Olympus Olympus 135mm f3.5 Heritage

Overview

The Olympus 135mm f/3.5 is part of Olympus's compact OM Zuiko telephoto line, designed around the OM system philosophy of building lenses that were remarkably small and light without sacrificing solid build quality. Two closely related versions exist: the earlier 'E. Zuiko 135mm f/3.5' and the later 'Zuiko 135mm f/3.5', which are reportedly optically the same, with the main difference being the better coating on the latter. Reviewers repeatedly emphasize just how 'shockingly small' and 'stupidly small' this lens is for a 135mm tele, weighing only about 290g. No established nickname or community jargon is documented in the reviews. Its cult following is tied less to standout optical performance and more to the broader ardent following of Olympus OM glass: collectors value the fantastic build, unique mechanics, and the affordability that makes it an easy addition to an OM set. It is regarded as a lens worth owning if you are already invested in the OM system, rather than a must-have optical performer.

Verdict: This is a lens for photographers already invested in the Olympus OM system who value a superbly built, absurdly compact and lightweight 135mm that is a joy to handle. Optically it is a good, not amazing, performer: sharp in the center wide open, smooth in bokeh, but soft in the corners until f/8 and prone to flare. If you want the best 135mm image quality, rivals like the Konica Hexar AR 135mm f/3.5 are superior; but as a cheap, portable, beautifully made addition to an OM kit or a collection, it earns its place.

Optical Character

Bokeh

Smooth and pleasing bokeh that never renders distinct polygons, keeping out-of-focus highlights soft and rounded.

Sharpness wide open

Center is tack sharp wide open with some glow; corners are soft until about f/8, and it was not optimized for infinity sharpness.

Flare resistance

A weak point; flare is pretty bad, with a distinct blue band appearing in torture-test scenarios.

Contrast

Not very high wide open with center glow, improving noticeably by f/5.6 and remaining slightly dampened at f/8.

Vignetting

Very well controlled, only about 1.2EV wide open at infinity, dropping to around 0.2EV at f/8.

Community Insights

What people love

The astonishingly small and light size for a 135mm lens, which removes any excuse not to carry it along
Excellent, near-perfect build quality that is almost entirely metal and glass with engraved, paint-filled markings
Silky smooth, high-resistance focus ring that makes precise manual focusing easy
The built-in (integrated) sun shade, a genuinely handy feature
Smooth bokeh that avoids harsh polygonal highlights
Well-controlled vignetting and a sharp center even wide open
Great balance and pure joy to handle on Sony A7-series bodies, and its low price on the used market

What people dislike

Mediocre overall performance compared to rivals like the Canon nFD 135mm f/3.5 or Konica Hexar AR 135mm f/3.5
Corners stay soft until roughly f/8, and it was not optimized for infinity sharpness
Poor flare resistance, including a distinct blue band in torture tests
Glow and lower contrast wide open
The aperture ring sits too close to the focus ring, leading to accidental focus changes
On some samples the built-in shade is wobbly and the aperture ring can develop play

Pro Tips

Stop down to f/5.6 to eliminate the wide-open glow and lift contrast in the center and midframe
Use f/8 when you need excellent center/midframe with strong corners; avoid f/11 and smaller where diffraction softens the whole frame
Shoot the later multi-coated 'Zuiko' version if flare resistance matters to you
Be deliberate when adjusting aperture since the ring sits close to the focus ring and can shift focus
Rely on the integrated hood and avoid bright light sources in-frame to minimize the pronounced flare

Sources (1)

Web-grounded synthesissecondary

The Olympus 135mm f/3.5 is part of Olympus's compact OM Zuiko telephoto line, designed around the OM system philosophy of building lenses that were remarkably small and light without sacrificing solid build quality. Two closely related versions exist: the earlier 'E. Zuiko 135mm f/3.5' and the later 'Zuiko 135mm f/3.5', which are reportedly optically the same, with the main difference being the better coating on the latter. Reviewers repeatedly emphasize just how 'shockingly small' and 'stupidly small' this lens is for a 135mm tele, weighing only about 290g. No established nickname or community jargon is documented in the reviews. Its cult following is tied less to standout optical performance and more to the broader ardent following of Olympus OM glass: collectors value the fantastic build, unique mechanics, and the affordability that makes it an easy addition to an OM set. It is regarded as a lens worth owning if you are already invested in the OM system, rather than a must-have optical performer.

https://phillipreeve.net/blog/olympus-e-zuiko-135mm-f-3-5-a-review/https://stephend.photo/olympus-om-system-zuiko-auto-t-135mm-f35