Chinon's 135mm f/2.8 — a well-built Japanese M42 portrait telephoto prime.
The Chinon 135mm f/2.8 is a Japanese short-telephoto prime made in M42 mount by Chinon, a maker of M42 SLRs and lenses. It was the portrait-length telephoto of the Chinon screw-mount range, a common and well-built vintage 135mm of the era.
This is a manual-focus M42 screw-mount lens with a 135mm focal length and a maximum aperture of f/2.8. Focus and aperture are set by hand on the barrel, with an automatic diaphragm. It is an all-metal short telephoto. Detailed element figures are not asserted here beyond the verified focal length and aperture, following the accuracy standard.
At 135mm f/2.8 the lens is a classic portrait and short-telephoto tool, giving compressed perspective and good subject isolation. Chinon telephotos render cleanly with pleasant out-of-focus areas, suiting portraits and distant detail, and the moderate speed makes it a versatile everyday long lens for adapted use.
Used copies are common and affordable among vintage 135mm telephotos. Inspect for haze, fungus and cleaning marks, confirm the aperture blades are clean and oil-free, and check the aperture-ring and focus feel. Verify the M42 mount before purchase. An M42 adapter makes it an affordable manual portrait telephoto on mirrorless.