Nikon Nikkor 135mm f/2.8 AI-s

TelephotoMount: Nikon F135mmf/2.8 – f/32
Introduced: 1981
Nikon Nikkor 135mm f/2.8 AI-s
Image: Bubba73 (Jud McCranie) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Nikkor 135mm f/2.8 AI-S is Nikon's medium telephoto prime in the AI-S manual-focus lineup — the focal length traditionally favored for "tight portrait" and "stage candid" work where 105mm doesn't provide enough working distance and 180mm is unwieldy. The f/2.8 maximum aperture is appropriate for the focal length without making the lens excessively large.

Key features

  • 135mm focal length on 35mm full-frame
  • f/2.8 maximum aperture
  • 52mm filter thread
  • AI-S aperture coupling
  • 5-element design — clean tele-photo formula
  • Compact telephoto — not as large as 180mm f/2.8

Use case + rendering

  • Tight portrait, stage candid, distant landscape detail
  • Sharp wide-open at center; very sharp by f/4
  • The traditional "tele portrait" focal length

Compatible bodies

  • All Nikon F-mount manual-focus bodies: F through FM3a and F6

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