auto diaphragm)
Optical Formula - 4 elements, 4 groups
With built-in retractable hood
Made In Japan
Photo Album:
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Impressions
UPDATE 2021: It has been 4 years since this post was published. Today, I found a Quantaray 135/2.8 which looks like an exact copy of this lens. This Helios 135mm f/2.8 is a Sigma in disguise!
The Russian 'Zenit' SLR cameras used M42 mount. Countries like Britain and Netherlands imported it under the sole distribution of TOE. Some of the focal lengths were not offered by the Russian Helios lens (eg. 28/2.8, 135/2.8), so they contracted Japanese manufacturers to fill the gap. These makers include Tokina, Sun Optical and Sigma; then Samyang from Korea.
These Helios lenses were sold for the Zenit SLR cameras; you can only find it in Pentax M42 mount, I have not seen any other mounts under the Helios brand. I only had a Nikon DSLR at the time and hacked the lens mount to fit and allow perfect focusing to infinity.
The lens feels like a solid tool with a tough all-metal construction. One of the things that stands from other lenses is how buttery smooth the focusing is, you could almost turn it with the flick of a pinky finger. The lens has a retractable lens hood which is too short for a telephoto range and useless at best.
The word 'Auto' brings alot of confusion to people. Back in the 1960s, lenses were commonly manual stop-down of diaphragm. They came up with a new system called 'auto diaphragm' which makes the lens open at its biggest f-stop when you mount it, and then it automatically closes to the preset f-stop when you press the shutter button. That is what 'auto' stands for, not autofocus or automated with electronics.
My copy had plenty of fungus but the lens was able to get back in shiny-new state after cleaning the glass and the body. The elements show bluish and amber sheen (early multicoating). It is a very competent prime lens and is sharp wide at f/2.8; you can enjoy clear portrait shots and beautiful blurry background. It is very sharp for macros (used with closeup filter) when stopped down to f/8.
The lens produces a very pleasing vintage character (sharp but soft contrast, delicate watercolor colors). Compared to other lenses I used, it tends to shift toward a green tint, which is easily fixed by white balance.
Sigma Research Center was established in 1961. Trade name officially changed to Sigma Corporation in 1970. Their factory was completed in 1973 and their website shows the first marketed lenses by 1975. One of them was the "Sigma 135/2.8 YS (Pan Tele/Mini Tele)". Their website does not list any other 135mm f/2.8 after 1975.
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| Quantaray version |
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| Quantaray version |
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Versions
Samyang (Made in Korea)
Sun Optical
Tokina
Sigma Pantel (1975)
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Samples
Nikon D5200
Helios 135/2.8
Nikon D5200
Helios 135/2.8
Shots from 3 September 2016
across SM Manila/Manila City Hall
Subjects were approximately 3 meters away
All shots at f/2.8
(Used with polarizing filter, thus a little soft)
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(Used with polarizing filter, thus a little soft)
Bought this together with a panagor m42 85-205 and smc pentax-m 1:1.7 50mm, only mine is called Info Auto 1:2.8 f=135mm. Adapting to Nikon seems more difficult, the m42 back piece also has the index for the A/M switch. Maybe I can remove the auto function, cant use it anyway. O well, for five euros each it can only get better. But first I try with an adapter with glass, which will be in next week.
ReplyDeleteOh sorry for the super late reply, I never get notified about comments. It's a nice lens but only comes in M42 mount. Those adapters with glass might work.
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