Yashica ML 135mm f2.8

Inspector’s condition notes

Collector's condition lens — getting harder to find in this state every day. The Yashica ML was the first lens Carl Zeiss produced for Contax. As one of the earliest units, the glass was made from the same raw materials and formula as the Contax Zeiss Planar T*, and performance is said to be nearly identical. Comparing quality to price, this lens is excellent value. The Optical is perfect — no scratches. Focus and aperture are silky smooth, like a new lens. Internal components are tight, with no rattle or movement inside. The exterior body is in like-new condition: no scratches, no scuffs, no paint loss. The only thing to note is some faint staining on the lens hood.

How this lens renders

Compared with other lenses at the same 135mm f/2.8 focal length and specifications, this Yashica ML stands out with its Sonnar-style rendering, offering good contrast and accurate colors. It is especially well-suited for portrait and flower work. In terms of sharpness, wide open at f/2.8 the image is slightly soft but still very usable. Stop down to f/5.6 and the image becomes sharp from center to edges, with impressively low chromatic aberration. The bokeh creates smooth background blur, but in backlit conditions or high-contrast scenes you may notice more pronounced color fringing on the bokeh edges. To avoid this, the built-in lens hood does a good job of shading the front element. B&W tones tend to come out a bit flat, which will appeal to those who like to edit their files further. Overall, this is a telephoto option that delivers outstanding value, with beautiful image quality at a friendly price. Ideal for portrait enthusiasts looking for a quality vintage lens on a modest budget.

In the box

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Honest disclosure