I purchased both of these earlier this year although I haven't done much with either. I bought the 35-105/3.5-4.5 first because they're pretty cheap but kept an eye open for a decent price on the 28-135/4-4.5. Both lenses are highly rated and are the original issue versions introduced in 1985. The 35-105 was replaced with a worse version in 1988, but the 28-135 never did have a replacement. I think I paid about $40 for the 35-105 and $80 for the 28-135. Show
The 28-135 ratings from Dyxum: overall:4.42sharpness:4.62color:4.83build:4.80distortion:4.42flare control:3.44 The 35-105 ratings from Dyxum: overall:4.64sharpness:4.78color:4.88build:4.87distortion:4.57flare control:4.08 The 35-105 edges out the 28-135 slightly in the overall, but a lot of that is poor flare control, not unexpected for lenses of this vintage. It's also rated slightly higher in sharpness and color, but I'm not 100% certain my copies agree. Note this is TOTALLY UNSCIENTIFIC and is how I'll shoot them real world. They were made under the same light and zoomed as nearly as I could, I was a bit off on the tree. With the exception of resizing these are SOOC jpegs, the camera being a G9. The first photo in each pair is the 35-105. Both were made wide-open, so 3.5 and 4 respectively. Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available) 35-105 table by telecast, on Flickr Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available) 28-135 table by telecast, on Flickr Again, both made wide open. In this pair the 28-135 has a clear advantage, looking at the dead leaves on the front of the squash. Click the photo and go to Flickr to enlarge. Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available) 35-105 squash by telecast, on Flickr Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available) 28-135 squash by telecast, on Flickr This pair I goofed on the zoom a bit. These were shot two stops down from wide open. While the Maxxum lenses don't have an aperture ring, the Fotodiox adapter has a ring that allows adjustment. It isn't graduated so you have to watch your shutter speed. I turned the ring until it dropped two stops, from 250 to 60 in both cases. I figure 7.1 and 8 respectively. Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available) 35-105 tree by telecast, on Flickr 28-135 tree by telecast, on Flickr Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available) So, what's the verdict? I don't see enough of a difference in most cases to discount either as an inexpensive addition to vintage glass. Either would be a great walking around lens, edge to the 28-135 for range. I think the color on the tree is a little better with the 28-135 as well, and the sharpness is better on the squash shot. I have to say that I cannot discount user error in any of these differences. Neither of these are huge or ridiculously heavy, but the 28-135 is definitely larger and heavier than the 35-105, but then that's not how we usually choose vintage glass. We’ve stopped this service due to lack of demand, check our Facebook page for more details. 01/03/2020 Whilst it has been possible to hire Nikon and Canon equipment in the UK, until now, Sony lenses could only be hired in the USA and Germany. As we already have premises, staff and card processing facilities and Mike is passionate about Minolta/Sony gear, it made sense that we fill in the gap and provide Sony/Minolta equipment for hire in the UK. We’ve pitched our prices at the same multiple of hire fee to lens value as companies in the USA, putting us below similar Canon/Nikon hirers in the UK. Everything hired out will be in good condition, fully working and with all accessories and we will endeavor to send it, by a timed delivery, in good time for the start of the hire period. The hirer will need to be available to sign for receipt of the equipment. The most popular lenses book up well ahead, so if you have a holiday, wedding or show to photograph, don’t leave it to the last minute to book a lens.  Sigma 10-20mm f4-5.6One of the best ever ultra wide angles for crop sensor cameras. Superb for landscapes and building interiors. Depth of field is massive and with the Sony steady shot on, hand held exposures of up to a quarter of a second are possible. Prices1 Week: £ 27 2 Weeks: £ 40 Outgoing Postage: £ 10 (includes transit insurance) Interested? Contact us to discuss further details Please contact us if you require the lens for longer than two weeks. Sample PhotosSigma 10-20mm f3.5A new build of Sigmas famous 10-20, heavier and more solid in construction, constant f3.5 across all focal lengths, this lens is chipped for the newer alpha cameras. Prices1 Week: £ 33 2 Weeks: £ 50 Outgoing Postage: £ 10 (includes transit insurance) Interested? Contact us to discuss further details Please contact us if you require the lens for longer than two weeks. Sample PhotosCarl Zeiss 24-70mm f2.8 SSMTop of the range mid focal length zoom, ideal for portraiture, weddings etc. heavy for it’s focal length, but very sharp and very fast. Prices1 Week: £ 60 2 Weeks: £ 90 Outgoing Postage: £ 10 (includes transit insurance) Interested? Contact us to discuss further details Please contact us if you require the lens for longer than two weeks. Sample PhotosSony 70-400 G SSMA beautiful lens, solidly built, quiet and fast. Not a light weight lens though, and not a walkaround lens. Picture quality superb, ideal for smaller wildlife or hide based bird photography. More DetailsMax Aperture: 4 – 5.6 Min Aperture: 22 – 32 Focal Range: 70 – 400mm Min Focus Distance: 150cm Max Magnification: 1 : 3.7 Length: 196mm Weight: 1500g See Dyxum’s Information about this lens Prices1 Week: £ 55 2 Weeks: £ 86 Outgoing Postage: £ 26 (includes transit insurance) Interested? Contact us to discuss further details Please contact us if you require the lens for longer than two weeks. Sample PhotosSony 70-400 G Mk 2Same size as the Mk1, coloured white instead of silver, I can see no optical difference although Sony says the coatings are improved. This lens does seem to be faster focusing than the Mk1 though. More DetailsMax Aperture: 4 – 5.6 Min Aperture: 22 – 32 Focal Range: 70 – 400mm Min Focus Distance: 150cm Max Magnification: 1 : 3.7 Length: 196mm Weight: 1500g See Dyxum’s Information about this lens Prices1 Week: £ 65 2 Weeks: £ 96 Outgoing Postage: £ 26 (includes transit insurance) Interested? Contact us to discuss further details Please contact us if you require the lens for longer than two weeks. Sample PhotosNew! Sony 135mm f2.8 STFThe best I can do with this unique lens is to refer you to the excellent Dyxum review; This lens is only made by Sony (and Minolta before them), it is designed just to give the very best bokeh that can be achieved. With two aperture rings it is not a novice lens, it’s also a manual focus lens. It is a very sharp lens suitable for crop sensor or full frame cameras. Prices1 Week: £ 54 2 Weeks: £ 80 Outgoing Postage: £ 10 (includes transit insurance) Interested? Contact us to discuss further details Please contact us if you require the lens for longer than two weeks. Sample PhotosNew! Tamron SP 150-600mm f5-6.3A lens to use when 400mm is not enough, large and heavy, even compared to the Sony 70-400 but the extra reach can be invaluable when you can’t get closer especially to small birds and wildlife. A sharp lens, my opinion is that it is close, but not quite as sharp as the Sony 70-400g, but you can’t really compare a 400mm lens with a 600mm lens. When using at 600mm you really need either a support or a very fast shutter speed for sharp photos. Prices1 Week: £ 55 2 Weeks: £ 86 Outgoing Postage: £ 26 (includes transit insurance) Interested? Contact us to discuss further details Please contact us if you require the lens for longer than two weeks. Sample PhotosMinolta 100mm MacroReckoned by Dyxum to be one of the sharpest lenses made for Minolta and Sony cameras, it gives 1:1 reproduction and whilst ideal for macros of insects and small flowers, it’s max aperture of f2.8 and sharpness make it ideal for many purposes. Prices1 Week: £ 24 2 Weeks: £ 36 Outgoing Postage: £ 10 (includes transit insurance) Interested? Contact us to discuss further details Please contact us if you require the lens for longer than two weeks. Sample PhotosSony 70-200 f2.8 GBig, but not as big or heavy as the 70-400. It is a practical lens to hand hold if the light is reasonable. Good for moving wildlife, sports air shows etc. Superb build quality, fast and silent. Prices1 Week: £ 70 2 Weeks: £ 104 Outgoing Postage: £ 26 (includes transit insurance) Interested? Contact us to discuss further details Please contact us if you require the lens for longer than two weeks. Sample PhotosSamyang 8mm FisheyeA very different lens this one. Fully manual, you set the aperture, ideally to f8 then you set the focus to 1m. and fire away. In most lighting conditions you’ll need +1 stop on the metering. Intended for crop sensor cameras, it fills the frame, (not circular like some fisheyes) it gives almost 180 degree coverage (sigma 10-20mm gives almost 90 degrees). A good quality, sharp, prime lens that will give photos with a difference. Prices1 Week: £ 28 2 Weeks: £ 40 Outgoing Postage: £ 10 (includes transit insurance) Interested? Contact us to discuss further details Please contact us if you require the lens for longer than two weeks. Sample PhotosSony 500mm f8 MirrorVery small and light for such a long focal length, the only mirror lens with auto focus. Can be carried around all day, but unless the light is very good you would need a tripod or some support. It is capable of taking sharp photographs but needs more care to avoid shake than most telephoto lenses possibly due to it’s light weight. Prices1 Week: £ 30 2 Weeks: £ 45 Outgoing Postage: £ 10 (includes transit insurance) Interested? Contact us to discuss further details Please contact us if you require the lens for longer than two weeks. Sample PhotosMinolta 50mm f3.5 MacroRated 4.99 out of 5 for sharpness on dyxum reviews, this is a superb little lens, small, light and fast to focus. So deeply set into the mount is this lens, that unusually, it does not need or come with a lens hood. This is not a true macro in that it only reaches 1:2 magnification, but at its closest on an A700, a compact flash card fills the frame. Prices1 Week: £ 25 2 Weeks: £ 36 Outgoing Postage: £ 10 (includes transit insurance) Interested? Contact us to discuss further details Please contact us if you require the lens for longer than two weeks. Sample PhotosCarl Zeiss Planar T 85mm f1.4Sharp and very fast, an ideal low light or street photography lens. Can be handy for places where flash is not allowed, such as in church at weddings, but watch for the very narrow depth of field when wide open. Just read the Dyxum reviews on this lens. Prices1 Week: £ 54 2 Weeks: £ 80 Outgoing Postage: £ 10 (includes transit insurance) Interested? Contact us to discuss further details Please contact us if you require the lens for longer than two weeks. Sample PhotosSony Alpha 550 Camera BodyIt is expected that it’s main use on hire will be as a competent second body for wedding or wildlife photographers. It has live view with a tilting back screen (ideal for outdoor macros where you can’t get your head low enough or close enough). It has a very high frame rate, up to 7fps, good for sports or fast moving wildlife. Prices1 Week: £ 30 2 Weeks: £ 45 Outgoing Postage: £ 10 (includes transit insurance) Interested? Contact us to discuss further details Please contact us if you require the lens for longer than two weeks. New! Sony A77 SLT camera body24 megapixel, crop sensor, 12 fps continuous shooting (raw and jpeg), full HD movies, built-in GPS, multi angle rear screen. Prices1 Week: £ 48 2 Weeks: £ 72 Outgoing Postage: £ 10 (includes transit insurance) Interested? Contact us to discuss further details Please contact us if you require the lens for longer than two weeks. New! Sony LA-EA4 adapterPrices1 Week: £ 18 2 Weeks: £ 28 Outgoing Postage: £ 7 (includes transit insurance) Interested? Contact us to discuss further details Please contact us if you require the lens for longer than two weeks. Sony F42AM Flash GunThis works off-camera, wirelessly, with those models of Sony camera that support wireless flash. Has it’s own stand and tripod mount. Takes four AA batteries. Prices1 Week: £ 13 2 Weeks: £ 18 Outgoing Postage: £ 7 (includes transit insurance) Interested? Contact us to discuss further details Please contact us if you require the lens for longer than two weeks. Sony F58AM Flash GunSony’s top of the range flash gun, wireless off camera or on camera. Works with other Sony flashguns, more power and more controls than the F42 flash. Has a stand and tripod mount and takes 4 AA batteries. Prices1 Week: £ 19 2 Weeks: £ 30 Outgoing Postage: £ 7 (includes transit insurance) Interested? Contact us to discuss further details Please contact us if you require the lens for longer than two weeks. New! Break Beam Trigger SystemVersatile kit for either fast stop action photos or for catching wildlife. includes sony wired trigger will also trigger flashguns direct. can be used as infra red break beam, sound trigger or sudden light trigger. Not yet very good in bright sunlight, works but only over short distances. Telephone for further information. Prices1 Week: £ 25 2 Weeks: £ 35 Outgoing Postage: £ 10 (includes transit insurance) Interested? Contact us to discuss further details Please contact us if you require the lens for longer than two weeks. Sample PhotosSony/Minolta Extension TubesSet of fully auto extension tubes for SonyMinolta, can be used with most lenses to decrease the closest focusing distance. |
