Minolta MC Tele Rokkor 135mm f/2.8

The bokeh is described as creamy and smooth in the center, with the famous 'swirl' effect appearing at the edges when shooting wide open, the subject is close, the background is distant, and the background has texture. Bokeh balls show slight onion rings and can turn into cats-eye shapes at the edges.

The color rendering is warm and slightly golden, leaning toward amber/yellow in the highlights. Skin tones render pleasantly warm, sometimes too warm in golden hour. Greens can shift toward yellow-green, giving a 'nostalgic' film-like quality.

Center sharpness is acceptable wide open, but not clinical. Corners are soft until f/4. Peak sharpness is achieved at f/5.6-8 across the frame, though never razor-sharp by modern standards. The micro-contrast is pleasing.

Flare is abundant and characterful, especially in the single-coated versions, which produce dramatic veiling flare and colorful streaks when shooting into light. Multi-coated versions are more controlled, but many shooters still use the flare creatively.

Noticeable vignetting wide open (about 1.5 stops in the corners), diminishing by f/4. Many users enjoy the natural focus this adds to the center of the frame.

• Telephoto compression
• Minolta colors
• Sharp
• Affordable

• 135mm needs space
• f/2.8 is moderate
• Needs good light or steady hands