These are Nikons best little vintage lenses. I have the 2.8 version. You can get real nice creamy background blur with it. I mistakenly bought the series E version of the 2.8 Well, I fell right in love with it so much, that I figured if the Nikkor version was better, I'd go ahead and grab one. Well I tried the AI version first. I got a bad copy. The E blew it out of the water all through the Aperture range. I sold it, probably slight loss but it's ok, then I grabbed an AI-S copy and got a good one. Well, wouldn't know, I had to pixel peep to see ANY every so, tiny increased sharpness over the E series, and even then only from 2.8 to f4 and the same sharpness from f4+. AND overall the image quality was VERY flat and low contrast compared the the E! So I sold the Nikkor and kept the E! hahaha It's literally far better than the Nikkor. I bet no one knows this but me. My copy of the E is excellent and though it's lower element count, I guess sometimes less is more! Some things I notices is, the AI and Ai-s (same optically) is slightly larger lens all the way around. Can't tell if the E isn't right there beside it and the all 3 have different focus throw lengths. If I recall right, the AI was the long throw, the AIS the shortest and the E was right in the middle of the three. Optically, the E produces far superior image quality than the 2 Nikkor copies I tried and both were sold as and did appear to be "excellent" grade copies too. I don't think I'd mess with the 3.5 version. The 2.8's produce blur so nice, and the prices are WAY too comparable. Not enough savings. If the 3.5 was for around $75 I might try one or if one turned up cheaper on a yard sale or something. The creamy blur is just so nice on 'em.
I got mine for about the same price. I got the 2.8. It's legendary and also it'll be a nice thing to hold on to for years to come as mirrorless is now pretty much the norm in the photography field. My goal is to collect quite a few legendary glass to keep.
The "sloppy stop" you refer to right after f3.5 is, of course, f4. And yes, I've owned both the 3.5 & 2.8 versions of the 135 lens. Still own the 3.5 Ai-S today. I prefer the 3.5 due to its smaller, more compact size. When given the option, I seem to go with the slower/slowest versions of a given lens. I also went with Hasselblad in digital rather than Nikon, as I've always preferred larger medium format systems over 35mm. As such, I do not own a digital Nikon body, and only have a couple of vintage 1971 F2 film cameras available for mounting my small collection of vintage Nikkors.
I own and use a Nikkor 135mm f/3.5 AIS. It is a great lens that produces great images. However, I do not use it often because I use it primarily as a backup to my Nikkor 135mm f/2 AIS.
I have this one and the 2.8 - both are really great lenses (you got a great deal too)
Nice buddy. Which has better contrast? Thanks for commenting
These are Nikons best little vintage lenses. I have the 2.8 version. You can get real nice creamy background blur with it. I mistakenly bought the series E version of the 2.8
Well, I fell right in love with it so much, that I figured if the Nikkor version was better, I'd go ahead and grab one. Well I tried the AI version first. I got a bad copy. The E blew it out of the water all through the Aperture range. I sold it, probably slight loss but it's ok, then I grabbed an AI-S copy and got a good one. Well, wouldn't know, I had to pixel peep to see ANY every so, tiny increased sharpness over the E series, and even then only from 2.8 to f4 and the same sharpness from f4+. AND overall the image quality was VERY flat and low contrast compared the the E! So I sold the Nikkor and kept the E! hahaha It's literally far better than the Nikkor. I bet no one knows this but me. My copy of the E is excellent and though it's lower element count, I guess sometimes less is more!
Some things I notices is, the AI and Ai-s (same optically) is slightly larger lens all the way around. Can't tell if the E isn't right there beside it and the all 3 have different focus throw lengths. If I recall right, the AI was the long throw, the AIS the shortest and the E was right in the middle of the three. Optically, the E produces far superior image quality than the 2 Nikkor copies I tried and both were sold as and did appear to be "excellent" grade copies too.
I don't think I'd mess with the 3.5 version. The 2.8's produce blur so nice, and the prices are WAY too comparable. Not enough savings. If the 3.5 was for around $75 I might try one or if one turned up cheaper on a yard sale or something. The creamy blur is just so nice on 'em.
Thanks for commenting.
I have a copy of this lens. You are going to love it.
I do I do. Thanks for commenting Ramesh
I got mine for about the same price. I got the 2.8. It's legendary and also it'll be a nice thing to hold on to for years to come as mirrorless is now pretty much the norm in the photography field. My goal is to collect quite a few legendary glass to keep.
Noice buddy! Thanks for commenting
The "sloppy stop" you refer to right after f3.5 is, of course, f4. And yes, I've owned both the 3.5 & 2.8 versions of the 135 lens. Still own the 3.5 Ai-S today. I prefer the 3.5 due to its smaller, more compact size. When given the option, I seem to go with the slower/slowest versions of a given lens.
I also went with Hasselblad in digital rather than Nikon, as I've always preferred larger medium format systems over 35mm. As such, I do not own a digital Nikon body, and only have a couple of vintage 1971 F2 film cameras available for mounting my small collection of vintage Nikkors.
Thanks for watching and commenting 🤙🤙🙌🙌
I own and use a Nikkor 135mm f/3.5 AIS.
It is a great lens that produces great images.
However, I do not use it often because I use it primarily as a backup to my Nikkor 135mm f/2 AIS.
A back up to for this era of lenses is a dust collector these things were built TOUGH! Haha thanks for watching
i have one… i love it
🙌
I loved this lens until it was recently stolen from my house. I am getting another mint lens ( the same ).
Ugh….sorry friend