Zeiss 135mm telephoto lens featuring Sonnar optical design, delivering characteristically smooth bokeh with high center sharpness.
Technical Details
The Sonnar 135/4 weighs 540 grams with an overall length of 94mm and a filter diameter of 58mm. The minimum focusing distance is 1.5 meters, and the aperture can be adjusted from f/4 to f/22. The lens features a Zeiss T* coating for reduced reflections. The characteristic Sonnar construction with a large air gap between the first and second lens groups allows for a compact design with high optical performance. Zeiss produced variants for Contax RF, Contax SLR, and later Yashica/Contax mounts.
History & Development
Carl Zeiss introduced the first Sonnar 135mm in 1932 for the Contax I. Ludwig Bertels' Sonnar design revolutionized telephoto lens construction through the asymmetric arrangement of lens groups. After World War II, Zeiss West resumed production of Sonnar lenses from 1950, initially for the Contax IIa/IIIa, and later from 1959 for the Contax D SLR cameras. Production in Oberkochen ended in 1975, while Yashica manufactured identical versions under Zeiss license from 1975 onwards.
Practical Use in Film
Cinematographers valued the Sonnar 135 for portrait shots and subtle compression effects. Particularly in the 1960s and 70s, European camera operators used the lens for close-ups with natural facial perspective, avoiding the distortions of shorter focal lengths. Its creamy bokeh and high resolution extending to the image corners made it a top choice for demanding 35mm productions. The compact form factor allowed for handheld camera work even with longer focal lengths.
Comparison & Alternatives
The Sonnar 135/4 differs from contemporary telephoto lenses due to its unusually high sharpness performance even at wide-open aperture. While competing products like the Leica Tele-Elmar 135/4 only achieve their full performance when stopped down, the Sonnar maintains high contrast even at f/4. Modern cine lenses like the Zeiss CP.2 135/2.1 offer greater speed and consistent focus gears but do not achieve the characteristic image rendition of the classic Sonnar design.