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REVIEWS:  Manufacturers:  Nikon:  35mm Primes:
135mm f/2.8 Nikkor AI-S

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Nikon 135mm f/2.8 Nikkor AI-S


 
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Rating
Reviewed by: 

diddi_jo

( Professional)

Review Date
January 14, 2009

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
2.67 of 5,
3 votes

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Review 1 of 12

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:

A fine and sharp lens with a build quality superior to most modern equipment. Works well for portraits when using film or FX format. Quite useble on DX format and relatively easy to focus on modern cameras compared to some other large aperture MF lenses. Sharpness is good for most uses. Chromatic abberrations can be seen in high contrast scenes and loss of detail is obvious for distant subjects. If you stick to close to medium distances, this little lens gives impeccable results and is a joy to use.

This lens is ideal for those using older Nikon film cameras as well as those who seek high IQ medium telephoto lens on DX cameras, where the angle of view is similar to a 200 mm lens. It used to be marketed even for indoor sports. However, by todays standards, it won't stand up to equally fast and crisp modern zooms with VR.

Bougnt this lens new in Singapore, approximately 10 years ago, and have used it frequently on various photojournalistic assignments, as well as for portraits. The 70-200 f2.8 VR has now more or less replaced it in my camera bag.

Strengths:

*Excellent build quality
*High sharpness and contrast for close and medium distances
*Works well for available light portraiture
*Modestly priced on 2nd hand market

Weaknesses:

*Chromatic abberrations can be distracting
*Loss of detail and contrast for distant subjects

Similar Products Used:

Nikkor 70-200 mm f2.8 VR
Nikkor 70-300 mm f3.5 ED

Customer Service:

I have never had to send this lens in for service.



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Rating
Reviewed by: 

faisalee

( Intermediate)

Review Date
December 26, 2007

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5,
2 votes

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Review 2 of 12

Price Paid:  $120.00 from eBay

Summary:

Great little lens.

I have the famous 105mm f2.5 AI-S and the 135mm is equal in performance if not better.

The OOF area of the image also known as "Bokeh" is very pleasing to me.

Sharpness and contrast are also good!

Strengths:

Sharpness
Bokeh
Built Quality
Built-in Lens Hood

Did I say "Sharpness"

Weaknesses:

Non for the price I paid ;-)

Similar Products Used:

105mm f2.5 AI-S
105mm f2.5 Auto-P
135mm f2.8 E-Series

Customer Service:

Never needed!



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Rating
Reviewed by: 

jameslohrey

( Professional)

Review Date
February 18, 2006

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
1 votes

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Review 3 of 12

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:

This lens is relatively small and light, but like all the other prime Nikkor telephoto lenses, it is tack sharp wide open. I like this lens a lot. When I use a telephoto lens, I want my images to look like I am using a telephoto lens. The 85 mm and the 105 are also excellent lenses, but sometime they look like I am just used a normal lens. The focusing on this lens is smooth and deliberate.

Strengths:

Shooting wide open, this lens will beat the snot out the fussy zoom lenses.



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Rating
Reviewed by: 

William Kazak

( Professional)

Review Date
January 26, 2005

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.67 of 5,
3 votes

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Review 4 of 12

Price Paid:  $300.00 from Central Camera

Summary:

One of the best. Great speed in a very compact design. Outdoor candids are super. The only lens to take with you. Very little flare unless you point it right into the sun.

Strengths:

Can throw out a background on a portrait outdoors very easily. A gem in the sharpness department. Great speed.

Weaknesses:

Not Auto focus.

Similar Products Used:

Most all Nikon lenses.

Customer Service:

Not needed.



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Rating
Reviewed by: SteveZ
 (Intermediate)

Review Date
August 13, 2003

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Rate this review?

Review 5 of 12

Price Paid:  $275.00 from Ken Hansen New York

Summary:

I purchased this lens for use with my Nikon auto focus cameras. I had it modified by Rolland Elliot. Rolland put a chip in it, which allows for full matrix metering (not "D") metering with my N80 camera. I love the lens. It is, as many writers would say, tack sharp at all f-stops. It is sturdy, but certainly hand holdable. The 52mm filter size is a plus as I do not have to lug about multiple filter sets when I use the camera with my other prime lenses (all of which use 52mm filters). When I combine the lens with a 1.4x tele-extender, I wind up with a sharp 190 mm f4 lens. Finally, it is a great "city lens" for taking candid photos.

Strengths:

Sharp images, sturdy construction, focal length that fits my style of photography.

Weaknesses:

None for me.

Similar Products Used:

Leica 135 mm "R" lens.

Customer Service:

No experience on this lens. Otherwise, I have had good experiences with Nikon.



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