Avanar 135mm f2.8 - a rebranded Chinon? - lens review and test

[@Maartenols]

Just bought this lens in a 2nd shop for 15 euros. Thanks for the upload, it was helpfu!

[@MarcoAries]

Thanks for the support, have fun with it!

[@kainbre]

I love chinon lenses. Never heard of this one. Great video as always. Zdravo Marko :)

[@MarcoAries]

Funny enough, one of the first vintage lenses I tried was a Chinon that a friend found online, with beautiful huge circular flares, but I've never found one for myself 😅

[@Sosukz]

grande marco! Wanted to try this, is it good for macro?

[@MarcoAries]

Well, not really, it is not a macro lens, you would have to use extension rings

[@acecreates]

Great video and fantastic review! I've just got some vintage 135 lenses.. so interesting to use! Thanks for sharing!

[@MarcoAries]

I like 135s, I find it a very useable focal length! And they usually are pretty cheap too 😉

[@Tamirkaas]

Hello Marco, As I was looking for info on the big net and could not find anything on the lens, I came across a mentioning of being a Chinon by comparison with other Brandname examples. They are identical to this one and all are Chinon lenses. I own a copy of it but do not use it often. It is in mint condition and has the Nikon mount on it. It is my backup lens for when I do not want to damage my better Carl Zeiss, Konica, or Pentax Lenses in wether or sandy environments. Good job done with your testing of this lens, thanks!

[@MarcoAries]

Thank you for watching and sharing your experience!

[@tonyjones99]

Great vidio Marco. I have the Prinzflex 135mm f 2.8, and I think it's the same lense.

[@MarcoAries]

Thank you! It might be, yes, so many different names!

[@cameratrav]

Thanks Marco, you encouraged me to find my copy of this Avanar lens and try some natural light portraits yesterday, it also works well enough on Sony full frame. I think you tested on Sony APSC?

[@MarcoAries]

Correct, on an a6500, bud I'd like to get a full frame, when I can 😉

[@film.fiasco]

Great video!

[@MarcoAries]

Thank you!

[@henri9061]

what city were the sample photos taken from? great photos btw

[@MarcoAries]

Thanks! It's Udine, a small city in the north east of Italy

[@ahmet_uygur]

hi, do you think i should choose yashica or avanar?

[@MarcoAries]

Yashicas should be easier to find and more consistent in image quality, but if you are adapting to digital you might wanna consider Konica Hexanon, Asahi Pentax-M and Canon FD lenses. 135mm from all of them can usually be found for less than 50€/$ and they are better than Yashica and Avanar, in my opinion

[@ahmet_uygur]

@@MarcoAries thank you

[@xXLegendXx70]

Good video. Are you danish or what is up with the danish flags on the photos? ^^

[@MarcoAries]

Thanks. That's just a print I've found at a flea market, I'm actually Italian.

[@xXLegendXx70]

@@MarcoAries ah that is funny. But isn’t it something with the old Italians had a flag like the danish flag?

[@MarcoAries]

Not that I know of, no. There has been a number of variations in the years, but always red-white-green. A couple of the regional flags are white with a red cross or red with a white cross, so maybe one of those.

[@ohjajohh]

Good review as always

[@MarcoAries]

Thank you!

[@starlight25ism]

looks like a " Rexatar" 135mm that i have, regards.

[@MarcoAries]

First time hearing that name too, there were so many third party brands 😅

[@misteragb7558]

I have the Chinon version, hate it to be honest, I have a no name Primax 135mm f3.5 and it's way sharper

[@MarcoAries]

You never know what you're gonna get, with third party lenses, some are horrible and some are great. To me, that's part of the fun 😄 Chinon seems to be quite inconsistent, many people love them and many hate them

[@philhodgkinson1460]

I know a prinzflex 135mm f 2.8 is a chinon..

[@MarcoAries]

Manufacturers like Chinon and Tokina made lenses under so many different names, but it's the first time I hear if Prinzflex 🙂