p.16 #1 · Nikon Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena Image Thread
OK, I am thoroughly convinced. The 135 f1.8S Plena is possibly the best lens for bokeh I have used, super sharp wide open and overall superb IQ. I love the close focus ability of .82mts is much closer than most primes that are usually about 9-10x focal length as their MFD and a reproduction ratio of .20x is very good. As all the images show on this thread it is a real WOW lens. Nikon really made a gem with this lens, IMO.
My first outing at a park except he first image of the King Parrot is in my front garden. Z8 + 135mm f1.8S Plena all wide open.
p.16 #3 · Nikon Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena Image Thread
Beautiful pics and a gorgeous lens. As great as this lens is "last nail in the chubby's coffin" is a bit far fetched. The 200/2 is peerless. I have both the nikon and canon versions and they are pure magic if you can handle the weight and have the working distance.
p.16 #4 · Nikon Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena Image Thread
Lance B wrote:
OK, I am thoroughly convinced. The 135 f1.8S Plena is possibly the best lens for bokeh I have used, super sharp wide open and overall superb IQ. I love the close focus ability of .82mts is much closer than most primes that are usually about 9-10x focal length as their MFD and a reproduction ratio of .20x is very good. As all the images show on this thread it is a real WOW lens. Nikon really made a gem with this lens, IMO.
My first outing at a park except he first image of the King Parrot is in my front garden. Z8 + 135mm f1.8S Plena all wide open.
I love how the King Parrot looks right at you ! Great shots.
My findings are very similar. The only difference is that, from my experience, which is more limited than your sample pool, I am convinced that Plena is the best lens I have ever owned in terms of rendering, bokeh,contrast, sharpness. Weight is high, but balanced even on my Z6, far better than the Apo Sonnar, and there is AF and is fast and accurate. So far, I can’t find much of negatives besides deciding whether to take Plena or 100-400 for a trip or not. Secretly, curious about the rumored 28-400 if that is an acceptably decent relatively lightweight travel lens, then Plena may fit right in the bag as a HQ fast lens…
p.16 #6 · Nikon Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena Image Thread
akul wrote:
Lance,
I love how the King Parrot looks right at you ! Great shots.
My findings are very similar. The only difference is that, from my experience, which is more limited than your sample pool, I am convinced that Plena is the best lens I have ever owned in terms of rendering, bokeh,contrast, sharpness. Weight is high, but balanced even on my Z6, far better than the Apo Sonnar, and there is AF and is fast and accurate. So far, I can’t find much of negatives besides deciding whether to take Plena or 100-400 for a trip or not. Secretly, curious about the rumored 28-400 if that is an acceptably decent relatively lightweight travel lens, then Plena may fit right in the bag as a HQ fast lens…
p.16 #8 · Nikon Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena Image Thread
Some more to show off the bokeh, I just LOVE this bokeh. The 105 f1.4E bokeh was glorious, but I think the 135 pips it. This lens is simply stunning, IMO.
p.16 #11 · Nikon Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena Image Thread
Picture This! wrote:
As great as this lens is "last nail in the chubby's coffin" is a bit far fetched. The 200/2 is peerless. I have both the nikon and canon versions and they are pure magic if you can handle the weight and have the working distance.
I did not state that to be inevitable ...
I often bring the 200/2, also in occasions others might not. The weight is there, the working distance is bigger, but as you say, the rendering is terrific. I don't deny that at all.
Coming from using the 200/2 on a D3, @12MP (sensor quality, cropping ability, AF-accuracy, ...) and being happy with the results, how much worse is a Plena on 45 of todays MP, cropped in? Especially when compared to shots where chubby was stopped down to 2.2, 2.5? Blasphemy? Blasphemy! I know.
I don't think I'll sell the 200/2 (which of course also performs better these days on a modern on sensor focused Z camera). I just will bring it a little less often, in favour of Plena. Where 'less often' can mean close to zero, in the upcoming weeks, until I finally can decide whether it's worth keeping it, or not
p.16 #14 · Nikon Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena Image Thread
Lance B wrote:
Some more to show off the bokeh, I just LOVE this bokeh. The 105 f1.4E bokeh was glorious, but I think the 135 pips it. This lens is simply stunning, IMO.
p.16 #20 · Nikon Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena Image Thread
I had a little fun with Plena and Z8 trying a little bird in flight today. I am rather impress as the gull has to get reasonably close and usually I only have 2-3 seconds before the gull would fly past. May be AF is still a bit slower than 70-200/2.8S but not by much. Very very impressive for 135/1.8, a focal length that is generally not design for fast action. All shot wide opened.
