• Obi-Wan
  • Focus: Way Over There
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  • From: Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
  • Registered: 2007-09-13
  • Posts: 195

Topic: Auto DeJUR 135mm f/2.8 lens

Have any of you heard of a DeJUR 135/2.8?  What's it like?  I ran across one for $15 in C/Y mount (for which I already have an adapter, but not with me at the time) at a pawn shop today.  It seems a very solidly built lens.  I liked the feel of it.  It's bigger around than any of my other three 135mm lenses (Super-Tak 3.5, Nikkor 2.8, and Takumar-bayonet 2.5), which struck me as a little odd.

What's the image quality like?  Minimum focusing distance?  Google couldn't tell me much of anything.

http://photos.jedi.com/2009/20090522/IMG_7560_640.jpg
http://photos.jedi.com/2009/20090522/IMG_7562_640.jpg

For only $15, I was tempted to buy it, but since it's unlikely to compete favorably with my Nikkor 135/2.8 (which is smaller, has a built-in lens hood, and cost 4x as much), I walked away.  There's also the little matter of explaining to the Mrs why I need a fourth 135mm prime lens (plus the two zooms which also cover that range)...

I can always go back, though, if somebody here can recommend it from personal experience.  If the pawn shop wasn't several miles out of my way, I'd just run down with my C/Y adapter and compare it head to head with my Nikkor.

Canon EOS Rebel XTi/400D, AF lenses from Canon & Sigma, MF lenses including Takumars, Nikkors, Olympuses, Vivitars, Tamron, Tokina, Yashica, Opteka, etc.  See complete list
Galleries:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/obi-wan-yj and http://benholli.zenfolio.com
Personal site:  http://www.jedi.com/obiwan/photo

Obi-Wan's Website

  • From: Florida, Space&Treasure Coast
  • Registered: 2007-04-16
  • Posts: 130

Re: Auto DeJUR 135mm f/2.8 lens

From the angles you've photographed it, it looks like a Makina made lens from the 1975 time frame. Quality can be variable.

Depress clutch before shifting paradigms.

casualcollector's Website

  • Seele
  • Focus: Way Over There
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  • From: Sydney Australia
  • Registered: 2006-10-09
  • Posts: 472

Re: Auto DeJUR 135mm f/2.8 lens

You mean Makinon? Makina is a different kettle of fish altogether.

  • BC1
  • Focus: Way Over There
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  • From: Cambridge, UK
  • Registered: 2007-01-19
  • Posts: 342

Re: Auto DeJUR 135mm f/2.8 lens

Seele wrote:

You mean Makinon? Makina is a different kettle of fish altogether.

Makina Optical Company Limited was formed in 1967 as a manufacturer of 35mm SLR lenses for other companies. In 1974 They formed Makina Trading Company Limited to sell their own lenses under the Makinon brand. By 1983 they also had a US-based marketing and servicing subsidiary.
(source: "Makinon Lens Photography", Stephen Bayley, 1983)

So, unless there's another Makina, they are effectively the same.

Rob.

Praktica BC1, BX20, MTL3 - Yashica Mat 124G - Moskva 5 - Olympus 35RD, 35RC - Pentax Super A, K100D
Still bitten by the Tamron bug...
  • Registered: 2008-03-03
  • Posts: 336

Re: Auto DeJUR 135mm f/2.8 lens

In B&W not easy to say, but it reminds me the 135/2,8 that tokina did for Mamiya under rolleinar brand for rollei 35 SRL. Different focus grip but some leatherette ones were used by zeiss for the rollei lenses.

  • Obi-Wan
  • Focus: Way Over There
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  • From: Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
  • Registered: 2007-09-13
  • Posts: 195

Re: Auto DeJUR 135mm f/2.8 lens

juan leonardi wrote:

In B&W not easy to say

It's all black with white & orange distance numbers and no color cast on the front element.  Color doesn't add anything.

casualcollector wrote:

Quality can be variable.

Does this mean it might be bad or it might be good, or that it might be bad or it might be mediocre?  I'm just wondering if it's worth picking up, since I already have a Nikkor 135/2.8 and a Super-Takumar 135/3.5.  Is the quality likely to be even close to those two?

Canon EOS Rebel XTi/400D, AF lenses from Canon & Sigma, MF lenses including Takumars, Nikkors, Olympuses, Vivitars, Tamron, Tokina, Yashica, Opteka, etc.  See complete list
Galleries:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/obi-wan-yj and http://benholli.zenfolio.com
Personal site:  http://www.jedi.com/obiwan/photo

Obi-Wan's Website

  • From: Florida, Space&Treasure Coast
  • Registered: 2007-04-16
  • Posts: 130

Re: Auto DeJUR 135mm f/2.8 lens

Obi-Wan wrote:

I'm just wondering if it's worth picking up, since I already have a Nikkor 135/2.8 and a Super-Takumar 135/3.5.  Is the quality likely to be even close to those two?

I've gambled $15 to 20 on lenses and not regretted it. Five or ten would be better. Chisel 'em. I've bought stuff marked 25 to 40 for a fiver on several occasions. Depends on how long it's been on the shelf gathering dust. Make an offer. If he tries to bump your offer, don't move. If he doesn't let you walk, you've probably gotten it at your price.

I have no experience with the optical quality of the 135 Dejur/Makinon. I've seen guys say there's few bad 135s. Four or five elements and simple construction. It might not be the 135 Tak, but it might have some pleasing qualities that the Tak doesn't. If you don't like it, you can always unload it here or on e-bay and recover some, perhaps all, of your money after having some fun with it.

Bill

Depress clutch before shifting paradigms.

casualcollector's Website

  • Registered: 2008-03-03
  • Posts: 336

Re: Auto DeJUR 135mm f/2.8 lens

I had a makinon, in 1978,  green and white numbers. Well, average to so-so lens. Very low contrast (as Mamiya's 60-70's lenses). Only at F/11 the resolution power was OK for me. I don't remember very much. Good luck.

  • From: France
  • Registered: 2006-11-02
  • Posts: 1,845

Re: Auto DeJUR 135mm f/2.8 lens

Same experience than juan leonardi : I bought it , tried it and sold it immediatly !

I am a Pentacon and kiev( MF and35 mm) user,and also :contaxII,III,IIa  ,contaflex , contarex bullseye ,voigtlander ....