Zeiss APO Sonnar T* 135mm f/2.0 ZF.2 (FX) - Review / Test Report - Sample Images & Verdict
Lens Reviews - Nikon / Nikkor (full format)
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Introduction
Analysis
Sample Images & Verdict

Page 3 of 3

Sample Shots

The following sample shots were taken with a D3x and RAW-converted via CaptureOne.

Click on a thumbnail to view the original file (opens in a separate window).

Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 125
Focal Length 135.0mm
Aperture: f/7.1
Exposure 1/500s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 125
Focal Length 135.0mm
Aperture: f/4.0
Exposure 1/1000s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 125
Focal Length 135.0mm
Aperture: f/3.2
Exposure 1/1600s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 125
Focal Length 135.0mm
Aperture: f/3.5
Exposure 1/1000s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 125
Focal Length 135.0mm
Aperture: f/7.1
Exposure 1/200s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 125
Focal Length 135.0mm
Aperture: f/5.6
Exposure 1/400s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 125
Focal Length 135.0mm
Aperture: f/2.0
Exposure 1/2500s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 125
Focal Length 135.0mm
Aperture: f/2.8
Exposure 1/1250s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 125
Focal Length 135.0mm
Aperture: f/8.0
Exposure 1/400s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 125
Focal Length 135.0mm
Aperture: f/4.0
Exposure 1/1250s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 125
Focal Length 135.0mm
Aperture: f/2.8
Exposure 1/3200s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 135.0mm
Aperture: f/2.0
Exposure 1/3200s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 200
Focal Length 135.0mm
Aperture: f/5.6
Exposure 1/1250s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 200
Focal Length 135.0mm
Aperture: f/2.5
Exposure 1/3200s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 135.0mm
Aperture: f/4.0
Exposure 1/3200s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 135.0mm
Aperture: f/8.0
Exposure 1/500s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 135.0mm
Aperture: f/8.0
Exposure 1/250s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 135.0mm
Aperture: f/8.0
Exposure 1/640s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 160
Focal Length 135.0mm
Aperture: f/6.3
Exposure 1/2000s
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Model NIKON D3X
ISO Speed 160
Focal Length 135.0mm
Aperture: f/4.5
Exposure 1/2000s

Verdict

The Zeiss APO Sonnar T* 135mm f/2.0 is outstanding and no doubt one of the best lenses we have had in the lab. Sharpness is amazingly high, distortion and CAs are very low, vignetting present wide open, as to be expected from such a fast lens, but not an issue stopped down. Bokeh is very smooth and on top of all that, it's an APO lens, so bokeh fringing is not an issue either.

The lens delivers images with high contrast, and as another pleasant surprise handles backlight extremely well and rarely shows signs of flare.

Mechanically, there is nothing to complain about, the lens is extremely solid and a pleasure to use. The ZF.2 variant doesn't provide weather sealing, however the updated Milvus variant does, at a price, though, literally.

There is no doubt that the Zeiss deserves our highest score of 5 stars as well as the "Highly recommended" rating. Now if only it had AF...

Optical Quality:    
★★★★★
Mechanical Quality:
★★★★★
Price/Performance:
★★★★★

Click here for an explanation of our star ratings


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