Contax · Contax/Yashica (C/Y) · From about 1976
Zeiss reckoned a 135mm was perhaps the most wanted interchangeable lens after a wide-angle, and sold this Sonnar for landscapes, nature, family pictures and portraits. It has five elements in four groups, a pull-out hood built into the barrel, a 55mm filter and a 1.6 m close focus, and it weighs about 585 g. Despite the Sonnar name, it isn't a direct descendant of Zeiss's 1932 Sonnar 135. Production started around 1976 and every copy was made in Japan. When Zeiss moved it to the MM mount it also made a minor optical change, so AE and MM copies aren't quite the same lens. MM copies have a green 22 on the aperture ring. On a mirrorless body it's long and fairly heavy, and on APS-C it frames like a 200mm. Pull the hood out whenever you shoot toward bright light.
On a mirrorless camera
It’s a Contax/Yashica (C/Y) lens, and its mount sits 45.5 mm from the film. Every mirrorless mount below sits closer than that, so a plain adapter ring fills the gap and the lens still focuses to infinity. On a smaller sensor it frames tighter, like a longer lens.
Versions
There are two versions, both made in Japan. The AE came first, then the MM, for which Zeiss made a minor change to the optics as well as the aperture mechanism. MM copies have a green 22 on the aperture ring. The Planar 135mm f/2 is a different, faster lens, and the Yashica ML 135mm f/2.8 is a cheaper Yashica-branded one.
Expect the usual age problems of haze, fungus and oily blades. People who service Zeiss C/Y lenses say haze and balsam separation turn up more often in MM lenses than in AE ones.
New to old glass? How to check a used vintage lens covers haze, fungus and the rest in detail.
Buying guide
We'd buy an AEJ copy from a Japan dealer at or under the $197 median, like the one graded Top MINT+++ with its box, pouch and caps at $190 delivered. There are at least 134 for sale, nearly all from Japan dealers, and most ask $170–230 delivered, with AE and MM copies priced about the same. Zeiss made a minor optical change for the MM version, which has a green 22 on the aperture ring, and people who service these see haze and balsam separation more often in MM lenses, so we lean AEJ. Ask for a flashlight photo through the back, one of the blades at f/8 and one with the built-in hood pulled out, and skip the $348 copy from a seller at 96.7% feedback. It needs a Contax/Yashica adapter, and the model page lists the adapters by camera.
$111.84est. delivered
The lowest delivered copy here at $112, an AEJ with both caps in the photo, $33 under any other copy we found. The title makes no grade or test claim, so read the description for faults and ask for a flashlight photo through the back.
Contax Carl Zeiss Sonnar T 135mm f/2.8 AEJ Lens from japan #3033466
![[Top MINT+++ in Box] Contax Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 135mm f/2.8 Lens AEJ C/Y JAPAN](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/KTEAAeSwjW5qItpe/s-l500.jpg)
$189.99est. delivered
An AEJ graded Top MINT+++ by the Japan dealer, with its box, pouch and caps, at $190 delivered, just under the median. Ask for a photo with the hood pulled out and a flashlight photo through the back.
[Top MINT+++ in Box] Contax Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 135mm f/2.8 Lens AEJ C/Y JAPAN
$223.88est. delivered
Titled tested, an AEJ with caps at $224 delivered, inside the band. Ask what the test covered and for a photo of the blades at f/8.
CONTAX Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 135mm F2.8 AEJ C/Y Lens Tested Caps Used Manual
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 14, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 14, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$111.84est. delivered
$69.84 + $42.00 shipping
Buy It Now$69.84
Good buy
AEJ with caps in the photo. No grade or test claim, and well under the rest.
Seller: clownfish_camera_japan
100% positive
Used$189.99est. delivered
$169.99 + $20.00 shipping
Buy It Now$169.99
Good buy
AEJ in its box, with pouch and caps. Top MINT+++ is the Japan dealer's grade.
Seller: classic.camera.japan
99.8% positive
Used$223.88est. delivered
$193.88 + $30.00 shipping
Buy It Now$193.88
Good buy
AEJ titled tested, with caps.
Seller: premiumjapanhub
99.8% positive
![CONTAX Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 135mm f2.8 AEJ MF Lens C/Y Mount [Near MINT] JAPAN](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/KwwAAOSwYAln9ikr/s-l500.jpg)
Used$197.00est. delivered
$179.00 + $18.00 shipping
Buy It Now$179.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
AEJ. Near MINT is the Japan dealer's grade, caps in the photo.
Seller: ma3n0ri
100% positive
![[MINT] Contax Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 135mm F2.8 MMJ Lens for CY Mount From JAPAN](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/sHYAAeSwiy9qxE3P/s-l500.jpg)
Used$199.99est. delivered
$169.99 + $30.00 shipping
Buy It Now$169.99
Our take
MMJ with pouch, caps and a filter in the photo. MINT is the Japan dealer's grade.
Seller: chunmar_99
100% positive
![[NEAR MINT] Contax Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 135mm F2.8 MMJ Lens 3015488](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/oOEAAeSwiiFqfIrR/s-l500.jpg)
Used$200.71est. delivered
$138.71 + $62.00 shipping
Buy It Now$138.71
Our take
MMJ. NEAR MINT is the Japan dealer's grade, caps and a filter in the photo.
Seller: jstf-67
100% positive
Used$204.00delivered
$204.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$204.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
AEJ titled no fungus, no haze. Free shipping from Japan.
Seller: finali40
100% positive
Used$348.00delivered
$348.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$348.00
Check the seller
Seller feedback is 96.7%, at about 1.8 times the median.
Seller: tokai-shop
96.7% positive
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