REVIEW: Nikon Nikkor 135mm f/2.8 AI-S Manual Focus Prime Lens 

It's not hard to focus. Photographers for years used this lens with excellent results. Auto-Focus lenses have made wimps out of photographers today.

I finally got lucky and got an extremely immaculate shape Nikon 135 mm F2.8 AI that looks brand new. I have not been having good luck on the secondhand market of Nikon lenses. Most would say they’re in great shape no dust and they would have scratched lenses dust and mold. And get mad when I send it back to them. So getting this lens the other day is a breath of fresh air in my faith on there still being honest people out there selling good lenses. But i use this on my Nikon D800 and my Nikon Z6 and I am truly blown away on how sharp this lens is. It’s making me appreciate those who did not have the fancy cameras we have now and really work on taking steady hand held shots manual focusing. This is going to be my new headshot lens. It has a little bit of a vintage tint to it but I love it. Great video this video sold me on getting this lens. The bokeh is sooooo creamy.

One thing I've learned while sharpening my manual focusing skills is that it makes you much better at tracking action/wildlife when you DO have AF. It trains you to see quicker and adjust where the focus is.

the BEST thing a digital photographer can do is study film photography .... too many people just fire a 100 shots of the same thing ... film makes you work and be a bit stingy ... develops the eye

fungui are not a problem with it, it's very easy to unscrew it and clean up. i've got mine for 35€ ! cleaned it and pretty happy to have it (i've got a bit beaten 80-200 f2.8 for 80€ but it soo big to carry around, so i mostly go on vacations with tokina 11-16 2.8, 35 f1.8, 18-200vr1 and now with135 2.8 + d7100 and it covers 99% of my needs)

I love this lens! Although it’s nice to have the image stabilization of the Sony, these lenses work best on higher-end Nikon bodies. You’ll get full color matrix metering from the aperture feeler coupling, and you get a very accurate and easy to use manual focus assist with Nikon bodies! I get way more keepers with this lens attached to my pro Nikon than even my lower-end Nikon body.

If you're getting more blurred shots than in focus shots, try shooting at a higher aperture. Not every shot needs a blurred background, especially moving subjects. 135mm is going to have a fairly narrow field of view as is, now compound it at f2.8 and it's going to be hard to nail moving subjects. Swing her up to f5.6 to f8 and you'll have better luck, just without as much bokeh.

I almost sold mine last week, but I discovered focus confirmation dot and learned how to set it up as a non CPU lens and as if yesterday, I've decided never to sell it.

I have the nikkor QC auto f2.8 135mm with factory ai ring installed in mint condition, it is the version prior to the one in this video. The lens is really sharp with good color rendition and contrast. I keep my shutter speed up and aperture stopped down a stop or two when possible and I get clear in focus pictures every shot.

Yes, the image quality on this lens is really good considering the price that I have paid for it. I don't mind the manual focusing, it allows me to slow down and think about how i want to compose my image.

Bracket manual focus. Set the general focus point, shoot at max fps move focus ring to follow motion. Works great with a Nikon D4s. You're going to get at least a couple usable shots.

I love mine. I couldn't afford one 40 years ago but I can now!

It’s good to slow down and take pics with learning in mind ...great review

Not if you stop it down and set the distance right. I find I have a surprisingly high number of keepers when I go that route and I am a blind hack.

This is the best lens ever believe me guys.It is hard to work without autofocus,but when you ger a good focus this lens gives you stunning images!

I bought this lens a few years ago , it really is a beautiful lens . The Bokeh is gorgeous .

With focus peaking and punch-in focus nailing focus with manual lenses is quite manageable. That and you can take hundreds of shots at 10 frames a second. Spare a thought for the original owner of the lens who had to focus by lining up a prism, only had 36 shots and had to crank a lever after each shot.

I use my ais glass on my digital cameras. Sharp glass and works great!!

but but but but but , IZ IT SHARP? :P

Thanks for your thoughts. And Ken Rockwell too. I'm just buying one, arrives in couple days...yippee Regards from London 😷 🌈

will this work as a walk about or portrait lens on a d7100 or family shoots outdoors since it's a crop body?

I appreciate your appreciation of the aperture ring. I had to go back and hear the clicks again :)

If you want to shoot the same crop in APS-C it'll have to be a 85 or 90 mm I guess. You can always switch to manual on a modern lens too. The cost of film and development limits the analog experience for me. But I try to do at least a film/month - sometimes more. The only 135mm I have now is the RE Topcor f 3.5 . Thx for the review.

Loved to see the nikon nikon 300mm f2.8 AI-S and the nikon 400mm 3.5 AI-S manual reviews on here if possible

Thanks I appreciate the quick review I'm looking at one of these that's been de-clicked and the focus stiffened up a bit, Sounds like a good lens to get serviced back to original.

Oldies are often goodies. My Nikkor 80-200 f/2.8 push pull is built like a tank and heavy as hell, but other than VR, I'd put it up against just about anyone else's lens. I also have an old Tokina AT-X 90mm f/2.8 macro manual-focus lens. Again, built like a tank and heavy, but it's plenty sharp,

Also consider the 105mm f/2.5 - a bit smaller and lighter, but no less lovely. My 1974 pre-AI version is fantastic on mirrorless Nikon Z bodies (or any other, I imagine). Nice review, thanks!

It's tiny for a 135, but Nikons lenses are sharp w/ bad bokeh. The only Nikon lenses I've owned that didn't look like hell when they were shot wide open were the manual focus H 50 2, and the 85 1.8. I gave up on them, and have a 1965 Leica R 90 2.8 on my Nikon N8008s w/ a Leitax adapter. Superb optics, beautiful bokeh, 3-D imaging, and constructed better than NASA could make! It will blow away any short tele lens except the 90 2 Summicrons. The Elmarits can be found for $400-$500, the Summicrons are considerably more. They can have haze and or fungus, they're old, so look at the pics closely before buying, A clean one will give you beautiful photos from a high quality lens that will last a lifetime. None of the newer lenses from anyone can match old Leica glass.

Focus with Live View and Magnifier : Old school, manual lens a way of life, if found difficult to focus, use the live view and magnifier if needed. The rendition of this lens has not been mentioned that it excels in. Take the rabbit ears off and replace screws.

Great sample shots, really puts the review over the top, just got a great one from Japan, payed more but near mint, got the Pentax A series 135-f2.8, nice lens also.

I purchased a copy of this excellent and well priced lens on eBay. I also use image stabilization as my tripod never lets me down.

Good for filmmaker

It shouldn't be difficult to focus for you since you were using a Sony A7. I haven't had any issue focusing with my Nikon Z6.

Love love this lens ....it’s sharp as a tack ...it’s seriously sharp ...it’s a simply must have I have used it for landscapes ...I’ve used it for portraits ....I’ve used for so many shots It’s a beauty ..yup it’s going to improve you as a photographer. I paid $200 for it. It’s on a Nikon d7500 for me and it’s beautiful

Hello there, I would like to know what's the difference between this... The ai, non ai...or 135mm 2.8 Q...

I have several vintage Nikkor lenses, some of them pre ai. I use the ai lenses professionally to this day on suitable Nikon bodies, and the non modified ones on my micro four thirds cameras. The only problem I find with them is NOT to do with the fact they're manual focusing, but that they generally don't focus as close as modern lenses. The exception to this is my 55mm micro Nikkor, a copy of which should be in everybody's camera bag!

This lents works for wedding events?

I own a lot of AI lenses, but I want to try sony cameras, which adapter do you recommend?

I used one on a Gh4 for a live music event and it's fantastic.

Focus breathing test if you still have the lens please?

Cool video! Just got my self this lens with what seems to be the same adapter and I notice that I can't really hit infinity focus... I'd love to know if you have the same issu and if there is a way around this problem? Cheers

Hi, thanks for showing pictures taken with this lens.

I’m wondering When you turn your apature ring can you see the blades opening and closing or is it done with the when the shutter is pressed

can i use with nikon F mount?

hi, love ur videos. Maybe a tutorial on how to take great photos both indoor and outdoor, more specifically with cannon rebel

Have you tried this with your techart adapter?

you have a f32 so thats a K model converted ? I love mine.

Hi what adapter are u using,pls help,thanks.

I just bought one and my has rattle noise (but when attached no noise) and when shooting it kinda vibrate... is it weird or normal?

What kind of adaptor would I need to use this on a Canon Eos camera. Thanks.

How was sports photograph in the days when there was no auto focus?

What's the difference between the 135mm ai and ais? Also, are they radioactive? Thanks

What adapter what I need to use the lens for the Sony A7riii?

Nikon glass is really great.

I have this AI version. Sharp and low 2nd hand price. :)

Manual focus difficult for moving objects lol ?? I'm shooting manual for more than 20 yrs with a 70-200 2.8 , moslty concerts and portraits

Will this work on a d5300?

pleas did it need adapter to use ai-s lenses in d5200

Это же нужно умудриться так хуёво снять на прекрасное стекло... Просто маг...

Moving objects would not be much of a problem, IF the viewfinder would have a split focus ring. But it hasn't and the Live View method is slowwwwww

Geez, Imagine have to focus on a moving subject! ))) Don’t know how we sports photographers from the ‘70’s and ‘80’s survived!

Would this work on a D750?

Is it macro??

Viewed by recommendation of Frederic Boving. Well done video.

Useful to learn how to focus trap...

Is that Birmingham Zoo???

Nick-on, not Nykon and especially not Nykor. Do you call Italy Eyetallee? Fuck sake.

I have a Nikon D500, I can raise the Aperture and shoot away

Boycott plastic

No wonder they're going up in price. Y'all are gentrifying photography.

Q merda

uuuuf that gringos jergon.."naikon" "naikkor"..the brand is Nikon-Nikkor (Neekon-Neekkor)...the way you say it is a huge cacofonía. .change it!!!

Hello Sir can I use in nikon dslr directly without adapter?

Can I use this on a d3200

Will this mount on Nikon D800