> On a related note, the Soligor 135/1.8 makes me really appreciate > the Pentax 135/1.8 A*. The Soligor is amazingly awful [snip]. > The Pentax 135/1.8 A* wasn't stunningly sharp at 1.8 and was > noticeably longer, but it handled better, was better balanced, and > was a lot better performer. Of course it was about 15 years more > modern.
Most of the users of the A* 135/1.8 are very pleased with its performance (although Paal must've had a particularly bad sample). Of course, it is not as sharp at f/1.8 as it is at f/8, of course. Another fast 135 that is quite good (and is also older than the A*) is the Vivitar Series 1 135/2.3. And, I think that the SMC K 135/2.5, while not the equal to the A* 135/1.8, is good enough to be semi=seriously called "the poor man's A* 135/1.8. But, of course, neither the VS1 135/2.3 nor the K 135/2.5 is as fast as the 1.8's you mentioned. Fred
