Nikkor 135mm f/2.8 Ai-S: Don't count it out!

[480sparky]

Recently received a used and rather dirty / beat up Nikkor 135mm f/2.8 Ai-S lens. I didn't have much hope for it looking at it closely. Had more than it's share of front-element scratches, both from use and cleaning, and lots of internal dust. But toss it on a camera, and HOLY COW!.... was I in for a surprise! It's SHARP!!!!! My corneas started to bleed!

So as an acid test, I took some time this morning to saunter around the park across the street to 'test out' this lens, and see if I was imagining things. Nope, I wasn't. It's SHARP!!!!

 

[480sparky]

100% crops:

 

[D-B-J]

I want one!

 

[Derrel]

The 135mm f/2.8 Ai-S is also pretty SMALL. Here it is, shown focused at Infinity, next to the 105mm f/2.5 Ai-S,which is on the far right:

When the 105mm f/2.5 is racked out to minimum focusing distance, it becomes about as long as the 135/2.8 which is at Infinity.

It's really a joy to have a small, light, compact, affordable telephoto lens...none of this 4-pound zoom lens business...just a little lens, with a 52mm diameter lens cap!! A telephoto lens like the 135/2.8 does not totally freak people out the way a big 70-200 does.

 

[cgw]

It's a forgotten focal length that got flattened by the early variable aperture 70-210 zooms that amateurs rushed for. It's about the longest many think is handholdable. The Nikons are nice--both the 2.8 and 3.5. Some might differ but it's a workable portrait lens, especially for street shooting to isolate a subject from a busy background. Also worth shooting on a short ext.tube.

 

[480sparky]

It's a forgotten focal length that got flattened by the early variable aperture 70-210 zooms that amateurs rushed for. It's about the longest many think is handholdable. The Nikons are nice--both the 2.8 and 3.5. Some might differ but it's a workable portrait lens, especially for street shooting to isolate a subject from a busy background. Also worth shooting on a short ext.tube.

Back in the film days, a 35, 50 and 135 were standard issue for many.

 

[cgw]

It's a forgotten focal length that got flattened by the early variable aperture 70-210 zooms that amateurs rushed for. It's about the longest many think is handholdable. The Nikons are nice--both the 2.8 and 3.5. Some might differ but it's a workable portrait lens, especially for street shooting to isolate a subject from a busy background. Also worth shooting on a short ext.tube.

Back in the film days, a 35, 50 and 135 were standard issue for many.

I'm guessing price was also a factor. Recall seeing bins of cheap off-brand junk 70-210 zooms(20 bucks a throw) stacked like firewood in photo stores in downtown Toronto about a decade ago. Obviously many ditched primes for these or simply never bought 'em 20 years earlier. Much like 50s, no major camera maker seemed capable of making a bad 135mm.

 

[Derrel]

135mm at f/3.5 or f/2.8 is pretty EASY to make...it's not a complicated design, and it's short enough that there's no really pressing need for high-spec'd ED or LD glass, and it can usually bring the primary colors of light to pretty close focus, so chromatic aberration is not nearly as "big of a deal" as it is with longer lenses like even 180mm or 200mm.

 

[Patriot]

I love the 135mm focal length, but the only lens that I have is the Pentax Takumar 135mm 2.5. I do believe that Nikon should update the lens sometime in the future along with the 180mm 2.8.

 

[480sparky]

I love the 135mm focal length, but the only lens that I have is the Pentax Takumar 135mm 2.5. I do believe that Nikon should update the lens sometime in the future along with the 180mm 2.8.

The 135 should at least be upgraded to a D lens. Then you could at least gain AF with a body focus motor.

 

[Patriot]

I love the 135mm focal length, but the only lens that I have is the Pentax Takumar 135mm 2.5. I do believe that Nikon should update the lens sometime in the future along with the 180mm 2.8.

The 135 should at least be upgraded to a D lens. Then you could at least gain AF with a body focus motor.

Nikon should worry less about making a new camera body every year and upgrade their lens line. Any manual or slow focusing lens should be remade. That's at least how I feel.

 

[480sparky]

Nikon should worry less about making a new camera body every year and upgrade their lens line. Any manual or slow focusing lens should be remade. That's at least how I feel.

There's a lot of things Nikon should do. But they won't listen to Thom, much less me.

 

[Derrel]

There is a 135mm f/2 AF-D Defocus Control, but it's a lot chubbier than a 135/2.8 AF-D would be. NOT too long ago I saw a Nikon Rumors type image of a NEW, forthcoming 135mm from Nikon...I thought it was an AF-S G-series model...not sure if it was a genuine test lens or a PS fake, but Thom Hogan has mentioned updates to the 135 AF-D Defocus model for over two years now I guess it is...

I'm not really sure that there's that much of a market for a 135mm f/2.8 lens...seems like "most" people prefer a zoom, and 135mm is available in a few zooms. Like cgw mentioned, back in the day the 70-210 and 70-205 and 70-200 f/3.8~4.5 class variable aperture zooms from low-rent makers like Quantaray, Asanuma, Kiron, ad nauseum, sort of killed off the 135, JUST LIKE the way the 35-70mm f/3.5~4.5 or f/3.3~4.5 (whoa--big diff, eh? lol) sort of crushed the 50mm f/1.8 and 50mm f/1.7 normal lenses that HAD BEEN good sellers...

I kinda' think Nikon might be gunning for Canon's 135mm f/2 L with a brand-new f/2.0 G-series 135mm lens that is "high-megapixel-capable". The BRAND-NEW Zeiss 135mm f/1.8 is supposed to be one of the most-perfect lenses available...totally apochromatic, and with GORGEOUS lens drawing and bokeh. I saw some sample portraits done with the new Zeiss on petapixel, and the way the lens "draws" is similar to the 200mm f/2 G-series Nikkor...it's an "exotic" lens, for sure, but it's a 135, so it doesn't weight 7 pounds...

 

[480sparky]

There is a 135mm f/2 AF-D Defocus Control, but it's a lot chubbier than a 135/2.8 AF-D would be. NOT too long ago I saw a Nikon Rumors type image of a NEW, forthcoming 135mm from Nikon...I thought it was an AF-S G-series model...not sure if it was a genuine test lens or a PS fake, but Thom Hogan has mentioned updates to the 135 AF-D Defocus model for over two years now I guess it is...

I'm not really sure that there's that much of a market for a 135mm f/2.8 lens...seems like "most" people prefer a zoom, and 135mm is available in a few zooms. Like cgw mentioned, back in the day the 70-210 and 70-205 and 70-200 f/3.8~4.5 class variable aperture zooms from low-rent makers like Quantaray, Asanuma, Kiron, ad nauseum, sort of killed off the 135, JUST LIKE the way the 35-70mm f/3.5~4.5 or f/3.3~4.5 (whoa--big diff, eh? lol) sort of crushed the 50mm f/1.8 and 50mm f/1.7 normal lenses that HAD BEEN good sellers...

I kinda' think Nikon might be gunning for Canon's 135mm f/2 L with a brand-new f/2.0 G-series 135mm lens that is "high-megapixel-capable". The BRAND-NEW Zeiss 135mm f/1.8 is supposed to be one of the most-perfect lenses available...totally apochromatic, and with GORGEOUS lens drawing and bokeh. I saw some sample portraits done with the new Zeiss on petapixel, and the way the lens "draws" is similar to the 200mm f/2 G-series Nikkor...it's an "exotic" lens, for sure, but it's a 135, so it doesn't weight 7 pounds...

Yeah, I knew about the Defocus 135, but don't feel the need to spend that kind of scratch for one. I can always press my 105mm Micro into service if I want AF. I just like the sharpness and size of this 135, but would like a screw-drive AF.

I think most people 'prefer' a zoom as that's what's shoved down their throats from day one. I doubt any camera maker offers a kit body/lens with primes. So the buying public has been weaned off primes.

 

[Patriot]

I myself rather have primes over zooms in most cases. It makes me move around and change the way I think about a picture. I modded my D7000's focus screen to aid in better manual focusing so I wouldn't mind getting a older 135mm or 180mm. Although AF would be nice too. Maybe someone at the company will wake up and pitch the ideal.