Ms-optics APORIS 135mm F2.4

Ms-optics’ longest focal length lens

A review and Photo example of the APORIS 135mm F2.4.

Gallery

Sample photos taken with the LEICA SL and HASSELBLAD X2D.

Review

Overview
Usage
Add info

1．Usage

The APOLIS 135mm is a medium telephoto lens with a focal length of 135mm released by MS-Optics (Miyazaki Optical).

This lens has a slender barrel, but the wide focus ring is located at the thickest part and is located at a moderate distance from the aperture ring, making it less likely to cause erroneous operation.

I often use it with a Leica SL typ601, and it was easy to focus with the eyeless finder at the maximum aperture of F2.4.

Because the lens name includes APOLIS, the image displayed on the EVF does not have any color bleeding around the edges of the subject, making it feel like you are looking at the subject up close. I think you can get a similar feel with a mirrorless camera with a high-pixel EVF in the 2020s.

2．Overview

The lens type is a telephoto type, Ernostar type, which is easy to obtain brightness. It is named APO, and the design is particular about removing chromatic aberration, and for that reason, it is a luxurious lens that uses Canon Optron’s fluorite glass (fluorite glass) in some lenses.

The mount part is compatible with Leica M mount, but it is not linked to the rangefinder, so it is recommended to shoot using the EVF of a mirrorless camera.

This lens is equipped with a variable mechanism unique to Miyazaki lenses.

SA (spherical aberration) correction mechanism of Vario-Pez and Vario-Plasma
Coma aberration correction mechanism of Sonnethal 50mm and Sonnethal 73mm

Some Ms-optics lenses require the lens to be removed and the settings inside the lens barrel to be changed in order to use the variable mechanism, but with this lens, the two variable mechanisms can be operated from the lens barrel without removing the lens, making it easier to use the additional functions.

This is thought to be a measure that was possible only because of this lens, which has a generous lens barrel size.

The lens comes with a 58mm diameter screw-in reverse hood, and when attaching a filter, the hood is removed and a 58mm diameter filter is attached in reverse, and then the hood is attached to it.

In addition to the released lens, a lens barrel that works with the rangefinder of a rangefinder camera was also planned, but it was shelved because the precision of the Leica M-type viewfinder was not sufficient to accurately determine the focus when the aperture was fully open. In addition to the Leica M-mount version, a T-mount version with a longer flange back has also been released, which is intended for use with SLR cameras via a T-mount adapter.

3．Add info.

Whether for rangefinders or SLRs, prime lenses with a focal length of 135mm have low market value.

As mentioned in the Elmarit R 135mm for Leica R mount, the main reason is that the focal length is absorbed by zoom lenses and is difficult to use for everyday photography.

The Leica Apo-Teleit M 135mm stands out among prime lenses with a focal length of 135mm. This lens maintains a high price because it is the latest 135mm lens and is not often seen on the used market because new lenses are not sold very often.

When this lens was released, it cost over 100,000 yen and was often seen in camera stores without selling well. However, as of 2024, seven years after its release, it is no longer seen on the used market.

I remember Mr. Miyazaki saying that the Canon Optron fluorite glass used in this lens is very expensive. Additional production may be difficult due to glass procurement issues, so this lens may become a valuable one in the future if lens evaluations are revised.

When used with HASSELBLAD X2D, it covers approximately 92% of the 44 x 33mm sensor in the horizontal direction.

Specification and Competitor

Item	Value	Elmarit R	APO Telyt
Focal length(mm)	135	135	135
Max aperture	2.4	2.8	3.4
Min aperture	16	22	22
Lens Construction	5elements 4groups	5elements 4groups	5elements 4groups
Aperture blade	16	8	10
Min distance(m)	1.6	1.5	←
Length(mm)	122 M mount	93 R mount	104.7 M mount
Max diameter(mm)	60	67	58.5
Filter size(mm)	58	55	49
Weight(g)	366(lens only)	730	450
Release date	2017.05	1968	1998