Nikon 135mm f/3.5 AIS

[gryphon1911]

I love the rendering of this lens as well as the sharpness. I often fight with myself between whether to take this lens or the awesome 105mm f/2.5 AIS.

 

[rayvonn]

I have the F2.8 version, they're pretty much the same. Wondeful build and renders lovely.

 

[BrianS]

The 135mm F3.5 Ais is a Sonnar formula lens, tracing back to the 1940s in the Nikon line-up. I think it was the last Sonnar formula lens in F-Mount.
The Nikkor-Q 135 F2.8 is a fairly unique formula, not a Sonnar. The newer 135 F2.8 is a Planar, very similar design to the newer 105/2.5.

 

[Ad Dieleman]

I've had a Nikkor 3.5/135 AI for my F3 cameras. It was one of the very few lenses that is actually sharp and contrasty wide-open.

 

[Matero]

I’ll need to pick up my 3.5/135, I’ve used it last with film Nikons to shoot b&w. Don’t have really that good memories of it. But maybe it deserves new life with Df?

 

[rayvonn]

I’ll need to pick up my 3.5/135, I’ve used it last with film Nikons to shoot b&w. Don’t have really that good memories of it. But maybe it deserves new life with Df?

It does

 

[gryphon1911]

The 135mm F3.5 Ais is a Sonnar formula lens, tracing back to the 1940s in the Nikon line-up. I think it was the last Sonnar formula lens in F-Mount.
The Nikkor-Q 135 F2.8 is a fairly unique formula, not a Sonnar. The newer 135 F2.8 is a Planar, very similar design to the newer 105/2.5.

I just snagged an E version of the 135/2.8. Any idea if it shares a similar pedigree with any of the other 135mm manual focus lenses?

I got it to see how it compares against the 135/3.5 that I have.

 

[BrianS]

The Series E 135/2.8 and 100/2.8 are both 4 elements in 4 groups- like the Nikkor-Q 135/2.8.

Be sure to post a thread with the results.

 

[gryphon1911]

The Series E 135/2.8 and 100/2.8 are both 4 elements in 4 groups- like the Nikkor-Q 135/2.8.

Be sure to post a thread with the results.

Will do.

 

[mike3996]

Mine is pre-Ai but apparently the same 4-element Sonnar formula? The performance is electrifying.

 

[gryphon1911]

Mine is pre-Ai but apparently the same 4-element Sonnar formula? The performance is electrifying.

View attachment 253936

I believe you are correct about the optical formula.

I love that lens even more than the 105/2.5.
I hope that Nikon considers making a Z mount 135mm. F2 or 2.8 would satisfy me.

heck I’d love to see Fuji add that as a prime option as well. I crave something a little longer than the 90/2 sometimes.