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Production
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Country
Japan
Optical
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Updated
Jul 4, 2026
Rexatar Rexatar 135mm f2.8
Available in C/Y, Canon FD/FDn, Konica AR, M42, Nikon F, Olympus OM, Pentax K, Minolta SR/MD/MC · 135mm · f/2.8
AI-assisted · from real reviewsUpdated 4 Jul 2026
Overview
The Rexatar 135mm f/2.8 is a Japanese-made telephoto prime from the 1970-80s era of manual-focus SLR systems, sold under a lesser-known 'Rexatar' badge that was almost certainly a rebranded/OEM lens marketed for multiple mounts. According to allphotolenses, it was produced in Japan with a metal body and offered across a wide array of popular systems of the day (Contax/Yashica, Canon FD/FDn, Konica AR, M42, Nikon F, Olympus OM, Pentax K, and Minolta SR/MD/MC). It is an obscure, budget-tier lens rather than a famous optic: no established nicknames or community jargon are evidenced in the reviews. Despite the obscurity, the one detailed user review (Pentax Forums) expressed genuine surprise at how well it performed, and a small Flickr pool (27 photos, 5 members) shows it used mostly for birds, wildlife, and portrait-style subjects. It has no true cult following; its appeal is that of an inexpensive, well-built sleeper telephoto that punches above its price.
Verdict: The Rexatar 135mm f/2.8 is a sleeper budget telephoto: an all-metal, multi-coated Japanese classic that reviewers found surprisingly sharp with pleasing bokeh, held back mainly by wide-open vignetting and the fact that many copies survive hazy. It has no legendary status or cult jargon, but for portrait and wildlife shooters who want a cheap, well-built 135mm with genuine optical merit, a clean example is an excellent value.
Optical Character
Bokeh
Well-regarded pleasing background blur, rated 9/10 by the single detailed reviewer with no bubbles or swirl described.
Sharpness wide open
Described as very sharp and surprisingly good wide open (9/10), though corner and stopped-down performance not documented.
Flare resistance
Good flare and ghosting control attributed to the multi-coating.
Contrast
Reported as good, aided by multi-coating.
Vignetting
Noticeable vignetting wide open, cited as the main con.
Community Insights
What people love
- Surprising sharpness for an obscure budget lens, described as 'very sharp' and impressive even wide open
- Pleasing bokeh and subject isolation typical of a fast 135mm, rated highly by users
- Excellent build quality: solid, all-metal construction praised as very well built
- Effective multi-coating that keeps flare and ghosting under control
- Outstanding value — often found for very little money (around $50 or less)
What people dislike
- Noticeable vignetting when shot wide open
- Many surviving copies are found hazy or degraded (one retailer listed an AS-IS hazy example whose 'image does not look great')
- Obscure brand with almost no documentation, reviews, or support community
Pro Tips
- Stop down slightly from f/2.8 to reduce the wide-open vignetting the reviewers noted
- Take advantage of the multi-coating and shoot confidently in backlit situations where cheaper lenses would flare
- Prioritize a clean, haze-free copy — the optics are capable but many surviving units are degraded
Sources (1)
Web-grounded synthesissecondary
The Rexatar 135mm f/2.8 is a Japanese-made telephoto prime from the 1970-80s era of manual-focus SLR systems, sold under a lesser-known 'Rexatar' badge that was almost certainly a rebranded/OEM lens marketed for multiple mounts. According to allphotolenses, it was produced in Japan with a metal body and offered across a wide array of popular systems of the day (Contax/Yashica, Canon FD/FDn, Konica AR, M42, Nikon F, Olympus OM, Pentax K, and Minolta SR/MD/MC). It is an obscure, budget-tier lens rather than a famous optic: no established nicknames or community jargon are evidenced in the reviews. Despite the obscurity, the one detailed user review (Pentax Forums) expressed genuine surprise at how well it performed, and a small Flickr pool (27 photos, 5 members) shows it used mostly for birds, wildlife, and portrait-style subjects. It has no true cult following; its appeal is that of an inexpensive, well-built sleeper telephoto that punches above its price.
https://www.pentaxforums.com/userreviews/rexatar-135mm-f28.htmlhttps://camerax.com/product/used-rexatar-135mm-f2-8-auto-mc-lens/https://allphotolenses.com/lenses/item/c_1845.htmlhttps://www.flickr.com/groups/2209266@N21/?rb=1