Zeiss APO Sonnar 135mm f/2 (ZF.2) Review

Portrait:

135mm was one of the most popular longer focal lengths for many years. It makes a good relation between reach, size, speed and magnification. Today, with different size sensors, very fast tele-zooms and large resolution allowing more aggressive cropping, it is slightly less attractive, and should I say, less versatile.

At the beginning of this review, I mentioned that it is my favorite focal length for people shots, but at the same time there are not many other situation where I would grab one of my 135’s. Zeiss APO Sonnar 135/2, due to short minimum focus distance and nice magnification, opens new possibilities.

Getting back to portraits, I was impressed with Zeiss APO Sonnar 135mm f/2 during testing period, but as usual with such a fast and long lens, manual focusing is very demanding. DOF is so shallow, that it is hard to get eye in perfect focus and to have both eyes sharp, model should stand parallel to the focus plane.

Somewhat easier was to focus on Sony A7 cameras, because of the focus magnification, but acquiring focus is not the only challenge there… Even slightest movement of the subject, will cause blur problems.

Here is an example how shallow DOF is

You probably know all this, but following comparisons are thus rather informative than exact, because in order to give at least basic idea about how those lenses compare, I had to shot hand-held in variable lighting conditions and my dear models weren’t always stone still.

Normally, I would also post process all models photo (just like one above), because girls deserves it, being so kind to fit and make-up themselves on set and to work hard all day for just symbolic fee, in order to help verybiglobo.com and its readers.

They are professional models and they expect their images to be professionally retouched.

In this case however, I will make an exception and show you unprocessed comparative images, because both girls are very nice and have solid, smooth skin.

Here is first set of comparison images:

Nikon D800E + Zeiss APO Sonnar 135mm f/2 at f/2

Nikon D800E + Samyang 135mm f/2 ED UMC at f/2

Nikon D800E + Nikkor DC AF-D 135mm f/2 at f/2

At the first sight, we can notice that Zeiss and Samyang looks very similar at this image size, while Nikkor seems to be less sharp but also has smoothest bokeh. Nikkor was indeed set to defocus of f/2.8 toward rear.

Let’s take a look at the focus zone crops

Zeiss vs Samyang at f/2

Zeiss vs Nikkor at f/2 (Nikkor set to DC 2.8 Rear)

Zeiss and Samyang are very close IMHO, with Zeiss having barely notable advantage in terms of sharpness. (This could be also due to the slightly missed focus or movement of the model. In any case, difference is field irrelevant). Nikkor is significantly softer at the focus zone, but on the other hand, model has dreamy look, soft skin and pleasing tones without any post processing.

Now let’s take a look at the bokeh zone crops

Zeiss vs Samyang at f/2

Zeiss vs Nikkor at f/2 (Nikkor set to DC 2.8 Rear)

Nikkor has smoothest bokeh but also most pronounced CA (Spherochromatism in this example). Samyang has slightly smoother bokeh than Zeiss in this situation, but both lenses are very similar in that respect.

Here is another set of comparisons with Nikkor set to neutral DC.

Nikon D800E + Zeiss APO Sonnar 135mm f/2 at f/2

Nikon D800E + Samyang 135mm f/2 ED UMC at f/2

Nikon D800E + Nikkor DC AF-D 135mm f/2 at f/2

We can see again that Zeiss and Samyang are visibly sharper wide open at focus area

Zeiss vs Samyang at f/2

Zeiss vs Nikkor at f/2 (Nikkor set to DC 0)

While difference is clearly visible, RAW files from Nikon D800E have good latency for computed sharpening. If you have good sharpening technique, Nikkor image can be sharpened to the extent where it would be hard to distinguish between lenses.

Zeiss vs Nikkor at f/2 (Nikkor set to DC 0) Both lenses sharpened using sophisticated tools and techniques.

There is of course DOF dependent blurriness, but otherwise both images are very close after sharpening.

Last set of portrait images was made under fast changing light (running clouds), but I would post it because framing is much tighter than in above examples.

Nikon D800E + Zeiss APO Sonnar 135mm f/2 at f/2

Nikon D800E + Samyang 135mm f/2 ED UMC at f/2

Nikon D800E + Nikkor 135mm f/2 DC AF-D at f/2

At this distance, DOF is so thin, that you might often get sharp eyebrows instead of the iris e.g. Achieving critical focus is essential for the good result in this case…

Zeiss vs Samyang at f/2

Zeiss vs Nikkor at f/2 (Nikkor set to DC 0)

Conclusion:

We tried to present you lot of images, and direct comparisons in this review, in order to make your lens choice easier and mainly in order to help you to create your own opinion about those lenses.

I was impressed by Zeiss performance, but I didn’t expect nothing less. I was impressed with Samyang too and while it was a little surprise, I already get used to see great lenses from Korean producer. Both lenses are one of the sharpest optics that I had chance to test so far, and both will be great portrait lenses for many years to come.

Zeiss has slight edge in sharpness, but it also shows more CA, especially LoCA. There are however few reasons why you should favor Zeiss lens.

+

– Larger magnification at MFD.

– Better, much better built quality. Manual focusing is as usual very smooth and precise with long enough focus throw.

– Somewhat smaller size when focused to infinity. Good for transport.

– Better and more predictable flare resistance.

– More neutral color rendering.

– Better QC.

–

– Price. It is very expensive lens for standard 135mm.

– Vignetting could be smaller.

– Blurred highlights wide open have irregular shape (cat-eye), making bokeh slightly more nervous than it could be.

Zeiss APO Sonnar 135mm f/2 is very well designed and constructed lens, that will make its owner not only happy with superb images, cutting sharpness, punchy contrast and almost non-existent CA and distortion, but also with kind of emotional satisfaction of using high precision instrument.

If you are often shooting portraits, and you want one of the best lenses on the market in 135mm focal length, Zeiss is right choice IMHO.

Alternatives:

Zeiss APO Sonnar 135mm f/2 has many competitors and most of them are excelling in one or other category. Competition in this range is really tough. Samyang is almost as sharp, and has even better corrected CA, especially LoCA. Nikkor is also sharp enough in DC neutral position, especially if you are used to post process RAW images and apply smart sharpening and there is that DC option when soft, dreamy look is preferred.

Probably strongest competitor though is partially from its own stable – Sony Zeiss Sonnar T* 135mm f/1.8. This lens is also very sharp wide open, and it can open even wider than its APO brother. Build quality is comparable, and it has AF and smoother bokeh. It is made only in Sony A mount though and it is also very expensive lens.

Canon EF 135mm f/2 L USM is logical choice if you are in Canon system. No matter what was written about this lens, and fact that it is as old design as Nikkor probably, Canon is great lens IMHO. At recent price point, especially for used lenses in mint condition, it is very interesting option for sure.

Finally, my personnel choice for 135mm portrait lens was and will remain after this test – Sony 135mm f/2.8 (T4.5) STF. This  Minolta lens is simply special in its own way, and as you could see in the samples above, f/2.8 (even f/4 and smaller) are usually enough for good subject separation, while preserving useful DOF to keep whole face in focus.

Zeiss should be great lens for night scene – cityscapes, night sky, evening concerts, theater etc. due to best flare resistance from tested lenses, brilliant accutance and contrast in challenging lighting conditions and sturdy built quality to survive one or two direct hits in crowd. It will serve well in studio or fashion show photography.

It might sound that I like every Zeiss lens that was tested in the last couple of months. I can assure you that we don’t have any financial interest in Zeiss, not even simple advertising on our pages, but they simply make great lenses, their only disadvantage is that I can’t have them all 🙂

Thank you for reading, and if you have any questions, use comments bellow or open forum thread (I am checking it regularly).

Please help support this page and upcoming reviews and buy through affiliate links, with no extra cost for you:
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Sample Images (most shot at f/2 and Nikon D800E or Sony A7r or Sony A7):

ALL IMAGES IN THE SAMPLE GALLERY WERE POST PROCESSED!