Yashica 135mm f/2.8 Auto Yashinon DX M42 Screw Mount Lens Review

The Yashica 135mm f/2.8 Auto Yashinon DX is a classic M42 screw-mount telephoto lens from the manual focus era. With its f/2.8 maximum aperture, it offers a reasonable balance between light gathering and portability for a 135mm prime. The M42 mount makes it adaptable to many modern mirrorless cameras via inexpensive adapters, and the focal length is well suited for portraiture, detail work, and selective framing.

At just $41 in bargain condition from KEH, this lens represents an accessible entry point for shooters exploring vintage glass. Bargain-grade items from KEH typically show cosmetic wear and may have minor optical imperfections that do not significantly impact image quality, but you should expect signs of age. The Auto Yashinon DX line was considered solid mid-tier glass in its day, capable of sharp results when stopped down. This particular lens is best viewed as a budget way to experiment with manual focus telephoto shooting on adapted bodies, rather than a precision optical tool.