135/2.0 AIS + D300 - User Experiences & Opinions?

<p >I've an opportunity to purchase a reasonably-priced good condition 135/2 AIS that I'd be using with my D300.<br>

Primary usage would be for candid situations where either the light is low or I just plain want to isolate my subject from a distance.<br>

My subjects would primarily be my two girls during some of their school activities where they'd be relatively stationary (like up on a dimly-lit stage). I already have a 80-200/2.8 AFS, but sometimes it's just too big and heavy for some occasions (not that the 135/2 is tiny by any means) and the extra stop of light gathering capability would be very nice to have.<br>

My D300 has a KatzEye screen, so MF is doable (although I need more practice and it needs to be calibrated).<br>

Any opinions on how this lens fares IQ-wise on the D300 at or near wide open for close-in as well as reasonably distant subjects would be greatly appreciated (as well as samples). I'd also occasionally use this for landscape-type stuff if I had it with me.<br>

BTW I've searched and did not find a lot of sample images with this lens and body combination.<br>

Thanks - John</p>

<p>The 135/2 is not a small lens. In case you didn't know that.</p>

<p>Image quality should be good, but not overwhelmingly so, when the lens is set wide open. You might look into the 105 DC or 135 DC Nikkors instead, if you're considering a moderately long focal length in combination with a fast maximum aperture.</p>

<p >The 135 F2.0 is a magnificent piece of glass. I had this combo (including the KatzEye) for a while and found that the lens gave me similar results as my AF85 1.4 at f2.0 when focused perfectly.</p>

<p > </p>

<p >However my eyes are aging along with the rest of me and the percentage of keepers was much smaller than the AF85 due to focus problems so I sold it. I am 100% AF now.</p>

<p > </p>

<p >Bjorn does not like it much, but I did not find the problems he experienced. If you can routinely focus it then it is a wonderful lens to have. You should check on the depth of field at f2.0 and see whether that fits with your planned use.</p>

<p>Thanks guys!<br>

I've got a 105/2.5 AIS (a recent re-acquisition) as well as a 108/2.8 AF and was looking for something in-between. Plus this 135/2 AIS is being offered for $399 - it's not mint, but the glass is in great shape. I can't spend the $$ for a DC version. I've not heard good things about the f/2.8 version and the f/3.5 version, although reported to be quite sharp wide open, may not be fast enough for what I want to do with the lens.<br>

Bjorn - your webs site is the first I go to when considering a lens, but sometimes you have different experiences that I've found - I've always attributed this to sample variation (your or my sample) and the fact that I'm using a D300 (however MOST of the time my findings are in line with yours). So sometimes I take a gamble and go against your advice, but I always consider your opinion with a heavy emphasis.<br>

I also wonder about how some lenses interact with more recent CMOS sensors as opposed to CCDs - my D80 seems to have a different interaction with lenses than my D300.<br>

I do know that it is a big piece of glass (although I've never held one). I may give it a go and if I don't like it I may sell it with a small loss or break even.<br>

There are some real AIS gems out there - my most recent is a 24/2.8 AIS that generally get's poor reviews, but, as I found with my 20/2.8 AF-D, once you clean up the CA it's an extremely capable compact lens (in fact I was just using it at my kids 1st grade Valentine's party at school where I didn't want to use a flash).<br>

What I have found on the net about the 135/2 is that its performance declines at near focus wide open, but very much improves farther away (consistent with Bjorn's writings) - what's not consistent is how sharp (or not sharp) it is when used wide open. The D300 with it's high pixel density is pretty demanding for lens sharpness.<br>

Thanks again for the responses - I'll let you know what happens.<br>

John</p>

<p>Oh yes, I forgot to mention that I'll need to sell my 300/4.5 ED-IF AIS to get the 135/2 AIS. Although the 300/4.5 is nice, I've found that my 70-300AFS VR is almost as good, but only when viewing images at 100%. Sad to see this lens go as it is a real piece of craftsmanship.<br>

John</p>

<p>John<br>

I would strongly recommend this combination, for stagework it's second to none I'm not really an expert but I do take pictures and I would say 100% go for it, I do not have the Katzeye screen but even with my old tired eyes I managed to focus it in poor light. I had a 85mm 1.4 a 135mm F2 and a 1802.8 one had to go and it was the 135 not sure if I made the right decision but my advice is go for it. The beauty of the internet market is one can dip in and out of used lenses and not lose too much. Last thing If you get this lens shoot it wide open no point in having it if you don't<br>

Steve </p><div></div>

<p>one more</p><div></div>

<p>The 135/2 AIS is an excellent choice. I use mine on a D2X which is very similar to the D300. I will try to post some examples later. I have used it for indoor events, sports, and landscapes and have been very happy with it. I have not tested it extensively against my benchmark lens, the 200/2 AI, but it has provided very good results and is of course a vastly easier lens to shoot with. I have also used it with the TC-16A which enabled me to pan race cars while maintaining autofocus. When testing it with the TC-16A I do remember needing to stop it down to f2.8 at least and more ideally at f4 to obtain the same sharpness as the 135/2 on it's own wide open.</p>

<p>I too took a chance on it, against Bjorn's opinions, for a lighter, smaller alternative to carrying the 200/2, and also got it for a very good price. </p>

<p>John -<br>

Yes please do post some example pics.<br>

- John</p>

<p>Hi John,<br /> I would like to second John Crowe´s opinion. The 135/2 AiS is just excellent. I use it on a D300, D200 and a Fuji S5Pro to my complete satisfaction. It´s heavy but short and a real "fat boy", so it balances and handles very well mounted on the above mentioned cameras, especially when fitted with a grip.<br /> Because of its very shallow DOF wide open and MF it´s of course not the best lens for moving objects. But when you can take your time to focus properly the results are very good even wide open. This Lens is one of my favorites in dimly lit envinronments like concerts, readings, theater and other cultural events.<br /> See below three examples, two of them are taken with the S5 Pro, the third one with the D200.<br /> Greetings<br /> Kay<br /> <br /> <img src="http://www.archiv-heine.com/images/2009_0319_kch_salzau0008acr.jpg" alt="" /> <br /> Fuji S5 Pro, Nikkor AiS 135/2.0<br /> <br /> <img src="http://www.archiv-heine.com/images/2009_0319_kch_salzau0013acr.jpg" alt="" /> <br /> Fuji S5 Pro, Nikkor AiS 135/2.0</p>

<p><img src="http://www.archiv-heine.com/images/kch_20091015_032nx.jpg" alt="" /> <br /> Nikon D200, Nikkor AiS 135/2.0 (slightly out of focus... yes, yes...)</p>

<p>While i have not used it on a D300 I do have a 135mm f2.0 AIS and it's been a very good lens on myF3 or F100, but as mentioned...it is heavy. <br>

Another low light option you might consider is the 85mm f1.4 AIS, although it may not offer the reach you need. When I can get by with the shorter lens I tend to use the 85 more often than the 135 because it is both faster and lighter. If 135mm is what you need I think the f2.0 version is the one to have.</p>

<p>Not as fast but the 180 AF f 2.8 is very good</p>

<p>Nikon 135mm f2 AIS and Nikon D2X. ISO 100, 1/400, f4, manual focus. Handheld.</p><div></div>

<p>Extemely heavily cropped from my daughter's graduation. Shot in the evening inside the cafeteria from about 35 feet. Nikon 135mm f2 AIS on a D2X with flash. I have lost the exif data. Likely ISO 100, f2, 1/90s.</p><div></div>

<p>Thanks for the pics John - Let's hope I get a good one since I just bought it.<br>

- John</p>